The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Toronto Ont. — Everybody who viewed the veriscope pictures of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons contest at the private exhibition given to a select gathering at the Toronto Opera House on Saturday night marvelled at what they saw. Every detail of the "contest of the century" at Carson City last March was brought out on the canvas with wonderful exactness and the spectators cheered the manager of the veriscope, Mr. W. Clifton Turner, and the manager of the house, Mr. Ambrose J. Small, for the success the} had made of the exhibition. A canvas sheet covered the whole of the front of the stage, upon which was thrown the picture from the balcony after the house had been darkened. All the famous scenes of the great contest were presented without the slightest show of vulgarity. Fitzsimmons' refusal to shake hands with Corbett; Fitz's anxiety before the contest began; Corbett's wonderful side-stepping and dodging; Fitz's knock down in the sixth round and his ruse of staying on the floor until Referee Siler had called "nine;" the heavy punching of Fitzsimmons; the knock-out blow in the fourteenth round and the scene after it is all over, when Corbett has lost his head entirely, were a'l pictured faithfully on the canvas. It is truly a remarkable pictorial representation and there is nothing in it that the most fastidious can point to as being offensive. A number of the aldermen were present at the exhibition and so expressed themselves. Boston — Anybody who doubts the success of the veriscope picture of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons glove contest should pay a visit to the Boston Theatre and be convinced to the contrary. The audiences of both matinee and night performances are large, and the motion pictures will undoubtedly remain for a considerable length of time. Another curious feature noticed is the applause that is bestowed upon the canvas. One would imagine himself at a presentation of howling melodrama rather than viewing a series of inanimate pictures thrown upon a canvas drop. It is a great compliment to the veriscope, as it proves how lifelike the scenes are. New films of the last four rounds have replaced the old ones, which had failed to give perfect satisfaction. They are now the best of the lot, and as these rounds are the most hardy contested of the entire fourteen, they never fail to bring down the house with thunders of applause. The veriscope is now being exhibited in Cincinnati and Chicago, in addition to Boston, and within a mouth will be shown in London and Paris. It will be of interest to watch how the people across the water will take to these pictures. Neither of the principals are particular favorites in London, but as the fight was of international interest to the sporting fraternity, there is but little doubt but that the}' will meet with success. Galesburg, III — The members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of this city have begun a fight against the reproduction of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight here by the veriscope. They petitioned the council to take action toward suppressing the exhibition and the council referred the matter to Mayor Cooke, asking him to execute the law. The mayor is in doubt as to what to do. The manager of the Auditorium will probably try to give the exhibition in spite of the protest. The Christian Citizenship league in mass meeting passed a strong resolution denouncing the exhibition as demoralizing and urging the mayor to suppress it. Shenandoah, Pa. — The management of the National Vitascope which held forth at Robbins' Opera House, and which will give another exhibition at the same place, has been accepted by Thomas Waters, Jr. Mr. Waters gave a trial performance before a party of prominent citizens of the town, who were well pleased with the results accomplished by the improvements made. It will be given several more trails before the exhibition, so as to assure its success. Augusta, Ga. — There was a splendid exhibition of the work of Edison's latest motion-producing invention at Lake View. The views were excellent, many being shown in this city for the first time. Annabelle's famous sun dance, the Royal Blue express and the kissing scene were splendid views which met with loud applause. There was no admission charged to the patrons of the cars, so that many availed themselves of the privilege of seeing free of charge, what they had paid twenty-five cents or more to see at the Opera House some little while ago. This is another of the entertainments which are furnished gratis by the railway company at the lake. MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Veriscope pictures of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons contest, which are now running at the Davidson Theatre, have caught the popular fancy, for the theatre Jias been crowded July, 1897 nightly, and at each performance there has been a very large percentage of ladies in attendance. One can sit in the comfortable seats of the theatre and witness the contest which took place thousands of miles away, and see all of the details, no matter how minute, reproduced with the greatest fidelity. Atlantic City, N. J. — The States Avenue Opera House was crowded with a large and fashionably dressed audience who thoroughly enjoyed the veriscope pictures of the Corbett and Fitzsimmons contest, and although by their frequent applause they seemed to favor Corbett, yet in justice we must say that a great many of the men applauded Fitzsimmons heartily in the fourteenth round, while the ladies «'eclared it was a shame that Corbett should loss. The reproducing every action of the men and surroundings for over an hour and a quarter shows us what we have missed in the past, for instance how interesting it would be to be able to witness Washington signing the declaration of independence. Mbeve tCbe? Mere Erbtbtteb Xast flDontb Cineograph Opera House, Lorain, 0.; Mozart Park, Wheeling, W. Va.; Genesee Opera House, Auburn, N. Y. Bioscope Austin & Stone's Museum, Boston, Mass.; Sea Beach Palace, Coney Island , X. Y. Veriscope Academy of Music, Chicago, 111.; Davidson Theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.; Lyceum Theatre, New London, Conn.; Metropolitou , Minneapolis. Minn. ; Pleasure Beach, Conn ; Cook Opera House, Rochester, N. Y. ; Opera House, Atlantic city, N. J.; Toronto Opera House, Toronto, Ont. Projectoscope Formun Block, Erie Pa. ; Madison Park. Seattle. Washington; Coliseum. Chattanooga, Tenn. Biograph Washington Park, Camden, N. J.; Keith's, Boston, Mass. ; Keith's, New .York. Cinematographe Hopkins, Chicago, 111 : Grand Opera Hon.-*, Washington. D. C; River View, Washington. D. C. Anirnatoscope Tabor, Denver, Colo. Magniscope Olympic, Chicago, 111. ; Haymarket, Chicago, 111. Vitascope Appolo Hall, Paterson, N. J.; Lake View Theatre, Birmingham, Ala.; Orange Street Opera House, Lancaster, Pa. Kinetoscope Grand. Canton. O. ; Lake View, Ga. ; Park Theatre, Brooklyn. N. Y. Phantascope Lake Ottosee, Tenn. Electroscope Woodlynne Park, Camden, N. J. Photoscope Ocean Grove, Asbury Park, N. .1. Cinematoscope Mozart Garden, Chicago, 111.