Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

April, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 45 man has seen a music hall show once and he has a little money he is apt to spend it on the moving picture shows instead of going the second or third time to the same variety show ; but that is the extent of our competition with the theatres." Mr. Pyke's satement regarding the competition of the moving picture houses with the music halls hardly fits in with the loud lamentations of the managers of the latter class of entertainment. For the last three years there has been a steady drop in the prosperity of the music halls, especially where the competition with the moving picture houses is strongest. It is just such a situation as faced the vaudeville managers in the United States some years ago, and eventually drove many of the houses into the moving picture field. The idea of combining the music hall and the moving picture show, as is now the custom in many of the larger houses on your ' side of the Atlantic, is not feasible here. A music hall in England has to be licensed, and aside from the cost of the license it is becoming increasingly difficult to get the sanction of the governing bodies. It is felt that the music hall field is more than full at the present time, and no less a power than Oswald Stoll, managing director of the Stoll circuit, recently was refused permission to build three new music halls in London. Some of the moving picture houses have installed orchestras and singers, but that is as far as they have departed from the straight cinematograph show. Aside from the liquor saloons, which are open at certain hours, the moving picture theaters are the sole dissipation of London's puritanical Sunday. On that day the cinematograph houses are open "for charity." It is announced that the proceeds will be turned over to such-and-such a hospital. The authorities then wink at the violation of the law. Naturally, the moving picture people, not being in the business for their health, turn over to the institution mentioned only a part of the proceeds. The usual practice is for the moving picture house to retain 75 per cent of the day's takings for "expenses," forwarding the remaining 25 per cent to the charity. But the managers are not satisfied with that and are circulating petitions for signature calling upon the authorities to allow the shows to open on Sundays without this payment to charity. There are many who believe that the moving picture craze is simply a boom and that it will die out in a few years. They point to the roller skating boom that travelled from the United States across the Atlantic and struck England four years ago. Today there are very few traces of it left except in the holes it put in the pockets of thousands of investors. Films to Advertize West If the Great Northern railroad can gain the cooperation of cities along its line it will present to the public in America and Europe moving picture films at the expense of the railroad entitled, "An All America Tour." The Great Northern officials have been investigating the moving picture idea for over a year and have decided that the road will order 10,000 feet of film if cities wishing to be advertised will make up an order of 10,000 feet more. The idea is to embody in the film a complete story of the principal attractions in a trip across the con tinent, starting at some point in the east, coming down the Great Lakes, thence across Minnesota and North Dakotas, through Wisconsin and Oregon, along the line of the Great Northern. In addition the Great Northern will make several short films for use in its lecture work with exhibition cars. It is the belief of the railroad officials that Spokane, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Wenatchee, Everett, Bellingham and Vancouver would find it a profitable form .of advertising. The films can be contracted for at a cost of 68 cents a foot, which is about one-half the prevailing price. Of the cities that arrange to have the films taken the Great Northern will buy duplicate films and exhibit them along with its 10,000 feet. This plan contemplates a complete pictorial view across . the continent. Every .industry and every prominent city is to be given space, so that the films will really constitute a flying vision from the Atlantic to the Pacific. These films are to be shown in all parts of this country, especially in the East and in Europe, where they are expected to command much attention among prospective immigrants seeking information about Western America. "Daylight Shows Compulsory in California All that remains to make Senator Strobridge's bill making it unlawful to operate other than "daylight" moving picture shows is the signature of the governor. The bill has passed both houses. Opponents of the bill argued that the measure would further the sale of a patent which enables the showing of moving pictures when the theater is almost as light as day. Bishop of Santa Ana argued that no provisions for moral shows are needed, as in Orange county, from where he expects to be sent to the legislature as a senator next session, there are no immoral pictures or shows. Rogers of Alameda fathered the bill in the Assembly and stated the provision that required theaters to be light enough for one in the audience to distinguish the features of every other person in the theater was the best provision of the bill. The curfew law provisions are also incorporated. Children under 16 years of age are prevented from attending theaters unless accompanied by adults after 9 o'clock at night in the summer and after 8 o'clock in the winter. Immoral and crime depicting plays are prohibited. Films to Show Proposed Bridge Films are now being made of the Greater South Portland (Ore.) bridge to be used by several of the moving-picture shows -on both sides of the Williamette river to announce that the question will be placed on the ballot in June. These films will show portions of the bridge as it will appear when completed and also the lift draw. These pictures probably will be ready to show during April. Contracts have been made for their display. An Up-to-Date Church Building The Howard Street Methodist Church of San Francisco, recently completed, contains among other conveniences of the modern institutional church a social hall and main auditorium, both wired for moving pictures.