The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

422 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 11, 1926 'Vld Ironsides" Well Received By Metropolis Secretary of Navy Wilbur Js Honor Guest Striking Film From Paramount Pleases Broadway Navy Notables Give Vigorous Applause Scenes of spectacular proportions are numerous. In center above is the frigate Constitution. George Bancroft is the wide-chested master gunner. Below we see the destruction of the frigate "Castle," once a famous clipper ship. ^^^HE world premiere of TIT "Old Ironsides" Mon\U/ day night at the Rivoli Theatre, New York, was an event of national significance, with Secretary of the Navy Wilbur, accompanied by a notable delegation of naval ofificers in attendance. Officialdom, public and press acclaimed the James Cruze-Paramount production as epochal and one of the outstanding motion picture achievements of all time. The picture itself, a story of the heroics of the U. S. frigate Constitution, and the nature of the premiere combined, in the opinion of many, in bringing to t^ie screen a prestige not hitherto accorded it. A new effect in projection, used for the first time in the presentation of "Old Ironsides," brought the distinguished a-jdience to its feet in deafcnmg applause. In his review of the picture, Hall of the Times de.-cribes this new projection, produced by a device known as a magnoscope, as follows : "And, as an add'tional feature of the entort linment, the scene that ended the first half of the picture was a startling surprise, for the standard screen disappeared and the whole stage, from the prosceniun. arch to the boards, was filled with a moving picture of a replica of 'Old l.'orsides.' This brought every man and woman in the audience \o their feet and Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld's orchestra and chorus of voices further stirred the spectators with 'Ship of State.' "Some conception of the magnificent effect of this enlarged screen can be gained from its dimensions, which are 30 by 49 feet, whereas the usual screen in ■the Rivoli is about 12 by 18. This wide angle screen was tremendously effective in the scenes of fighting aboard the old frigate off the coast of Tripoli." During the intermission a painting of "Old Ironsides" by Gordon Grant was unveiled by Secretary Wilbur. Prints of this picture, which will be hung in the White House, will be distributed in behalf of the campaign to "Save Old Ironsides." Recepits from the premiere performance will be devoted to this campaign. Preceding the premiere an "Old Ironsides" dinner was tendered the distinguished naval guests, who had arived in the afternoon on a special train from Washington. At the dinner and at the Rivoli presentation there were in attendance more ranking admirals of the Navy than ever were present at any one time in the history of New York. Among the notables attending the dinner and premiere were : Curtis D. Wilbur, secretary of the Navy; Theodore D. Robinson, assistant secretary of the Navy ; Edward P. Warner, assistant secretary of the Navy; Admiral Charles F. Hughes, Rear-Admiral Hilary P. Jones, Rear-Admiral Henry A. Wiley, Rear-Admiral Edward R. Stitt, Rear-Admiral Charles Morris, Captain Halsey Powell, RearAdmiral Thomas P. Magruder, Rear-Admiral Noble E. Irwin, Rear-Admiral Richard H. Leigh, Rear-.^dmiral Charles H. Plunkett, Rear-Admiral Harley H. Christy, Rear-Admiral William V. Pratt, Rear-Admiral Philip Andrews, Rear-Admiral Arthur L. Willard, Major-General Preston Brown, Rear-Admiral Hutch I. Cone, Rear-Admiral Elliott Snow, Rear-Admiral Thomas S. Jewett, Rear-Admiral Thomas H. Hicks, Rear-Admiral Frederic R. Harris, Rear-Admiral L. M. Josephthal, Brigadier-General U. A. Drum, Brigadier-General William M. Cruikshank, Colonel Peter Traub, Captain R. P. Crandall, Captain N. J. Blackwood, Brigadier-General John A. Lejeune, Captain Edward T. Constein, Captain Charles S. Freeman, Captain William B. Wells, Captain Franck T. Evans, Captain Bsrron A. Long, Captain Herbert C. Cooke, Colonel Edward A. Greene, Colonel Webb Hays, C o lo n e I Thomas Fairservis. Colonel Charles D. Roberts, Commander Clifford M. Peck, Commander Charles Boone, Commander Lee W. Hasselman. Commander William B. Bainbridge, Lieutenant-Commander William K. Vanderbilt, Rear-Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, Captain Robert L. Beery, Captain William B. Franklin and others. Cable messages were received from the Asiatic fleet and other American fleets and ships scattered in the waters of the world.