Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

October, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 195 lenses furnished must make the picture the desired size. All manufacturers of machines have adopted the 15/16 inch aperature plate, at the company's suggestion, so this factor in figuring the focus of the lens will be constant. A difference of 1/32 inch in the aperture plate will make a difference of 6 inches in a 12 by 16 foot picture, so the size of the aperture plate is an important factor in calculating the focus of the lens. The standard aperture plate is now 11/16 by 15/16 inch, or practically % to 1, and the magnification is in the same proportion so the picture is always 9 inches high for each 12 inches wide. This proportion cannot be changed as the projection lens has nothing to do with the shape of the picture and no correction can be made in the lens to overcome the angle of projection. However, the quality of the projection lens has everything to do with the quality of the picture ; upon the lens depends its sharpness, brilliancy and illumination, although it is obviously impossible to make poor films produce a good result. Boy Hunts Picture Cowboy John D. Home, of Los Angeles, was a ferocious Indian when he struck the warpath in Edendale one afternoon. He plunked an arrow squarely into the neck of a cowboy's horse. But at night John D. Home was a very sick little boy and keenly enjoying the petting given him by his mother. His left ankle had been broken in a wild leap over a retaining wall to escape from a vengeful cowboy who did not remember the days when he, himself, played Indian. Johnny Home is only 13 years of age, a son of the late Captain Thomas Home, who was killed two years ago. Since his father's death Johnny Home has been the mainstay of his widowed mother, doing odd jobs on dairy ranches in Edendale. Johnny was out for play. Armed with a bow and arrow, he admired the actors posing for the movingpicture film makers. The temptation was too great for Johnny. He let fly an arrow at one of the gaily trapped cowboys. The arrow was but a stick of wood, and blunt at that. The only harm it did was to strike the horse on the neck and cause it to shy, interfering with the comfort of the rider. Fearing the menacing quirt of his intended victim, Johnny leaped over a fifteen-foot retaining wall. At the Receiving Hospital Dr. Quint found that he had sustained a fracture of the left ankle. Free Picture Snows in Chelsea Park A novel feature in playground activities was inaugurated at Chelsea park, New York, when a free outdoor moving picture show was given. This was repeated every Monday and Thursday night until October 1. These shows with the band concert on Tuesday nights made Chelsea park an ideal place in the evenings. It is the aim of William Lee, supervisor of recreation, to make Chelsea park a model center for the people's enjoyment. The picture show is given under the auspices of the Hudson guild to co-operate in bringing about this end. Chelsea park is in the block bounded by Ninth and Tenth avenue, Twenty-seventh and Twentyeighth streets. Amusement Supply Co. to Rent Films The Amusement Supply Company, Chicago, announces the fact that beginning with October it will add to an already large and well known business a film rental department, under the management of Robert D. Lett, formerly of the H. & H. Film Service, of Chicago, and more recently manager of the Reliable Film Exchange, of that city. It is the purpose of the Amusement Supply Company to handle a high class of independent film, and in addition it will make a specialty of feature reels. The company has recently moved into much larger quarters, and beginning with October will be glad to correspond with such exhibitors as would care to contract for a really first class weekly service. Current Song Hits The Jerome H. Remick Company reports that moving picture houses are making a big hit with its recent songs, chief among these being: "Oceana Roll," "Red Rose Rag," "You've Got to Take Me Home Tonight," "You'll Do the Same Thing," "My Hula Hula Love," and others. The Ted Snyder Company cannot keep up the supply of "Alexander's Rag Time Band," if the demand continues the way it has started for this popular song. The catchy "After the Honeymoon" is also very popular, and "Dreams, Just Dreams," will probably be sung in every moving picture house in the country before its popularity wanes. A Foreign Opportunity A large South African firm, having branch houses in all the important cities of that region and leading in the importation of moving-picture outfits, informs an American consulate that it would like to receive catalogues and price lists from American manufacturers of complete moving-picture outfits and accessories, electric apparatus with general picture-show accessories, searchlights for shows, and any novelties appertaining to picture shows. The address of this firnv may be obtained from the Bureau of Manufacturers, Washington, D. C, by referring to Inquiry No. 7246. The Vitagrajh Company of America has in course of preparation two classics from the pen of John Milton, which will be >given animated interpretations, both masterpieces of this great mind — "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained." The Vitagraph's aim is to make these productions even more wonderful than anything the company has ever evolved, meeting the high standard of quality and the cultured tastes which the Yitagraph life portrayals have established in the minds of the people. C. O. Baumann, who has been the controlling factor in the making of Reliance and Bison films, as well as in the handling of Italy and Ambrosio imports, has passed over the control of the Reliance Company to J. C. Geavan, of St. Louis, and J. V. Ritchey, of Chicago. Mr. Baumann will now bend all his energies toward the production of spectacular western dramas, released under the Bison trademark.