STAGE AND SCREEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17933, 2 November 1918, Page 4

STAGE AND SCREEN.

(By CRITICUS.) Les Warton, delineator of Irish characters with the Puller Revue Company at the Sydney Opera House, began his stage career aa a oomio singer in 1900, when ha joined a company organised by Kate Howard©, and toured Queensland, later boing one of the company which opened at the Theatre Royal, Brisbane, under tho management of the wellknown Percy St John. Warfcon continued his career as comedian with Dix in New Zealand, and then changed his style of entertainment, and became entirely a coon impersonator with Harry Rickarda, playing successfully with that manager for twelve years. He then doubled up with the coon comedian Irving Saylas; but the most promising of stage partnerships was brought to an untimely end by the death of Saylea. Mr Warton again changed his stage nationality, and became an Irishman in rovues, in which he has been playing for tire Pullers for the past two years. This evening John Hopkins will present tho Scarlet Troubadours at the Theatre Royal. The company is not the same as the one which was here a number of years ago, but it includes many popular costume comedy artists. MOTION PICTURE WORLD. "A Lady's Name," tho play in which Marie Tempest starred at the Maxine Elliott Theatre, New York, is one of several dramatic successes that have been secured for Norma Talmadge Select Pictures. The author is Cyril riai-court, who also wrote " A Pair of Silk Stockings." The latter plot has been lilmed with Constance Talmadge as star.

Pior the first time in the history of tho United States a moving picture of the House of Representatives in session has been taken. D. W. Griffith \yas accorded tho privilege by Congress, and set up his cameras at various points to get complete views of the members during the debate on amendments to th© selective draft, legislation. The scenes aro to be incorporated in a propaganda picture being made to the order ( of the American Government.

Ireno Castle has just completed "The Girl from Bohemia," which will probably be her last screen appearance for some time. She has decided to.give her services as an entertainer in the Y.M.C'.A., huts in France for the remainder of tho year or longer. Since the tragic death of her husband, Vernon Castle, while lie was training American aviators, Mrs Castle has been more determined than ever to contribute her services is a part of her war effort..

"To Hell with the Kaiser" might be objectionable in peace, but in war it hits the nail on the head, said R. A. Rowland, president of Metro Picture Corporation, to a. Reporter of New York " Morning Telegraph," when referring to the picture that is shortly to be screened in New Zealand. They all thought I was going too strong when I gave it this namo, but the title can make or mar a picture,, and none of mine will ever be marred by a title.".

" Mary Pickford outshines tho brilliancy of every past kinema achievement in her newest production, ' Stella Maris,' adapted from Locke's popular novel," says the "Herald," of Melbourne. "In the production there aro two Mary Pickfords; or, to bo exact, Mary Pickford in twjo characters of extreme contrast. In the part of Stella Maris, Mary appears as we know her best—a beautiful, lovable, half-girl, half-woman. Unity Blake, however, is a part which shows Mary as we have never seen her before. So great a production ia Stella Maris that the management of Hoyt's havo decided on giving it a three weeks' season at the Lyceum." William Pox announces that he hns signed up Evelyn Nesbit to appear in five standard pictures. " The Woman Who Gave" is the title of the first of the series.

Ruth Roland sustained painful injuries as a result of the horse she was riding getting out of control in a scene for an episode of the "Hands Up" serial, and charging the camera. Tho Priorities Committee of tho United States War Industries Board has declared the motion picture industry essential in all its pranob.es, This action on the part of the board was announced by Mr M. Baruch in Washington on Friday, August 23. Tho declaration was the result of a conference between tho Priorities Committee of the board, headed by Judge Edwin B. Parker, and a committee from th.* National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, headed by its president, William A. Brady. In the ruling declaring tho industry essential the following limitations were placed i*pon it: —(1) Each member of the industry will pledge himself to discontinue all nonessential productions and eliminate all wasteful methods. Old film must be scraped and reclaimed and returned to tho manufacturer for use in the manufacture of new films. Only wholesome pictures aro to be produced. To save chemicals used in the production of •explosives only one negative of a single picture will be made unless the pictun. is for expert, when two will be permitted. (2) Permits for the erection oi now theatre buildings and equipment for new theatres will be denied durinj,, the war. W 7 hcre localities are overtheatred, no new theatre will bo permitted to replace those retiring from business. (3) Manufacturers will encourage tho repair of existing machines (projection machines) rather than the purchase of new, Manufacture of new iron and tin containers for film will bo discontinued and substitutes used to conserve th© metals. When these regulations trnd others to be announced later aro complied with, the members of the industry will be granted the priorities necessary to enable them to operate. In presenting the reasons as to why the industry should be declared essential, Mr Brady made an exceedingly strong and convincing speech. Judge Parker, in reply, said that the war work of the motion picture industry did not need to be gone into,-aa everv prominent official in Washington was familiar with that work and tho ffreat good that it had accomplished. J-io stated that there was no ouestion of the value of the motion picture and the screens of America to tho Government. " The Association Committee also called the attention of Judge Parker to the economy it had effected moro than nine months ago in eliminating tin film cans from film smpments when such shipments were made in sheet iron •f-arrving cases, and the manner in Sit hnd succeeded in bring ng about the necessary changes in the railroad «u»d express regulations tliat would make this elimination possible. This nformation came as a surprise to T,irlr-n Parker and he expressed ki a Sca!kX^ a tin gi that one of the most imporUfc methods of conservat mi that he had in mind was the elimination of tin film cans. Ho added £ the motion picture industry was t io onh commercial activity so far ex- • a TW tho board in which they had ? mn f& thei? requirements and de- , nSstdbeen anW>d and vol- ! untarily put into effect.