St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 68

Young St. Louisans Star in Shadow Drama Ticmn rairil. Naomi Weston Childers. Atlricime Krocli. ays.

does not require a telescope for observers to fleuj amusement industry Opens doOT to rrefluentlv employed as heroine in Western pi erceive that to the newest theatrical firma Out at 5356 Vernon avenue. Sr. 1 oris, is a si perceive sheii bear I I tame ana fortune tor talented men and women G. M. Anderson, Rosemary Theby, Naomi Childers and others products of the Mound City Christy Cabanne movie director at 25 I I ment that of the moving picture St.

Louis I I has contributed a constellation of stars of not-I I able magnitude. That this is true concerning movie actresses would be expected, for the city is famous as a nursery for clever and handsome girls. And it is also true concerning masculine heroes of the screen, and some of the film actors who claim St. Louis as their home ing in straggly letters the word "Theater." This is the kindergarten stage on which William Christy Cabanne began, with shows to whic his playmates were admitted for a pin. the career which made him at the ae of 25 one of the youngest moving picture directors In the country.

He is now 27 years old and is a protege of David considered the superman of the movie industry. Three years ago, Cabanne, aiter some experience as an actor at Del-mar Garden, went to New York to go on the movie stage. Every morning at 6 o'clock he was at the "location" of a film company on Ing where films were being made, in the hope that he would be called upon to do duty as an "extra man." Whenever volunteers were summoned to perform some hazardous or difficult feat, he was always at the front, and it became known there was nothing he would not dare. He reached his climax by twice swimming an icy stream on one winter Am ing. boast a popularity such as used to pertain to the matinee idol.

Of course, as everyone knows, pulchritudinous King Baggott, is a St. Louisan and proud of it But it is not so well known that the parents of G. M. Anderson, probably the most popular cowboy actor in the cinema world, had the good taste to remove with him from Arkansas to St. Louis when he was two years old.

He received his early education at the Clinton and Stoddard public schools. One of his sisters resides in the West End, and on frequent visits to her the hero of scores of wild and woolly es Itosemarf -mf jTjniX Anne appeared on the stage at the Odeon in "Alice in Wonderland." Thereafter her versatile talents exhibited her now as a fancy dancer, now as an elocutionist, and again as a lovely exponent of ancient Greek poses. Naturally she went on the stage, from which, a year ago, the movies claimed her. She has starred in a l' Soon afterwards he fa-tamed a regular position with the company and was taken to California to act in a series of films. But he was convinced that the was in the business end of the industry, and by his interest in this department got an assignment to find "locations," or suitable scenes in which to stage film dramas.

He aiso vent to Mexico and made of Villa and his arm v. capes on tne screen takes pleasure in renewing his acquaintance with the peaceful scenes of his childhood. In addition to his per a 1 char in due i part to an amiable gentleness which beams forth in his most desperate plights Anderson is an intelligent and conscientious artist. It was due to him more than to anyone else that the ridiculous "stage cow number of notable films. Edwin August, who comes of a well known North St.

Louis family, also made his debut on the Odecn stage. His acting before the cinema camera is as well known in Europe as it is in uis country, and according to the custom of many motion picture players, he has a different "name" in the different countries where his (work is shown. In Australia his admirers kno him as "Wilkes Williams;" in England cinema audiences call him. "Montague Lawrence;" the Germans applaud him as "Karl von Busing;" while in the Orient he is known as "David Courtlandt." In this countr he goes by I just two-fifths of his real name, whivh is Edwin August Philip von der Butz. yi.

Anderson William Hinckley. i by boy" vanished from the screen. He was the first actor to pose his Western scenes in the West itself, with the result that New York "cowpunchers" and Newark "Indians" found they could no longer "put it over" on movie audiences as they did in the days of yore a few years ago. Among women stars of the film is beautiful Rosemary Theby, daughter of Louis G. Theby of 5619 Garfield avenue, St.

Louis, and niece of Mrs. Joseph Maser-ang Jr. of 4512 Westminster place. Graduating from a school of dramatic acting, Miss Theby sought a position on the stage, but failed, as so many do, because she was unknown. Then, as in so many other cases, the movies came to Griffith was director of the company, and when he went over to another firm a year ago at a salary said to be $2500 a week, he took Cabanne with him as an assistant director.

The St. Louis youth conducted his first movie drama in the summer of 1913. It was ent'd "The Round Up." A few uays ago a four-reel feature film, "The Ixst House," was produced at a St. Iuls theater. In large letters it was announced: "By Richard Harding Davis." Then, in letters of the same size, rame the words: "Directed by Willianj Christy Cabanne." Word of Cabanne's success inspired one of his friends.

William Hinckley, to emulaie him. In or Miss Leah Baird celebrated as one oJ the beauties of th Tnoving i stage, is a St. Louisan, and has recently confirmed her allegiance to the city by marrying a St. Louis business man, Arthur Beck. Her specialty is the portrayal of society her charms tnd graceful manners have made her a favorite with film fans everywhere.

She visited St. Louis a few weeks ago and Btfwla August. Christy Cabanne. der to get to California. Hinckley the rescue, and almost at a step appeared at several she became one of the recognized queens of the cinema, theaters so that her admirers might behold her in walked to New Orleans, and there got a job as ticket At first she took only ingenue parts, but it was soon person.

seller with a circus which ws westward bound. On found her forte was for the roles called "heavy." Her Adrienne Kroell, who was a winner in a Post-Dis- arriving at Los Angeles, Hinckley applied to Cabanne dark coloring and ferventtemperament pointed her out patch beauty contest some years ago, when she was a for a trial, and it was found he had that gift known for something less artless than the parts of naive young student at Yeatman High School, is also a charming as "ability to register." Hinckley's brother. John, fol- girls, and soon she was appearing in such roles as recruit to the movie legions. She was trained for the lowed him to California, and is now al-o a movie actor. "Queen of the Nihilists," or "Queen of the Opium Eat- stage, but the lure of the new screen drama drew her Another St.

Louisan who has acted for the movies Is crs," or the serpent woman in "The Reincarnation of away from the "legitimate." One of her assets as a Sigmund Abe'es. who starred in "Brewster's Millions," Karma." Her specialty is the role of "lady villain" or, performer is her athletic ability. She wears a cham- one of the first big film productions to be attempted, as the professional term is, "vampire." Her brilliant pion's medal won in a swimming contest in St. Louis. Iess than 10 years ago there were many hundreds of dark eyes, cloud of dusky hair and eloquently mobile and recently won a wager by walking from Minneapolis actors of merit whose years of work had gained them so features are familiar to all movie fans.

to St. Paul, a distance of 12 miles, in two hours. slight a toe-hold on the lowest rung of the ladder of Another St. Iouis girl who has won distinction in Anne Schaeffer is another St. Louis girl who, having success that the greatest promise the future held for the movie field is Miss Naomi Weston Childers, whose won success on the speaking stage, left it for th movies, them was that some dramatic critic might some day, in histrionic ability had frequent opportunities for public As she is a remarkable horsewoman, in addition to be- an unguarded moment, refer to their names as having display from the time when, at the age of 5 years, she ing an emotional actress of considerable talent, she is also been in the cast.

And thn along came the movies! PACE THREE. SUNDAY MAGAZINE- -ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH -MAY 16, 191 5..