5
WELL-KNOWN MOVING PICTURE MAN
WILL VISIT PORTLAND, NOVEMBER 7
S. L. Rothapfel, After Varied Career to Success, Son of Minnesota Shoemaker and Former Copy Boy on News
paper Banquet Is Being Planned by Persons in Oregon Interested in Film.
Tlie Peoples Tlieater
Announces the First Screen Appearance of
era.
aFrair
The Renowned Dramatic Grand Opera Star, in a Magnificent and Gripping Paramount
' Presentation of
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 31, 1915.
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UY PEGC'Y CtRTIS.
JUST now local motion-picture peo
ple, as well as those all over the
country, are intensely Interested in
the tour of S. L. Rothapfel. of New
York City, one of the big exhibitors
of the East, who will arrive in Port
land November 7. He will be enter
tained at a dinner Sunday night to
which 200 persons actively interested
Jn motion pictures in Oregon have been
Invited.
This announcement comes from the
office of John R. Freuler, president of
the Mutual Film Corporation, who is
conducting the tour. The itinerary
covers 27 of the biggest centers in the
country. He conies with knowledge
gleaned from long experience in the
foremost motion picture houses of New
York and other Eastern cities, and will
deliver to the motion-picture exhibitors
the lirst-hand knowledge arrived at
through his many successes.
To few exhibitors of the world was
the road to success longer or was bet
ter traveled. He was the son of a
shoemaker in Stillwater, Minn., became
a copy boy on a Brooklyn newspaper,
married a tavernkeeper's daughter and
tended bar for a living. Later he
Joined the United States Marine Corps
and made a trip around the world. He
became a Second Lieutenant and saw
service during the Boxer rebellion in
China.
The details of his first motion picture
exhibition are decidedly humorous, apart
from the fact that he had 200 "under
taker's" chairs. He painted his own
cards, booked his Alms, hired a dance
hall a.t Forest City, hung up a sheet
for a screen, sold the tickets and ran
off his pictures. In Forest City he
made as big a success as the field would
permit and his successes did not escape
the attention of others.
Soon he was summoned to New York.
His work for the Regent House in New
York stands out as an achievement in
motion-picture exhibition. Since then
his conquests number the Lyric Thea
ter in Minneapolis, the organization and
projection for the Keith circuit, the
famous Strand Theater and the new
Kialto, now building at Forty-second
and Broadway. The backers of the
Itialto project value Mr. Rothapfel so
highly that they have insured his life
for $250,000.
Mr. Rothapfel will speak as guest of
honor at the banquet in the Multnomah
Hotel. A singular tale of achievement
and the inner story of how it was ac
complished will be detailed to the film
people at that gathering. Another
visitor who will be present is Silas
Bent, special representative of the
publicity department of the Mutual
Film Corporation.
"CARMKX" AT PEOPLES TODAY
Geraldine Farrar Is Starring tn
VI Im Version of Opera.
A great photo-dramatic production
will be the attraction at the Peoples
starting today, when Geraldine Farrar.
the celebrated prima donna, will ap
pear in a film version of her famous
opera. "Carmen." by "William C. De
Miile. founded on the story by Prosper
Merlmee and produced by the Jesse
I. I-asky Company, a Paramount pic
ture. Carmen. a half-wild. fascinating
gypsy, lives with a band of smugglers
in the mountains near the coast of
;jain. The smugglers. headed by
1'astia. the town tavernkeeper. are
blocked In their plans to get their Il
legal goods Into the city by a younaf
officer, Don Jose, who will not be
bribed. Carmen Is finally sent by the
smugglers to lascinate Don Jose and
make him forget his duties.
Pastia escorts Carmen to the city
and obtains for her a position in a
cigarette factory and announces that
she will dance at the tavern in the
evening. That night in the tavern Car
men Is the center of attraction. She
is 'wooed, unsuccessfully, by Morales,
a brother officer of Don Jose, and by
Escamlllo. a young Toreador, on his
way to Seville to enter the bull ring
there. Carmen fascinates Don Jose,
and he loses his heart to her.
On the day of the great bull fight
Carmen is seated by the eide of
Kscamillo. the center of all eyes
Kscamillo is wildly cheered as he en
ters the ring. Don Jose is recognized
by one of the smugglers as he waits
by the entrance to the arena, and Car
men is warned. Carmen, tearless as
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ever, goes to confront Jose and tell
him that she is through with him and
that she has cast her lot with Esca
mlllo. Maddened by the rejection of
his love, after she has led him to
do so much for her and overcome with
jealousy. Don Jose stabs and kills Car
men as the crowds acclaim Escamlllo s
victory.
