Grace Darmond (1914) 🇺🇸
Grace Darmond, a recent acquisition to the Selig Stock Company in Chicago, who has made good in a variety of parts, in modest and meritorious fashion, is still in her teens, although she has had ten years of actual stage experience. She made her debut in the title role of Editha’s Burglar, under the direction of William Jackson.
She traveled in this popular play (which, by the way, was the first drama written and presented by Augustus Thomas, now reckoned as America’s most successful playwright), for two seasons. She next joined the stock company at the English Opera House in Indianapolis, where she played two seasons in every variety of part — from child to old woman. In recounting this experience, Miss Darmond remarked: “I consider my training in stock work as absolutely invaluable. It was constant change and a big spur to originality, and good hard work, I can assure you. It would be hard to name any school more difficult and exacting than that of the stock company where you change a bill every week, and are rehearsing and memorizing a new play while you are still almost getting your bearings in the medium in which you are working. It calls for continual study, much alertness and eternal vigilance. I have heard many actresses complain of the strain involved in the memorizing of roles under such conditions, but confess this was always stimulating to me. In an after experience, I played the same roles in short pieces for protracted runs, and found them most wearisome on account of their monotony.”
Miss Darmond played a whole season in a sketch by Geo. M. Cohan, and was for two years associated with J. F. Bannister’s Company in Old Lang Syne. She is simply delighted with her picture experience at the Selig plant. Up to date she has appeared in about a dozen plays prominently, and confesses that in all points they appeal to her more than the work of the theatrical stage.
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Popular Plays and Players Co.
Notes concerning the men interested — Adler in “Michael Strogoff” — the first production.
A new company to enter the motion picture industry which promises to become an important factor in the feature business because of the stability of its connections, the personnel of its officers and the class of productions which it plans, is Popular Plays and Players, Inc., with offices on the eighth floor of the Mecca Building, 1600 Broadway, New York City. Its first production will be “Michael Strogoff” in five reels, featuring Jacob P. Adler, the eminent romantic actor. This and the coming features, of which the next will be Andrew Mack in “The Ragged Earl” are to be produced by the Lubin Film Manufacturing Company at its various studios on a lavish scale.
L. Lawrence Weber is the president of Popular Plays and Players, Inc.; Harry J. Cohen is the treasurer and general manager; Bobby North is a director in the company and financially interested, as is Aaron Hoffman.
Mr. Weber has long been a dominant factor in theatrical circles. He is well known as one of the ablest organizers in the field and as one of the leading producers and managers. Mr. Weber has built numerous theaters and was perhaps the greatest factor in the recrudescence of burlesque, having become interested in that business during the early days of the Columbia Amusement Company. Mr. Weber’s entrance into the moving picture field will bring to the film business the genius who reorganized burlesque. His close association with prominent actors and actresses and his intimacy with the entire theatrical situation will be an additional asset to Popular Plays and Players, Inc.
Harry J. Cohen, the treasurer and general manager, is widely and favorably known in the motion picture business as an experienced film man. He is a genuine “old timer” in the business. Ten years ago, in 1904, he opened the first motion picture theater in Chicago. He was in the exhibiting end of the industry for a long time.
Mr. Cohen was associated with the General Film Company from the start. At different times he was manager of the branches in Washington, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and Baltimore. When the special feature department of the General Film Company was organized in July, 1913, Mr. Cohen was appointed general manager. He remained in that capacity until March, 1914, when he left to organize Popular Plays and Players, Inc. Mr. Cohen has the active supervision of the business end of the organization.
Bobby North, who is one of the directors of Popular Plays and Players, Inc., is well known in theatrical circles as one of the organizers of the Gordon North Amusement Company, one of the leading producers of the higher type of burlesque shows. This company has brought out many of the best shows on the Columbia circuit, attractions which compare favorably with the musical comedies of the legitimate stage. For seventeen years Aaron Hoffman, who is interested in Popular Plays and Players, Inc., has been specializing in comedy, particularly of the broad kind that depends on swift action. He is the author of many of the most successful comedies on the Stair and Havlin Popular Priced Circuit and several of the best shows on the Columbia circuit. He has written numerous musical comedies, collaborated on others and is the author of almost numberless monologues and vaudeville acts.
Jacob P. Adler, the great Adler, appears in the title role of the first picture, a five-part motion picturization of Michael Strogoff. There are other actors named Adler, but Jacob P. Adler is the man recognized as tone of the foremost romantic actors of the present day. “It is the belief of those who have seen on the screen some of the scenes of the picture that Mr. Adler will achieve high reputation as a motion picture actor. His many followers know that his work on the stage has demonstrated that he is a master of facial expression and pantomime. His work in Michael Strogoff is awaited with much interest.
For its second release Popular Plays and Players, Inc., will present Andrew Mack, in The Ragged Earl, one of his greatest successes. Negotiations are being made for other well known theatrical stars and successes of the speaking stages.
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Hite Hooks a Duke.
The Duke of Manchester has gone into pictures. England’s titled son appeared in a scene of “The Million Dollar Mystery” at the Thanhouser Studio last week. It was the distinguished foreigner’s first view of motion picture making. He likes it. Charles J. Hite, president of the Thanhouser Company, escorted him through the studio. When the party arrived in the east building, where some of the Mystery scenes are being taken, Mr. Hite called Director Howell Hansel to one side and told him to put the Duke into a scene. It was no sooner said than done. Almost before the Englishman realized what was happening, Director Hansel was posing him. The Duke enjoyed it, and laughingly told Mr. Hite to “crank the camera.” The visitor proved such an adept that an actual scene was taken, showing him aiding Miss La Badie [Florence La Badie], the heroine of the forthcoming serial, to escape from the machinations of the Countess Olga, Miss Marguerite Snow, and her band of conspirators.
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Glickman to appear in “The Last Concert.”
Charles J. Hite, president of the Thanhouser Film Corporation, had made it possible for Ellis F. Glickman, foremost of Jewish character actors, to be seen in silent drama. There has just been produced at the New Rochelle Studio, a photoplay by Mr. Glickman, called “The Last Concert.” In this four-reel feature production teeming with heart-stirring situations, Mr. Glickman, who plays the lead, brings a touch of genuine humor, washing away the expected tear and lighting the scenes with a smile. Mr. Glickman has played more than eight hundred character parts on the speaking stage, being at one time leading man for Bertha Kalich.
The Last Concert is Mr. Glickman’s second appearance in the silent drama, his previous story, “Repentance,” having proved an unprecedented success. Miss Minnie Berlin plays opposite Mr. Glickman being supported by a strong cast headed by Nolan Gane, Thanhouser’s leading juvenile actor.
Collection: Moving Picture World, May 1914