Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

32 REEL and SLIDE National Exhibitors' Circuit Gets Johnson Series THE First National Exhibitors' Exchange has secured for distribution in the State of New York Martin Johnson's sensational "Cannibals of the South Seas." The deal, one of the most important of the autumn, has just been consummated with the Robertson-Cole Company, which controls the world's rights to this remarkable collection of motion pictures. Robertson-Cole only recently announced that it had acquired for release Martin Johnson's "Cannibals of the South Seas" as the first big subject to be handled in America through its newly organized domestic department. The New York state transaction followed close upon this trade statement. The First National Exhibitors' Exchange of New York considers the cannibal feature one of the sure fire 100 per cent box office attractions of the coming season. 1,000-foot lengths with uniform precision and at the saving of enormous losses, makes a central printing and developing plant a reali.ty." Spoor-Thompson Processing Plan Now in Operation AT a time when the film industry is feeling an external pressure due to the gigantic war and when internal conditions are particularly unsettled, necessitating the greatest economy in all its various branches, George K. Spoor, presifient of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, has perfected a processing machine, which, it is stated, will save manufacturers millions of dollars annually. Two of these machines, which are said to be revolutionary in their method of processing film, are now installed and working at the Essanay studios, Chicago. They are said to have been given a practical test under the most severe and exacting conditions, and it is asserted that they have processed millions of feet for Essanay and other concerns with highly satisfactory results. ' ;<;^'^ Ten machines, each ^ feet in length' and weighing IS tons, have been constructed and are now being installed. They will be in operation shortly and the ten machines, with a generous allowance for delays of any nature whatever, are capable of processing a minimum of 10,000,000 feet a week, according to report. Some years ago Mr. Spoor, who has had' developed and constructed much of the finest laboratory machinery in use in the motion picture art to-day, began a careful and exhaustive study of the situation. He was convinced that the system of processing film in vogue was antiquated, and had failed to keep pace with the advancement of the motion picture industry in other lines. He believed that there was a tremendous waste involved, both in time and material. "With a view to eliminating this waste and at the same time standardizing the work so as to obtain a uniform and high grade of development throughout, I engaged Mr. F. B. Thompson, an engineer of high qualifications and an expert in chemistry, to construct a processing machine." said Mr. Spoor. "After a year of experimenting, Mr. Thompson completed this machine. Two years ago it was installed in our Essanay studios, where its operation was studied and thoroughly tested and corrections made until it was brougt/t to the present high standard of efficiency and perfection. "The Spoor-Thompson processing machine, with its new method of developing Y. M. G. A. Buys Many Motiograph Projecting Machines ACCORDING to General Manager Spahr of the Enterprise Optical Company of Chicago, the closing of theaters all over the country on account of the influenza epidemic has proved a benefit instead of a detriment to his business. During the shut-down two Motiograph De Luxe machines have been installed in each of the following places : Akron, Ohio ; Stigler, Okla. ; Saranac, Mich. ; Chelsea, Okla. ; Danville, 111., and Famour Theater at Chicago. One machine was installed also at the Noyes School at Evanston, 111. In addition to this it is reported that the H. K. Barnett Supply Company of Dallas, Texas, has sold and installed in Y. M. C. A. huts in the State of Texas fifty Motiograph machines and received an additional order from the Y. M. C. A. for thirty. While Mr. O. F. Spahr, general manager of the Enterprise Optical Co., was attending the recent New York convention of the motion picture industry, he received personally from the New York headquarters of the Y. M. C. A. an order for one hundred additional Motiograph machines. The Enterprise Co.' had previously furnished the Y. M. C. A. army huts of the United States cantonments between five and six hundred machines. The Y. M. C. A. are now arranging to ship Mazda equipment of Motiograph type to Philippines. Lewy Studios Film Munitions Plant in Baltimore THE Lewy Studios, Baltimore, Md., have just completed a commercial film picture of approximately eight hundred feet for the Poole Engineering Co. of the same city. This picture was made for historical record, showing what the Poole Company has done in the line of building 12-in. 3 pounder and 37 M. M. guns. Also the making of 37 M. M. shells, showing how the casing is made from one brass disc, and how the shells are turned out from the long steel rods. As Mr. Lewy and Mr. Barry, his director, attended to the filming personally, no opportunity was lost whereby a close-up could be used to advantage in showing the many interesting stages munitions go through in the making. There is every reason to believe the film will be shown to the public shortly. Rothacker Booth at Congress WHEN the Allied Metals Congress convened at the Auditorium Building in Milwaukee during the week of October 8, the booth of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company of Chicago was declared to be the most popular one there. The Allied Metals Congress is composed of the American Foundrymen's Association, the American Institute of Mining Engineers and the American Malleable Castings Association. The Rothacker Company had exclusive motion picture privileges and maintained a continuous exhibition of industrial, educational and sales film from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. daily. The Rothacker booth was handled by Messrs. S. Calvert, C. P. Tobin, G. S. Anderson and H. W. Mehnke. Universal Industrial Dept. Staff Uses Night Photography ( <T->v ANGER AHEAD" is the signifiI 1 cant title chosen for an elaborate •*~^ industrial picture made by the Universal Industrial Department under the supervision of Harry Levey, Afanager, for the Warner Lenz people, which is to be used in exploiting that legahzed auto light throughout the country. This picture is regarded as a great technical accomplishment, as the difficulties to be overcome were entirely out of the ordinary. This is better understood when it is stated that the photographing of the lens in use was necessarily done by night photography. One of the principal of these was caused by the fact that in photographing an oncoming automobile with two headlights blazing behind the Warner Lenz, but one of the hghts would be in focus. So successfully was this handicap overcome that one would never gue^s from seeing the picture that it ever existed. Of great value was the solving of aaother problem, that of showing the relative values of different lights projected through -the Warner Lenz and other lenses. The various problems were solved only after the entire technical staff of the Indus* trial Department of the Universal w^' called in, and after many tests were made. The desired results were finally obtained and they are remarkably interesting. Some of the experiments were such as to lead to the belief that night photograp,l|y might in the near future be used in conngEtion with tests of lights of various kinfs on a much larger scale than any whijh^ may heretofore been attempted in the laioratory. The results were such as to add to the fame of motion pictures as an invaluable technical and scientific aid which is ever available. COMPLETE MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT ACME With our ACME PORTABLE PROJECTOR you can exhibit motion pictures in any part of the world. Always ready. No speciaj wires or switches reQuired. Used by Uncle Sara and by Imndreds of educational institutions. Price $180 complete with domestic equipment; $200 fitted and boxed for export. HALLBERG PORTABLE ELECTRIC PLANT Where current cannot be obtained use our electric plants. $300 up. For big professional projection in permanent location we recommend our POWERS CAMERAGRA'H Prices upon request HALLBERG MOTOR GENERATOR SINGLE AND TWIN UNIT for one or two arcs, with or without switchboard. Prices upon request. Don't forget, we carry everything you need to exhibit motion pictures except the films. Buy now and save money! UNITED THEATRE EQUIPMENT CORP. Executive Offices 1602 Broadway New York City H. T. Edwards, J. H. Hallberg. President Vice-President. Offices in All Large Cities