In the cast, beside Geraldine Farrar,
as Carmen, are Wallace Reid, as Don
Jose; Horace B. Carpenter. Pastia;
Pedro De Cordoba, Escamlllo, and Will-
lam Elmer, Morales.
"TRILBY" OPENS AT PICKKOKD
Theater, Formerly Star, Starts Run
With Equitable Feature.
A rousing opening of the new Pick
ford Theater, which was created out of
the old Star, took place last night with
the showing of "Trilby." a screen adap
tation of the famous dramatic classic
by Du Maurier. Clara Kimball Young
and Wilton Lackaye make their Ini
tial appearance with the Equitable Mo
tion Picture Players, for "Trilby" is
the first production of the newly
formed Equitable Corporation, and was
highly praised when it had its premier
run at the Forty-fourth-street Theater
in New York.
Paul McAllister and Chester Barrett
are seen in important roles, and the
rest of the cast of principals numbers
more than 50. It is said that more
musical and artistic talent was lavished
on the production of "Trilby" than any
other recent photoplay.
Sustained interest abundant romance
and adventure are mingled In "Trilby"
to form a lasting and tense drama. The
mass of great personalities of the
screen that are seen in the roles of the
many varied characters are those who
have been known for scores of suc
cesses both in motion pictures and
legitimate plays. "Trilby," it is pre
dicted, will be one of the few motion
pictures that will bear showing and
reviving for many future showings.
The realism of the original play Is well
preserved and the photography re
markable. "Trilby" along with travelgrams and
comedy will be seen at the Pickford
all week.
'CARMEN DEPICTED IN MOVIES
Majestic to Reg in Today in Produc
tion of Epochal Film.
In every conceivable way the Wll
lam Fox production of "Carmen,"
which will be shown all week at the
Majestic Theater, marks an era and
chronicles an epoch in motion pictures.
The play has taken almost a year in its
production and with the well-known
Theda Bara as Carmen. Raoul Walsh
has contrived a photoplay without a
flaw. The true spirit of old Spain in
the days of the guitar's regime per
meates throughout "Carmen." A band
of real gypsies were lured from their
mountain retreats to lend verity. Ed
ward Velasquez, the noted Spanish ar
tist and architect, was brought from
Seville to supervise the technical and
architectural details of the Spanish
cities created at the .Fox studios.
Colonel Antino Bravo, of the Spanish
army, drilled the dragoons and an An
dalusian bull was brought from
Madrid.
The romantic plot is well set amid
the pretty grisettes. the proud gran
dees and the dark-eyed beauties of the
tambourines. The first meeting and
flirtation of Don Jose (Elmer Linden)
with Carmen is well-pictured, as is the
great cigarette factory where Carmen
wreaks vengeance on a taunting co
worker. James Marcus, famous on the
stage and screen, wins honors as the
gypsy chief. Elsie McCloud's youth
and talents charm as the first and dis
carded sweetheart of Don Jose. Carl
Karbausli ideally typifies the wary
picador for whom Carmen sacrifices
her life.
From the time that Don Jose is com
pelled to take Carmen to prison after
her fight with her tormentor a nemesis
pursues him. He permits her to escape
and then his next error Is the murder
of a superior officer, and so to his
final role in the death of Carmen he is
the victim of a woman's wiles. The
sadness and pathos of the great Span
ish "Carmen" has caused it to become
rooted In the heaits of all and become
highly anticipated in the form of a
wonderful photodrama. Wallingford
will also be shown
Miss Farrar has made the role of "Carmen" famous
in Grand Opera her screen debut as "Carmen"
stamps her as America's foremost woman artist.
A bullfight that actually took place. A fight in the
tobacco factory. Every foot of f ilmcarries a thrill.
Appropriate musical- selections from the Opera
"Carmen" intensify the picture's action.
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Pathe News Paramount Travelogue
Carmen's KiattB Art 'Not So Easily Won
Commencing Today Continuous From 11 to 11
The Peoples Shows Paramount Pictures FIRST
Pe
opll
West Park at Alder
after
mm.
Philip, his half-brother, becoming jeal
ous of the people's love for Don John,
plots his downfall. Plot and counter
plot follow. The famous duel scene
will be remembered as spectacular ana
exciting-, while throughout the whole
tne spirit 01 ramautuiu . -
is uepicieu.
Among me huicu cuiit " " '
pearing in the cast are: E. J. Radcliff.
