The sun. [volume], April 06, 1913, FOURTH SECTION PICTORIAL MAGAZINE, Image 39

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916

Image provided by: The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation

                
E SUN, SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 1913.
1
i
Iff
UNG" STARS
DOMINATE
STAGE
I j
Jtfmry 'plckford. in'Tfi Good JLtrft? &ctfiC"
Prominence of Youth in the Successes of
the Winter a Feature of the
Theatrical Season
YOCTH has come to the front In
every department of life, but
nowhere does It exercise such
dominion as on the stage. If
1 general average were struck of the
ges of actresses who are entrusted
1th leading or Important roles In cur
rent plays It Is safe to say that It would
ardly reach the quarter century mark.
Last year If such nn average had been
taken It would have been considerably
tlgher, but then the presence of Sarah
Bernhardt swelled the average age con
Iderably. This unusual situation has attracted
the attention of many persons, who de
dare that at no time In the history of
the stage in New York has It been dom
inated so completely by youth. And It
worthy of special not.. that in a sea
ens when there have been many fall
res not one play In which youth had
the leading role came to grief. In fact,
imong the greatest successes of the
ay are those which feature players
lio are still In their teens.
Another notable feature of the un
isual .-It nation Is the fact that some
if the greatest hits have been written
ly young playwrights. Old and tried
lands have been found wanting this
leason. The young and untried have
tome to the front.
For example. "Rutherford and Son,"
ine of the successes of the season, was
the work of a girl 20 years old, who
lad never written a drama before.
Idward Sheldon's "Romance." which
jromlscs to score a success. Is the
vork of a man still In his twenties.
"The Good Little Devil" Is the work
4f the young son of Edmond Rostand,
Tho collaborated with his mother.
4nd there are others.
As for the youthful actresses, the list
a Interminable. There Is the notable
jase of .Vl.ila Dana, 15 years old, who
as scored a triumph In 'The Poar
Little Rich Girl." Then there Is that mo
lion picture favorite, Mary Plckford, 20
fears old, who plays the leading feml
ilne role In lie'asco's production of "The
Bood Little Devil."
Of course 'Racketty-Packetty House"
las any number of extremely youthful
Itars, notably Baby Esmond, 1 years
f age, and Master Gabriel, the eternal
jouth. "Little Women" has three In
teresting figures: Alice Brady, the
daughter of William A. llrady. the pro
ducer, wlio Is 21; Ueverly West, who Is
10, and Gladys Hulette, who Is lb. Violet
Itomer, the dancer of ''Joseph and His
Brethren." Is only 20. Ann Murdock,
ho plays the leading part In Thomp
on Buchanan's "The Bridal Path," Is
tl.
From this partial list It must be evi
dent that the situation Is unprecedented.
But It must not be thought that these
young people are newcomers In stago
land. In spite- of their youth many of
them have been In the public eye for
years. It Is somewhat startling to hear
Viola Dana say quite solemnly:
''Oh, yes. I havo been on the stage for
more than ten years."
Mary Plckford has trod the boards
sixteen years. The story of the begin
Ings and the careers of these young
actresses Is Interesting.
Viola Dana began her professional
career us an actress at the ago of 5.
She Is vigorous refutation of the state
ment that "stage children never ktow
up to be great actresses."
Originally It was Intended that she
should become n dancer, but she very
early proved that she had dramatic
talent and turm-d to the stage. For ten
years she has been playing Important
roles, and at the early age of in she
lias the experience of many a mature
actress,
"The part I have in 'The Poor Little
RUh Girl,'" Mie said, "is not at all like
work to me. It Is really play. I Just
step Into the part and am myself. You
know, I wish I were older. I am so
anxious to be a great star. And still,
sometimes I Just hate to feel that I am
growing older every day; because It Is
so nice to be callt (1 the youngest star
on tho stage."
Mary Plckford also began her stage
career at the age of fi, fifteen years ago.
At the age of 13 .she went over to the
moving pictures to bridge over what she
calls the awkward age. Now she has once
more returned to the stnge more pop-
credited with a maturity that Is greatly
exaggerated, merely becauso they have
been In tho public eyo from the time
they were Infants.
Kinetophone Possibilities
APROPOS of the advent of tho
klnetophone, many are specu
lating as to the piactlcal uses
to which It may be adapted.
The suggestions so far made rango
all the way from courting by parcel
post, stump speaking, preaching and
reproducing grand opera In country
villages to taking the seashore and
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"Beverly Taleat, tn"JLittle tStbman.
Viola Dana, at Fifteen, Has Been an
Actress for Ten Years Others
Still Younger
Violet fPomer', "Dancer in
ular than ever, becauso her fucc has be
come familiar to millions through tho
many moving plcturo plays In which she
has been featured. Sho prefers the legiti
mate stage, but Is still vitally Interested
In moving pictures and sho nas ncrsclt
written twenty-nlno scenarios, twenty
flvo of which have been accepted.
Allco Brady, tho daughter of the man
ager, has had a shorter career. She has
been on the stage only two years, and
hitherto has been Identified with comic
operas, which sho prefers and to which
