Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

136 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIII, No. 4. by American moving picture fans to necessitate lengthy comment or praise in these columns. Suffice to say that she is one of the world's greatest tragediennes and is known as the Bernhart of Scandinavia, her native country. Her powerful acting in former Great Northern productions is well remembered by the American public and it is safe to say that all will welcome her return to the screen in "A Woman of Impulse." Allison & Hadaway Lights One of the really interesting developments in transportable illumination for motion picture use is the new Allison & Hadaway twin arc lamp recently installed in leading eastern studios. The features of the lamp combine high efficiency with compactness and portability. The lamp weighs 19 pounds and is transported in a light case. Each unit furnishes 8,000 c. p. of white actinic light. Outdoor scenes at night, the subway, store interiors, automobile races at night, industrial scenes of many descriptions — all have been successfully made with the lamps. "In fact," said Mr. J. W. Allison, "the uses to which this new illuminant may be put open up 25% additional range to the director looking for new and novel effects." In the December 5 issue of Motography a description of the use of this light by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company in taking some night scenes is described. . The lamp is economical to operate and, weighing so little, is capable of being transported to any point. It works on either D. C. or A. C. current. It is very simple in construction, has collapsible reflector and resistance units, and can be attached to any stand or tripod. The illumination from these lights is such the makers claim that a picture is able to register the difference between the color of a man's clothing and his face, giving a greater range of colors and shadows than any other light heretofore on the market. An advertisement of this apparatus appears on another page of Motography, and the manufacturers will be very glad to give any further information wanted if communicated with. Demonstrations may be had at the offices of the company, 235 Fifth avenue, New York City. Life Photo's Annual Meeting At the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Life Photo Film Corporation, held January 7, 1915, at the offices of the company, 220 West Fortysecond street, New York, these officers were elected for the ensuing year: Edward M. Roskam, president; Bernard Loewenthal, treasurer; Jesse J. Goldburg, secretary; Francis H. Tobias, first vice-president, and L. Abrahams, second vice-president. A financial statement of the affairs of the company was presented to the stockholders, made by the auditors of the company. Although the company had been unfortunate in the past year, having encountered such difficulties as its eviction from the One Hundred and First street plant, by the fire department, and the opposition on the part of the various boards of censors throughout the country to the releasing of "The Ordeal" at the present time, the financial affairs of the company are more than sound, showing a substantial net profit on the business of the year, in addition to which the assets of the company at present exceed the total capital stock of the corporation by more than 75 per cent. The policy of the corporation for the ensuing year was definitely planned and laid out. It will continue the manufacture of adaptations from stage successes, featuring in each production a Broadway star, and increase the output to two productions a month. This is to commence as soon as the repairs are completed to the new and model studio being erected adjacent to the laboratory at Grantwood, N. J. It was further determined that no stock of the corporation was to be sold to outsiders, and to continue the policy of running a close corporation. If appropriate arrangements cannot be made with a releasing or program concern to take over the entire output of the Life Photo Film Corporation, the releases of the company will be sold on a state right basis, the officers of the company believing that the time has again arrived when the demand for the purchase of productions on a state right basis justifies the company going back to that policy. 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 threequarters of an hour, while every one in the studio, armed with various domestic weapons, helped drive out the winged interrupters. Seery Denies Rumor Roie C. Seery, district manager of the Mutual Film Corporation, with headquarters in Chicago, also Chicago manager of the Serial Publication Corporation and the Thanhouser Syndicate Corporation, on Tuesday morning, January 12, emphatically denied in the presence of Harry E. Aitken, president of the Mutual Film Corporation, the story which has been in circulation the last few days in Chicago, to the effect that he was about to sever his relations with the above concerns to accept a position of importance with another film company. Mr. Seery asked Motography to absolutely deny the rumor which has gained circulation and declare that there was not a word of truth to it.