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Ariine nacnem ' " 11 ' '
Maupain, Richard Travers. Lewis Ld-
gard, well craig ana x nuu'as
T . . J . A r ) a a
lora. 1 ne court . .
played in realistic manner by Edgard.
unnvaieo. pnoiorupuj.
spienuiu lHCBClli.w ' '
trayal, augments the general interest
in tne story, unwi mo "
sents one of the productions of the day.
Under the guidance of the Big Four
producers, "In the Palace of the King
has been made a feature drama indeed.
-he special music jcroniii("
worthy of mention, being of special
preparation b ythe film makers' master
musicians. Other features on the bill
include comedy and scenic films.
i . . . k.nUlat whn hftl
joe ilODCria, Uto " " " j " ---
been engaged by the National, opens
this aiternoon.
successes, has purchased part of the nue. Bayslde Park, Bayside. Long derful old mansion and beautiful gar
famous Teller estate on Bradlsh ave- I Island. The estate includes a won-1 dens.
Split Reels
NATIONAL OFFERS BIG DRAMA
"In the Palace of the King" Is Ac
companied by Special Music.
"In the Palace of the King." a six
act film version of Marion Crawford's
famous novel, and the drama in which
the late E. H. Sothern -won renown,
opens today at the National Theater
for a four days' run. The film version
closely adheres to the atory, which
countless thousands know.
Notable in this famous Play Is the
Lcare with which the producers have re-
proaucea Air. ur&wiorai every tr.eme.
No money, time or trouble has been
spared to bring out each detail, until
the finished product stands as one of
the most spectacular productions of the
silent drama.
Ten stars of well-known fame appear
in the leading parts, while more than
5000 people took part in the making.
The six acts are divided into more than
1000 scenes, and many thousands of
costumes are used.
The story is too well known to re
peat, a brief synopsis bringing the
scenes to mind. Don John returning
to Spain, after the conquest of Grena
da, is proclaimed a national hero. King
BY PEQOT CURTIS
ORIGINALLY Sarah Bernhardt's
final farewell tour of America
was scheduded to begin in New
York on September 20, but Madame
Sarah's effort to induce the French gov
ernment to release several of her most
Important actors now at the front
failed completely.
The trip is now announced to begin
on December 9.
It is stipulated In the contract that
the play Aimed must be one which is
to form the basic feature of her forth
coming tour in the legitimate theaters.
As she could not come to America to
act for "Jeanne Dore," the camera had
to come to her.
There is a course in the extension
department of the Columbia University
that has just been instituted called
"photoplay writing, lectures and con
ference." The class meets once a week
in the journalism building, and is di
rected by Pofessor Victor O. Freedburg,
Ph. D.
This course alms "to equip the stu
dent with the knowledge of the dra
matic possibilities as well as the me
chanical limitations of the photoplay;
the specific demands of the producer;
the tastes of the typical audience as
conditioned by the" time and place of
the presentation, and the technic of
the scenario writer.. Each student is
required to confer regularly with the
Instructor for critclsm of scenarios."
Ten questions that D. Freedburg will
ask his students when considering films
of value are: "Is it novel? Why? If
It isn't novel, what does ti remind you
of? Why was the scenario bought?"
and seven other queries which will
cover the general . merits and defects
of the average 'motion-picture drama.
Now comes Jesse Laskey with a scol
arship for the course. . t
Any student who has written the best
original five-part vscenario, in the Judg
ment of William C. DeMille. will re
ceive a trip with all expenses from
New York to Los Angeles and return.
During the stay in Los Angeles the
student will be a guest at the studio,
and there will have every further -jp-portunity
for study.
.
Otis Harlan says that in all his movie
and civil career he has. never had such
trials and tribulations as in his recent
production in which he -plays opposite
Grace Darmond. Little Grace and the
lofty Otis had to be photographed In
rural settings, and what is more, they
had to milk a cow. '
Both are city bred, and Miss Darmond
frankly confessed that she- is afraid of
cows. It took much time, several re
buffs from the cow and the ruination
of two perfectly tempered dispositions
before the lessons in milking had been
sufficiently mastered for the camera.
.
Frank Powell, director of "A Fool
There Was" and noted for other film
K 1 1 rr1 . SrizE
WM. FOX PHOTOPLAYS DE LUXE
II II
! np IT TT TP TFv A
!j V '
Beginning
Today
In Her Wild
Free
Untrammeled
Version of
MEN
William Fox's Greatest Achievement
i WALLINGFORD
in "The Master Touch"