The Moving Picture World (1907)

688 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. P NEW; A CHRISTMAS ADOPT DESCRIPTION. Humanity demands sentiment, sympathy, heart in- terest and stirring; events to appease its nature. They like to watch happenings that touch these character- istics, and we bore this motto in mind when making our Christmas production "A CHRISTMAS ADOP- TION." It would be an injustice to this story picture to try and do it Justice in so short a description as this card will allow, nevertheless a good Idea can be gathered from the following: A clever crook secures a Job delivering a Xmas tree to a fashionable home. When Inside the house he secures a plan of same, and by the aid of a little chap (our hero) whom he has picked up in the streets and kept for the purpose of helping him In his crime, gains admission to the home. Their -work Is disturbed by the little girl of the house who hears a noise, and thinking: it is Santa Claus, gets out of bed and comes down stairs where the robbery is taking: place. The burglar is Just about to strike her when the little boy interferes; he saves the girl a blow, but gets one for his interference. The burglar now conceives the Idea (besides robbing the house) to kidnap the little girl for ransom. This he does, but he reckons without nis host, as the little boy also has formulated his plans; for when the burglar hands him the ransom note, he takes It, but comes back into the room where the lit- tle girl Is tied: he tears up the note, unties the girl, takes the stolen goods and quietly Jeaves. The next scene shows the distracted mother and father telling the police who have now arrived. The Officers are about to leave when the little boy walks In with the stolen plunder and the child. 'Explana- tions follow by the little girl, and our hero is adopted into the home and made a brother to the girl he saved. Length about 850 ft. Price 12c per Ft. Code, Tnrpia !jtory DRAMATICALLY STRONG MORALLY EFFECTIVE F1CTORIALLY GOOD RELEASE DATE, DECEMiSl 2<» ESSANAY'FILM.MFG. £©« 501 Wells $tff»©e£, CM<Bag©„ the good' news from our secretary, a few lines of which I will quote later in this letter. I would like to say first that, personally, I would not be in favor of an association, at least as a name. I firmly believe that the quickest, best, surest and most successful way to become organized is by unionism, pure and simple. The results ob- tained already by the Philadelphia body I offer as proof of the assertion. The very first move towards forming the said union was to get in touch with the organizer and representative of the American .Federation of Labor to find out just how matters stood, and I assure our brother workers that it was not over six weeks until we had a charter on the walls of our meeting room. A short time afterwards an examining committee was appointed, and every member put through a mild examination, which' was deemed sufficient at that time. After experiencing numerous trials and tribulations, which new organizations usually have to encounter, I am informed that the membership is nearly forty, and the treasury is growing steadily. The union is just finishing up the first year of its birth and conditions^ have been greatly improved and wages also, without even a hint on our part. Just a proof of conditions before organizing. On top of it all, I learn there has been added lately to the A. F. of L. list of charters one in Boston, Mass., one in Galveston, Tex., and one in Indianapolis, Ind. We have reliable information that the entire forces of the representatives of the American Federation of Labor, covering nearly, if not all, the States in the Union, are scattering seeds sown by the organizing of the Philadelphia operators and the harvest has already begun. Therefore, if it is the wish and will of the operators in general, let us all throw aside the talk of forming an association and let us become union men at once without delay. The word association seems to me would be more appropriate to business men or employers, but hardly think we could get together quicker or surer than by tak- ing advantage of the work that has been accomplished by organ- ized labor farther back than I can remember, and whose doors are open to us, not to get us in and then hold us, but to put us on a firm, solid foundation until the time comes when we can say, We are ready to have a State or National body as our head. I hope to be allowed space later on to explain a few things regarding the rights and standing of unionized operators with the sister unions, such as: Theatrical Employees, Calcium Light Workers and Electrical Workers, who, your editorial says, throw out the operators' delegates arid who do not want us. Why? And who cares? Hoping I may have the privilege of explaining later on "to the best of my knowledge, I will close with personal thanks and good wishes from the organization, which will, in course of time, be looked up to as the leader in the movement to elevate the standard and ability of operators, which above will bring about the much desired results. M. E. Backenstoss. Harrisburg, Pa. Representing Moving Picture Operators' Union, No. 12370, Philadelphia, Pa. * * *: . ' Are These Gentlemen, Or Kingston, Ont, December 9. 1907. Editors Moving Picture World: Gentlemen:—Here is a news item I think will interest you: Saturday night was the annual election of the Queen's Col- lege Alma Mater Society. About 9.30 P. M., after results were announced, a body of 400 students came down town on a run and demanded admittance to the Bijou Theater. The house was then filled with mostly women- and children. The proprietor asked them kindly to go away and come back at eleven, when he would turn the house over to them. His offer was rejected, and the students made a rush, broke the doors down and smashed things up generally all around. The leader got into an argument with the piano player and was so badly damaged that he is now in the hospital. The house people, aided by several citizens, succeeded in put- ting out the few who succeeded in getting in. All at once the wires were cut on the outside, throwing the house into darkness. Half a dozen women fainted and a panic was narrowly averted. The people then in the house were compelled to leave by the back way. The students then divided, one-half staying in front of the Bijou and the other half went up to Wonderland, where they forced themselves in, too. After being entertained at Wonderland, they came up 'o the Princess Theater. There was no trouble here, as the last shot! for the night was then on, Mr. J. J. Allen, the manager, threw »the doors wide open and invited them all in and gave a special show for their benefit. Mr. Allen was heard to remark later that it was the brggw*