Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 17 absolutely nothing to advance the art and science of the motion picture. They have not added to our knowledge. What is needed here in New York is a society where those interested in the motion picture can meet and discuss the optics, chemistry, physics, art and manipulation of the motion picture ; how it is made from beginning to end; how the picture is exposed, printed, developed ; how it is toned, fixed, and the like. Only this week, with the appearance of this publication in its final and permanent form as The Motion Picture News, we have been personally asked by many enthusiastic young motion picture men when we shall be able to find space for scientific articles dealing with the actual making of the picture. These will come soon. Meanwhile we give the idea of this proposed society for the study of motion pictures our hearty support. At an early date we will see that a meeting is called so that the initiatory steps can be taken. We think that such a man as Professor E. J. Wall, who is professor of photography and motography at Syracuse University, might fittingly be the first president. Mr. Wall is experienced in society work, and his name at the head of the proposed society would be a good one, and one carrying considerable weight in the world of art and science. RIGHT OFF THE REEL ( Continued from page 15) War, all wars, in fact, excepting now and then a Waterloo or Gettysburg battle. ""T)EACE hath her victories no less renowned than war." The motion picture theatre is still in its infancy. Now, fellows, don't throw things at me. Read more carefully. I say the motion picture theatre is still in its infancy. Other people, you know, don't include the word "theatre." They stop at "picture." The motion picture theatre can more or less directly be made the focal point of all the best teaching and human knowledge that can be obtained— progressive teaching, uplifting teaching, teaching which influences the human mind for the better and the best. However, these military pictures, if they have disgusted people, have proved of negative advantage here and there. ifc ^ T AM not arguing against military pictures, but let's have fewer of them. Let us have pictures of military life by all means, but not war or carnage. Military training is good for the manhood of the country, and therefore good for the country as a whole. The Boy Scout movement, which is spreading around the world, is military in its theory. It will make good m^n of the boys, strong men, physically and mentally. We all ought to be able to bear arms and build ourselves well in body as well as in mind. Self-preservation is the first law of nature. War will probably not be abolished in the life-time of anybody on this globe ; but if in addition to a realization of the costliness and the horrors of war, we also get by physical training and development to appreciate the fact that war is a useless waste of valuable human lives, then there will be another argument in favor of Mr. Carnegie's foresight. Prosit, Andrew! ^ ^ ^ ^ A GAIN I come around to my old theme; it is the women and children who hate war. They suffer the most. The men don't suffer; they fight and die. It is the widows and orphans made by war who suffer. Men don't suffer by fighting; it is just brutal sport to them. According to the evidence there is very little real bravery in war, very little. Mark what I write — bravery. There is plenty of savagery, which is a different thing to bravery — savagery actuated by brutal passions (and sometimes Scotch whiskey). ^ ^ ^ 'T'HE bravest man I ever knew, however, was a soldier. He narrated the instance of his bravery to me with the modesty of a true hero. He was in a review of troops when Mr. Roosevelt was President. My friend had to stand in line with his hands by his side on a blazing hot day in July. The temperature was 116° in the sun. The rays beat down upon the head of my military friend as a big fly settled on his nose, sat there, stuck there, and stung him, as the President passed and repassed. And yet my friend dare not lift a hand to remove the torturing insect! Well, if that is not bravery, it is something better. It is endurance. And it takes a brave man to endure torture — especially torture at 116 degrees in the sun. IMPORTANT NOTICES In future, and commencing with this issue, The Motion Picture News will be dated one week ahead, e. g., this number bears date October 25th. Owing to extreme and sudden pressure on our space, several articles are held over till next week, including "Construction Department," and other interesting communications. "FEATURE FILMS" : WHO FIRST USED THIS PHRASE? At a moment when so many are writing and talking of feature films as new, it is interesting to note that the Columbia Film Company advertised "Feature Films" in the News of December 25, 1909. Can anybody antedate this?