Photoplay (1916)
Geraldine Farrar- her voice is still singing in the hearts of Russ, Teuton, Frank and Englishman, though ruder sounds fill their ears- is now doing silent opera at the Lasky studios in Hollywood, California. Farrar voiceless! The Mona Lisa without her smile; a Stradavarius without its strings; children of a deaf and dumb institute at play!
But then one reflects. In addition to being the most beautiful woman ever to star in grand opera, with the possible exception of Lina Cavalieri, Miss Farrar is noted for her dramatic ability which would have borne her to fame on the stage had there been no voice to supplement it. By all rights Miss Farrar ought to be divided for if one fills his eye with her he cannot possibly have ears, and if one is lost in an ecstasy of sound how possibly can he see?
Miss Farrar began work in her operatic pictures June 14. She is to appear in three pictures, and her engagement calls for eight weeks' steady work. Supporting her are such Lasky stars as Theodore Roberts, James Neill, Ralph Kellard and Pedro de Cordoba.
On her arrival in San Francisco the opera star and her party were met at the train by Mayor Rose of Los Angeles and 500 schoolchildren, who strewed a pathway of flowers from the singer's private car to her motor. Traveling in Miss Farrar's entourage are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Farrar; her personal manager, Morris Gest, and Mrs. Gest; two maids, a secretary, a man-servant , a chef, a hairdresser and a chauffeur.
Miss Farrar and her party occupy a beautiful bungalow among the hills of Hollywood. The grounds and garden attached to the bungalow are about two acres in extent. This home does not cost the star a cent, but comes out of the Lasky coffers, together with the meals, automobiles and incidental expenses.
The building in which Miss Farrar will do her studio work was especially built for her, and contains her private reception room, dressing-room and bath. As the singer objected to crowds of visitors watching her work, the part of the stage where her sets are being done was boxed in and a private corridor was arranged for her exclusive use, leading from her dressing-room to the stage.
Miss Farrar's contract with the Lasky company is a rather unusual document for a player in motion pictures to hold. It provides that the star shall not work more than six hours a day, this period to be broken into morning and afternoon sessions of three hours each, with an intervening period of two hours at midday for rest. The Lasky company also agreed that she would not be required to do anything to impair her voice or health.
The Lasky company also took out insurance covering all damage to Miss Farrar from the time she entrained at New York until she sets foot safely back there. Miss Farrar will receive $35,000 for the eight weeks' work, which, at six hours a day, can be resolved into the smaller units of $2 a minute.
As the work progressed, the singer repeatedly expressed delight with the results achieved, especially when she was allowed to witness herself in the play, in the projecting rooms.
"Special Studios Built for Geraldine Farrar- Filmdom's Latest Captive," Photoplay Magazine, August 1915, page 42.
© 1997, David Pierce, on editing and revisions (if any)
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