The Moving Picture World (November 1907)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. 555 Published Every Saturday. The World Photographic Publishing Company, New TorK. ALFRED H. SAUHDERS. Editor. . J. F. Chalmers, Associato Editor and CstlaeM Meaatfer. Vol. 1., NOVEMBER 2 No. 35. SUBSCRIPTION: $2.00 per year. Post free in the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands. CANADA AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES: $2.50 per year. I All communications should be addressed to P. 0. BOX 450, NEW YORK CITY. ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. Editorial. The Fire RisK. A certain "house organ" has the temerity to take us to task and dictate how we should conduct our journal, what we should say, and what leave unsaid. What right has it to criticise or "condemn and disapprove" truth? Our policy.does not need any defense, our columns are untrammelled and free, and if it was not consistent with good judgment, our advertisers and readers would soon et us know. As it is, we have hundreds of letters on file oraplimenting us, while we have not received a single etter of disapproval. The minimizing of the danger of fire in nickelodeons is bad policy. There is never smoke without fire, let the cause be what it may. From every point of the compass we get reports strong- ly antagonistic to the placing of nickelodeons in the midst of valuable property owing to the great risk entailed through their advent, and for the trade to close their eyes o such conditions is worse than folly. Our policy ^rom our inception has been the uplifting md purifying the nickelodeons, and the safety of the pub- ic, by the reducing to a minimum any risk from fire. fhis can only be accomplished by the employment of apable, honest, and experienced operators. We contend bat unjust restrictions have been placed on machines, and is long as employees who are careless and incompetent n time of emergency are employed, so long will those estrictions continue; also, as long as firms who for the ake of the "almighty dollars" use obsolete machines in- tead of those fully complying with the law, so long will ires continue to scare the people. We want the trade to open their eyes, and not be lulled o sleep with false sophistries. The danger is palpably lain and measures must be adopted to overcome it. The trade is not blind to the fact that the fire insurance ompanies are holding conventions all over the States to iscuss the question of the cinematograph risk, and it is bsurd to close our eyes and exclaim, "We can't see! Ve can't see!" Such attitude shows "lack of gumption" and "is indeed deplorable." Let the proprietors of nick- elodeons be honest with themselves and comply with the requiremnts of the State wherein they may be, and throw all obsolete machines into the junk heap, instead of patch- ing them up as they are doing. .If every man who uses a machine was licensed, after passing an examination in technicalities-and practical ■ use of the electric Kght and machine, instead of the machine as at present, it would tend to assure the Boards of Fire Underwriters that the trade is willing to assist them in their endeavors to pro- tect property. Why are the manufacturers so slow in getting a non- inflammable film? Every now and again we hear that someone has patented such support, but each report turns out a fiasco. Regarding the reporting of raids, we want our readers to know where they stand, and what are suitable or not suitable films to exhibit to their patrons, and who are violating the laws of the State. Such information is always of value to our readers, in the conduct of their shows, and also acts as a beacon light to show where the rocks are. The suppression of such reports may be policy in a "house organ," but no paper of any repute would make such invidious distinctions. Practical TalKs to Operators. By Maxwell H. Hite. CHAPTER I. Maxwell H. Hite, the expert electrician and cinemato- graph operator, of Harrisburg, Pa., has consented to fur- nish this journal with a number of articles that will ap- pear in his new book, "Lessons in How to Become a Successful Moving Picture Machine Operator." Mr. Hite expects to receive the complete book from the printer's hands on or about November 9, 1907, at which time he will immediately mail out copies to those who favor him with advance orders. The first article, appears herewith and experienced operators as well as beginners will find it instructive reading. Mr. Hite's writings are based on his experience of-a number of years in the busi- ness, he having traveled throughout the United States giving illustrated entertainments. In writing these lessons I will make them as plain as possible, as I believe that it is your desire to learn how to successfully operate a moving picture machine com- bined with a stereopticon so that you can give a public entertainment that will prove interesting, instructive and educational to your audience, and at the same time pleas- ant and profitable to yourself or employer. With this object in view I will briefly describe a stereopticon and moving picture machine to you. A stereopticon is an optical instrument so arranged as to enable the operator to illuminate, enlarge and project transparent views upon a screen so they can be seen by the audience. A Dissolving Stereopticon consists of two single lanterns uniform in every respect and so assembled that views projected from either lantern will cover the same disc on the screen. The main advan- tage to be derived from a dissolving stereopticon is the beautiful dissolving effects, that is, the fading away of the picture and the gradual appearance of another. In oper- ating a dissolving stereopticon each lantern is equipped with one objective lens, a pair of condensing lenses and a limelight or acetylene gaslight burner; each burner must