Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

22 Motion Picture N e zv s July 5, 1930 Did Edison Invent Pictures? Big Row Reaches Boiling Point, but Cools Off Authorities Can't Agree on Subject, But Admit That Wizard Helped a Lot A tilt over the origin of motion pictures, as now used in this country, approached the boiling point this week, only to be cooled off by action of the New York Sun in refusing to become the stamping grounds for the battle after having been drawn into the fray through publication of articles questioning Thomas A. Edison's participation in the invention of motion pictures. Veterans in the business hurled charges thick and fast. Some emphatically denied that Edison was responsible in any form for laboratory development of motion pictures, stating that the "electrical wizard" was only entitled to credit for furthering their commercial usages. Others rushed to Edison's defense, giving him full credit for the inventive phases. This phase of the controversy was brought to a sudden close with publication of a lengthy article from Edison's biographer and former patent attorney, Frank L. Dyer, who was also at one time president of the Motion Picture Patents Co. Did Edison Invent Pictures? Reasons of space are assigned by the editorial officials of The Sun for thus terminating the discussion, but the question as to whether Edison did or did not "invent the motion picture" has been so long a moot subject for discussion within the industry that Motion Picture News sought further light upon it for the purposes of historic record. Dyer, in his article, takes direct issue with Merritt Crawford, whose letter, alleging that Edison was not in any sense the "inventor of the motion picture," but who merely "popularized" it, was printed in Motion Picture News last week. As a close associate and friend of Edison, Dyer's statements appear to have definite authority, although some think not entirely without bias. They certainly express the claims made by Edison's supporters. The facts outlined by Crawford, on the other hand, also are entitled to consideration. As a member of the editorial staff of Motion Picture News many years ago and a writer identified with the industry for nearly a score of years, his researches into early picture history are known to many. Pioneers All "Fell Short" Dyer ridicules Crawford's assertions about Edison, however, and claims that Edison was not only "the first to suggest the principles involved in the modern motion picture camera" and the first to apply these principles practically in the construction of bis camera apparatus, but that of all the earlier experimenters mentioned by Crawford, namely, Marey, Le Prince. Friese Greene, Du Cos and Muybridge, "not one . . . utilized the correct principles first adopted by Edison," or "had the courage or vision to see" what Edison did. According to Dyer, they all "fell short of the goal or followed the wrong path," of which the modern motion picture was the ultimate result. "The principles underlying the original Edison camera," states Dyer, "characterize all cameras, which have been used successfully Marey Honored In France Beaune (Cote d'or), France. — High civic dignitaries and leaders in the French film industry this week observed the Marey Centenary Celebration, in honor of Jules Etienne Marey, inventor of present day cinematography, who was born in 1830 and died in 1904. To Marey is attributed the invention of chronophotography which is the basis of the modern motion picture. He was a student of the analysis of movement, and gave no thought to the synthesis of motion. since the year 1889, when the complete invention was reduced to practice by Edison." Dyer scouts the importance of Judge Wallace's decision against the Edison camera patent in 1902, referred to by Crawford, and states that the "re-issue patent," obtained subsequent to that decision, was "sustained as valid, and until its expiration in 1914 the entire industry paid tribute thereunder to Edison in the form of royalties." Against these definite statements by Dyer, Crawford casts another bombshell into the camp of the Edison supporters, which, by reason of the fact that The Sun has now closed its columns to further discussion of this chapter in picture history, Motion Picture News presents exclusively. Crawford gives full credit to Edison for helping to make pictures commercially possible, by his researches and experiments, lending tremendous impetus to its early development, but he asserts again, emphatically, and states his authorities, that Edison not only originated nothing of importance in connection with the motion picture, but that his chief claim to consideration lies in the fact that he only copied and commercialized (though, it may be, he improved) the inventions of others. Dyer Influenced by Friendship? ''Dyer's letter in defense of the claims made for Edison," says Crawford, "are only what should he expected from a fine and loyal friend such as he is. "Mr. Dyer's remarks, however, make it necessary to bring out certain facts, hitherto not generally known, although every impartial student of film his tory has been fully aware of them for years past. "In putting these facts on the record at this time I have no desire to detract at all from Edison's reallv great set vices to film's development. The industry owes him a great debt. But it is not in the field of invention. "If Edison has become something of a legend in the picture business, this should not concern us in ascertaining the truth. Neither myths nor romance have to do with historic fact. "And it is only with facts with which we should be interested. "Dyer states that Edison was 'the first to suggest the principles of the modern motion picture camera.' and that 'not one' of the earlier experimenters 'utilized the correct principles first adopted, by Edison.' He savs that 'all cameras, which have been used successfully since the year 1889, when the complete invention was first reduced to practice by Edison.' cmbodv these principles. "These statements are all misleading, especially as to Edison being 'first.' _ Dr. Jules Etienne Marey, the great French physiologist, developed the apparatus for taking a series of photographs, using one lens from one position and a device for viewing them in animation, long before Edison did. The courts, as I shall latei show, have determined that fact. Edison and Marey Met in 1889 Duruos the Ftric ExpcoitllE f 1839 Dr M-.,tv showed Edison, as a brother scientist, all the apparatus, which he used in taking and viewing his celebrated chrono-photosraphii pictures, which embody every principle of the modern cinema. The records of the Marey Institute, the daily newspapers of the time and other published accounts, which have never been denied, all testify to this meeting. "Edison returned to America in the fall of 188° and_ reduced to practice his complete invention of the motion picture camera, as Dyer says. "The camera of William Friese-Greene, patented in England June 21, 1889, a detailed description of {Continued on page 24) Paramount, Fox Stage Show War Renews in Seattle Seattle — With the return of Publix stage shows to the Seattle Paramount next week, the battle for superiority will be on again between that house and the Fox Fifth Avenue, where Fanchon and Marco stage units hold sway. Up to the time that Publix shows discontinued here a couple of seasons ago, the Paramount and Fifth Avenue were in continual battle before the public, each utilizing much newspaper and bill board space to praise its stage presentations above those at the other theatre. For the past few weeks, since the report that Publix shows were to play here again, the Fox Fifth Avenue has advertised "The One and Only Stage Revue in Seattle," and it is reported that it will again begin to use the slogan which it developed during the last period of battle, namely "There's a Bigger and Better Show at the Fox Fifth Avenue." One of these posters, posted directly opposite one of the Paramount's exit doors, greatly annoyed Publix officials here for many months during the time that the Publix stage shows formerly appeared here. Electrics Deny Charge Of Radio Trust by Gov't Wilmington, Del. — Four of the defendants including A. T. & T., Western Electric, General Motors and RCA, deny existence of the combination complained of by the government in its radio trust suit. Defendants likewise deny having, at any time, engaged in interstate commerce in radio communication or radio apparatus, although it is admitted that principal defendants own and control a large number of patents, but c'aim that in many cases patents overlap and therefore it is necessary to use many of them in combination to complete a satisfactory article. The government action was filed by the Dept. of Justice. Renews Doug's Option Hollywood — Young Douglas Fairbanks will continue with First National, the company having exercised its long-term option.