Moving Picture World (March 1908)

184 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD in accordance with the usual rules, i. e., the choking coils and switch to be securely fixed On incombustible basis, pref- erably on a brick wall, and d. p. safety fuses to be fitted. 6. If oxyhydrogen gas is used, storage must be in metal cylinders only. 7. The use of an ether saturator is not to be permitted un- der any circumstances. Position.—Preferably on an open floor with a space of at least six feet all around, railed off. If in a compartment, the compartment to be lined with fire-resisting materials; In any case no drapery or combustible hangings to be within two yards. General.—Fire buckets to be kept filled and a damp blan- ket to be provided and placed close at hand. ALL PICTURE SHOWS MUST BE LICENSED IN PHILADELPHIA. With only a few dissenting votes, both branches of Coun- cils have passed the ordinance ordering the licensing of mov- ing picture shows and providing for the regular inspection of these places by the fire marshal. While the ordinance is not as. restrictive as was designed by some, it nevertheless brings the nickel shows more under the direction of the Department of Public Safety and insures better protection to the public against fire and panic That the prompt indorsement of the ordinance, after it is signed by the mayor, will require the proprietors of many of these shows to make many changes in the manner of protect- ing their machines, widening aisles and enlarging exits there is no doubt, as Superintendent of Police Taylor, in his inves- tigation of these amusement places, discovered many menaces to the safety of patrons. Besides providing for the payment of a license fee of $100 bv the proprietor of all moving picture shows, the ordinance states that the fire marshal shall be empowered to make such regulations for the conduct of the places as he deems ex- pedient. The operator of the moving picture machines shall in the future have to pass an examination by a Board of Ex- aminers and will have to pay a fee of five dollars. Provisions are also made for the protection of the booth in which the machines are located. If for any violation of the clauses of the ordinance or for any other cause which may place an audience in jeopardy, the Director of the De- partment of Public Safety believes the moving picture shows unsafe he shall have power to close them. One hundred dol- lars is the fine that can be imposed for violation of the ordi- nance. SHOWS MOVING PICTURES OF WYOMING BIG GAME. Cheyenne, Wyo.—The first moving pictures of wild big game ever obtained were shown by S. N. Leek, of Jackson, Wyo., and proved entirely successful. Herds of thousands of elk were shown feeding near the camera, and mountain sheep, bear, deer, antelope, mountain lions and wolves were shown in lifelike motion. Leek is to exhibit his pictures in the East and will be accompanied by State Game Warden D. C. Newlin, of Lander, who will describe to sportsmen Wy- oming's game and hunting grounds. ROCHESTER DISCUSSES SUNDAY SHOWS. ■ In Special Term before' Justice Foote last week argument! was heard on the application of ten Rochester amusement houses for an injunction restraining the Mayor, the Com-, missioner of Public Safety and the Chief of Police from in- terfering with Sunday performances. Papers were handed up and decision was reserved. .-Corporation Counsel Webb appeared for the city officials; cited as defendants and J. M. O'Grady, A. E. Tuck and J. J.; Mclnerney for the theaters. Mr. O'Grady was heard first He contended that there was nothing in the statute or in the city ordinance that prohibited such performances as were given in the Rochester show houses. He said the entertain-- merits were given entirely within the buildings and without noise or disturbance that could be noticed outside and in no- way amounted to a disturbance of the public peace, or a serious interruption of the repose and religious liberty of the, community. He refered to the fact that last December an order was issued by the city authorities forbidding any Sun- : day performances, under penalty of loss of license. If this order is continued in force, Mr. O'Grady said, the plaintiffs- will suffer irreparable loss and injury. " He contended that- limited forms of amusement could be given on Sunday and hot be a violation of the Penal Code or any city ordinance.' Corporation Counsel Webb opposed the application, first on the ground that the Penal Code, sections 259 to 277, p ro ; hibits the giving of any public shows on Sunday. He'cited the opinion of Justice Pound, in Buffalo, based upon the con- . struction of the code, from which he reached the conclusion that all public shows are prohibited on Sunday. Mr. Webb also cited the city ordinance relating to licensed occupations, which he held had the same force within the corporate limits of the city as a statute passed by the Legij. lature itself. He said that this made the Rochester case even stronger' than that in Buffalo. A third point was that a court of equity wilt not restrain municipal officers from enforcing a city ordinance. An opin- ion. ;-of Justice Herrick was cited, in which it was said: "Whether the ordinance is a valid one is a question of law and not of equity; and while courts of equity may determine questions of law, as incident to a proceeding in equity, equita- ble proceedings cannot be maintained for the sole or prin- cipal purpose of determining such questions." Mr. Webb said that there seemed to be a determination on the part of the plaintiffs in these actions to commit an act prohibited by the penal statute and city ordinance. If there- were such a transgression of law, the legal procedure would be a criminal prosecution! where the guilt or innocence of the offender could be determined. "To avoid the consequences,of such an act," said Mr. Webb, "the plaintiff invokes the assistance of a court of equity to restrain public officials from enforcing the law, and this u precisely the procedure which, according to opinions of the courts, cannot be done." NEW THEATER FOR LITTLE FALLS, N. Y. Messrs. John E. Reardon and Casper Shults, proprietors of the Gem Theater, have concluded negotiations with R. D. Fuller for the erection of a new theater for them on Main street. Architect Carl Haug is now at work on drawing plans for a model up-to-date playhouse. It will be on the ground floor and will have an attractive city entrance with doors on each side. The inside of the theater will be 25 by 90, and every seat will be elevated. There will be a balcony and gallery and the seating capacity will be about 500. The ceiling will be of iron and the entire structure will be abso- lutely fireproof. Work will be commenced on the building soon and it is expected that the theater will be ready for occupancy about May 1. Messrs. Reardon and Shults will present vaudeville entertainment in connection with their moving pictures and illustrated songs. They are popular, progressive amusement providers, and their many friends will congratulate them on- this evidence of their prosperity. ACTORS ON THE FILMS. The success of phonograph houses in recording for sale the voices of notable singers, including such individual suc- cesses as Caruso and Melba, Calve and Nordica, suggests that there is open another opportunity for the actor. Moving pictures have taken their place among the standard entertainments of the day in which we live and make prog- ress. They are furnishing cheap and v/holesome amusement and education for the multitude. Their pictures take audi- ences on far tours. They show the latest in the world of in- vention. They amuse and very often instruct The next step is the adaptation of the idea to the serious drama. Many of the smaller cities of the country have small chance of seeing players of the Drew and Adams type. Plays such as "Peter Pan" and^'My Wife" are a long time reaching towns of the third and fourth class. Operas seldom if ever get to the smaller cities. The moving picture machine ana a pair of clever imitators ought to supply the omission. Let John Drew and his company play "My Wife" before one 01 the cameras, giving it exactly as presented on the stage at the Olympic. Then, when it is reproduced in Williamsburg or Kokomo, a. man and a woman, rehearsed in the lines 01 the piece, speaking the dialogue as it is acted by the films, will complete the drama for eye and ear. . In the comic operas the tasks would be a bit more difficult, for singing voices would be required; but the expense, even for this form of the moving picture entertainment, would M trifling as compared with the cost of Marie Cahill's company or the organization playing"The Merry Widow." . At this time there is no mechanical reproduction of the nesi plays, but it will come, as sure as the reproduction of voices for commercial purposes came by way of the phonograph When Mark Twain had Pudd'n Head Wilson use the thumb print in detective work there was na-Bertillon system, -om the'lines of the thumb are now -important in the tracing ana recording of "criminals j—St Louis Times. '«