sho hopes to return soon. Her father
was very much against a stage career
for her, but she has overcomo his objec
tions and has been a notable feature of
the Gilbert & Sullivan revivals for the
past two years.
Baby Esmond, 10 years old, who plays
the part of Undv PatrU Ut In "Racketty
I'ackctty House," has also had a brief
career. Her part In this children's play
Is especially Interesting because she Im
personates the daughter of n wealthy,
haughty family, while In prlvato life she
Is herself poor and modest, The role
therefore Imposes n considerable task on
her and this she meets with great success.
It Is well to keep In mind the exact
ages of these young stars. The time
Haby Esmond,
in S?mcAetty-$ccctfy Jfou3fm
will soon come when most people will
doubt their youth. Five years hence,
when it will bo said that Vloia Dana Is
only 20, some one will declare: "O! that
Is Impossible, She has been before the
public for the last fifteen years." Peo
ple will forget that she has been on
the stage ever since she was S.
It Is for this reason that many young
actresses, atlll In their twenties, are
Ttfaatar Cabn'el, in
mountain resorts to the homes of the
plains.
Ono enthusiast suggests that U would
be fitting that Its Inventor, Thomas A.
Edison, should prepare an Illustrated
lecture on 'his world renowned Inven
tions, and that records of It should be
placed In museums and universities,
so that futuro generations may sco him
and hear his voice wlille he describes
his most Important achievements.
The scientist thinks the klnetophone
will prove valuable In preserving pic
tures and reproducing tho cries of rare
animals and birds which aro liable to
become extinct. It may as well be a
great aid In teaching natural history.
Tho pupils would be enabled to see and
hear the animals and thus the study
would bo made morn Interesting, fasci
nating and effective.
Millions of people have never accn
the sea or heard Its roar. Most of
them long to do so, but cannot afford
tho expensive trip to tho seanhore. The
klnetophone would bring the sea and its
roar to them.
By Its use tho best plays and opera
could bo given In small towns, and oven
In rural schoolhouses, to entertain and
amuse tho hundreds of thousands of
people who never get to the cities. It
would break tho monotony of rural Ufa
and help along tho "Back to tho farm"
movement.
1 . - ! . .. 1 . . . I , l. ,
delivering Illustrated lectures. The
young man wno ucsireu to iaKe a course
In medlclno or surgery, for Instance,
could do so nt his own home and save
the expense of going away to college.
Or he coulii acquire knowledge of lan
guages, music or mechanics through
tho same medium.
IO noiitlcal cannlnntes nnl c.imnnlffn
U'ftlll.t tint nnU iijil'n l.-tntlni. l.ltlc. t nA
raroly read but It would enable them
tn Rfrifl thnlr "Mrr fiinu" rnf mAv
V. 1 ,lt-li 4 1 - W .
drawing card. By Interspersing tho
speecnes with short entertainments It
would be no trouble to hold tho crowds.
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ono botnerlng the speaker with questions.
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once n month. The klnetophone would
supply preaching for them every 8un-
tl.1 fill, I ('It'll t mt, nu fr.t.wl
and music as city churches have. The
t.iiiiKis i-ireinis wouiu, ot COUTSP, OX-
cnange records, bo that each congrega
tlon would hear n new sermon each
would bo for tho two doxen zy1'"'
of Pumpkin Centro to go to their ..
white meetln' houso on Sunday and gee
tho samo preacher and hear tho same
sermon, tho samo organ and the same
choir as tho Fifth avenue dweller heard
In his million dollar church! It would
even bring "Moonshine Mose" from hla
mountain fastness to meetln' for the
first tlmo In his life. And If Deacon
nunkln fell asleep, as he usuallv dnen
his snores would not disturb the
preacher.
Courtship by klnetophone nnd parcel
post Is also a possibility nnd should
K.ii-.o iimiuiv ui ine recoru nir macm
and start off something llko this:
I just received your khietogram by
I could scarcely wait until I projee
anything In your uniform. It's so
coming! The bonbons you sent
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uinu uuc. jinn uu 3 i,u Jllttt II1V III
gown.' and Hid way I have llxed
hair?" nnd so on.
No doubt klnetophono operators w
laiiiuy 111 me uinner inoie and mive i
iiieiiiueiM eniriiirn in rmivi.rMiumn wi
HIV IIVIKII IO Ml'llll. 111. 111,'. 11 Will ml
father doing tho carving, and record
,,iiih" iiv o) n ntll'll lliu illl n nil
tun conee. looK up reproachfully
will repair to tho parlor nnd sing
eucn iiicmuer 01 mo lamiiy to Keei
iiinu uii ua. i.uiiiii in i nil Mi'iiMiui
be eaten up by mosquitoes nnd lan
lords, or to tho mountains to fish whel
there nro no fish and to tight gnats, tH
wlso man will repair to tho dark room o
nis nnme, witn pipe and nook nndj
morris chair, turn on tho fans, ntnrt A
klnetophone and bo In tho snow cappei
Alps, or on tho Boardwalk at Atlantl
City, uh ho elects, yet enjoy all of th
comforts of home.
Finally, those so Inclined may emulat
the example of Joaquin Miller, -wltoar
ranged his own funeral pllo and com
posed his own funeral ode. Thus a nia
could prepare und deliver his ow
funeral oration and direct the obsequle
nt the church. It would certainly o
somewhat startling to see the casket rc
posing near tho altar and its occupar
on the screen, restored to life, addresi
Ing hla friends who had come to th
church to pay tho lost trlbuto to hi
memory. But the klnetophone make
It poBsioie, if you desire It,
' A