(1895). Stage Play: The District Attorney. Melodrama. Written by Charles Klein and Harrison Grey Fiske [earliest Broadway credit]. Directed by Minnie Maddern Fiske [credited as Mrs. Fiske]. American Theatre: 21 Jan 1895- unknown (unknown performances). Cast: Annie Irish (as "Grace"), Wilton Lackaye (as "John Stratton"), Frank Mordaunt (as "Matthew Brainerd"). Note: Filmed by The Lubin Manufacturing Company [distributed by V-L-S-E] as The District Attorney (1915).
The District Attorney ( 1915 ) is a lost silent film.
"Sparrows Get Directors Goat"
Two sparrows this week broke up the climax in the big scene of Charles Klein's "The District Attorney," which the Lubin Company is making into a photoplay at the studio in Philadelphia. And not only did they break it up, but they kept it broken up quite successfully despite every effort to capture them. "The District Attorney" had been practically completed under the direction of Barry O"Neil. All that was needed to finish the play was the big climax and a few minor scenes. O"Neil had the set ready for the big scene. The players, who included Dorothy Bernard, A.H. Van Buren, Peter Lang, George Soule Spencer, Rosetta Brice, Ruth Bryan and Charles C. Brandt, had rehearsed the scene three times. The two camera men were waiting the signal to crank. Everything was in readiness. "Lights, shouted O'Neil. The powerful lights dazzled the room. "Camera," yelled the director. Both camera men started to grind and the acting began. Then down swooped two sparrows, just grazing Miss Bernard's head. All the players did a small stampede, thinking the sparrows were bats. O'Neil had to stop the scene. A few minutes later the players began again and once again into the scene swooped the sparrows. It was indeed a test for tempers, but not nearly as great a one as when the thing happened a third time. O'Neil was forced to wait fully three quarters of an hour, while everyone in the studio, armed with various domestic weapons, helped drive out the winged interrupters. Article appeared in Motography, July 5, 1915, Vol. XIII, No. 4, page 136
Two sparrows this week broke up the climax in the big scene of Charles Klein's "The District Attorney," which the Lubin Company is making into a photoplay at the studio in Philadelphia. And not only did they break it up, but they kept it broken up quite successfully despite every effort to capture them. "The District Attorney" had been practically completed under the direction of Barry O"Neil. All that was needed to finish the play was the big climax and a few minor scenes. O"Neil had the set ready for the big scene. The players, who included Dorothy Bernard, A.H. Van Buren, Peter Lang, George Soule Spencer, Rosetta Brice, Ruth Bryan and Charles C. Brandt, had rehearsed the scene three times. The two camera men were waiting the signal to crank. Everything was in readiness. "Lights, shouted O'Neil. The powerful lights dazzled the room. "Camera," yelled the director. Both camera men started to grind and the acting began. Then down swooped two sparrows, just grazing Miss Bernard's head. All the players did a small stampede, thinking the sparrows were bats. O'Neil had to stop the scene. A few minutes later the players began again and once again into the scene swooped the sparrows. It was indeed a test for tempers, but not nearly as great a one as when the thing happened a third time. O'Neil was forced to wait fully three quarters of an hour, while everyone in the studio, armed with various domestic weapons, helped drive out the winged interrupters. Article appeared in Motography, July 5, 1915, Vol. XIII, No. 4, page 136