The Moving Picture World (January 1908)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 39 into one that is art attraction to Clinton avenue. The front has been remodeled and repainted, and the entrance to the lower floor, where the show is, being' in the shape' of an. arch, pro- fusely illuminated with electric lights with ticket office in the center. The interior, a room 20x70 feet, has been nicely decorated with attractive paper and bright colored panels, and furnished with 200 opera chairs, making a very pretty hall. A stage has also been put in in the rear of the building. The hall is also furnished with a yictor auxetophone, operated by an one-eighth horse-power electric motor, and a piano. Mr. Morrison informs us that he has put about $1,000 into im- provements and furnishings, and may ultimately turn the house into a ten-cent vaudeville theater. * * * • iX". Moving pictures_ of surgical operations were given for the first time in America at the college amphitheater of the Chicago Night University, 533 Wells street, January 4. •; The pictures, which are designed to demonstrate to students and physicians the progress of surgical science, were made at an , expense of $25,000 by the great French surgeon, Dr. Doyen. They represent the surgeon performing some of the operations that made him famous. [We are glad to see American surgeons are taking to these illustrations. In 1902-3 we introduced them to the University of Birmingham, England, and they proved very educative. Urban Eclipse Co. manufactured them for D. Doyen.— Ed.] ■ * * - Scores of people rushed into the street January 7 when a fire broke out in the Traders' Safe and Trust Building, 253-261 LaSalle street, Chicago. Occupants of the Western Union and Board of Trade Buildings, and the Kaiserhof Hotel, were alarmed when they saw the excitement, and made ready to flee should it become necessary. The blaze was confined to the third story of the building, however, and nobody was injured. The building was dam- aged $1,500. D. R, McDonald, manager of the Royal Film Service Company, in whose office the fire started, says his com- pany lost $25,000 worth of films. * * * Chief Gaverich, of Harrisburg, Pa., City Electrician Diehl, Building Inspector Ferree and two members of the Board of Underwriters, began an inspection of the local picture machine theaters recently, and while no official report was made to the mayor, it is understood that only one theater was found equipped with fire exits and protection within the limits of the law, and that this one playhouse would have to undergo cer- tain changes in order to be made completely fireproof and safe. This inspection is being made on authority of the mayor. His attention had been called a number of times to the dan- ger that existed at some of these cheap theaters, more so since the introduction of vaudeville, requiring dressing rooms, which we heated by oil and gas stoves. The. majority of the exits are at the front, directly under the electric machines used in the picture exhibitions, which, in the opinion of the mayor, endangers the lives of patrons. Complaints were also made by owners of properties adjoining these, playhouses, who feared serious results in case of fire. On report of. the committee the mayor will issue instructions to proprietors to have necessary alterations made within a certain time or close up, business. It is understood that the inspectors unearthed some really flagrant violations of the law. * * * The Opal Theater, a new place of amusement, under the man- agement of Elmer Tompkins, has recently opened in Gilroy, Cal., giving moving pictures and illustrated songs exclusively. Judg- ing from the patronage the place is very popular with the people. * * * ft We were in the" office of the Consolidated Film Company in Rochester a few days ago and can vouch for the truth of the fol- lowing: An exhibitor in a small town .called up Mr. Burton, the manager of the Consolidated Film Exchange, on the long.-dis- tance telephone, and after giving his name, said, "Do not ship «ne any films this week. Murphy is dead." Without. any further explanation.or, waiting for Mr. Burton to inquire who Murphy, was or what he. had to do with the service, the receiver was nungup. Wondering what was the. trouble, the customer having always been first with service, Mr. Burton telegraphed for, "41 particulars at his expense. Back r came a. long^ message tell- •ng how. one of the leading, citizens, of the town had died, that, the seats in the exhibition TiaD rare • the. property of the local.. undertaker and no show, could be held until, after the funeral owing to the seats being required.for the. mourners. '*!''. * *' The Royal .Film Service Co.. of Chicago, has filed suit against fire Marshal E. E. Goss„ of Beloit, Wis., for $100 damages, If As .we predicted, the "JACK OF ALL TRADES" H'kept the laughter caused by the Essanay filois up -to its. height. They smiled, laughed, roared and ; screamed at our latest comedy subjects, but the "NOVICE ON STILTS" will even do more in the comedy line than any of its predecessors. . Length about 400 ft. Price 12c per foot Code—Newboy You will, note that in this week's issue we are deviating a little from the comedy issue, and are dividing our subjects, making delivery simultane- ous with " A NOVICE ON STILTS," a comedy subject. Length about 250 ft. Price 12 per foot Code—Star "NOVICE ON STILTS " is another good comedy of the Essanay class " A HOME AT LAST " is a pathetic story picture i&ir© yov ggettisfcgf these films? I£ aaofcp see ft©, it that ypu have £Gt* W©SI#; &&&!®®2i., Chicago.* S&f» ■ r '^ A -