The Moving Picture World (1908)

5io THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Now, when the baron was shot down by Boers, he wore a service uniform of white duck. It follows, therefore, that he must have crept quietly back to his quarters, abstracted his .dear old gray pants and the rest of his wedding outfit, dis- carded his service uniform, and sneaked out of the country without the military authorities knowing anything about it, otherwise, of course, the report of his death would have been contradicted. Just what punishment the baron got for deserting is left to the imagination of the audience. It may have been death, or perhaps only imprisonment. But a deserter who comes,, home in full-dress uniform certainly deserves what he gets.' But whatever finally may have been visited on the baron, it was as nothing compared to the punishment which should be visited on the maker of such a rubbishy picture. It is' pictures such as these which bring discredit on the theatorium. The public deserves something better. The peo- ple of the twentieth century are not fools, and it requires but little intelligence to see the absurdities of a picture like this. Film makers must remember that it is the little things that count, and it is an error of judgment to spoil the effect of an entire drama to save - the price of a pair of pants. THE MOTION PICTURE OF THE FUTURE. By Wm. M. Hamilton, President Philadelphia Association of Exhibitors. In my last article I claimed that in five years we would look back with wonder at the strides this business has taken. The present article will be devoted to the picture which will show the writer's idea of what we may look for in that di- rection. It may be a bold assertion, but when we have the coming pictures in our possession we will regard the picture of to-day as the merest experiment. This picture will be made on a non-inflammable film which is now an assured fact, and is certainly the greatest stride that could be made to protect life and property. At the same time it can be used as a powerful lever to place this much abused (by the press) business on at least a level with any other. But the picture that goes on the film is the most important part, as far as artistic merit goes. Every one knows that the picture of to-day is what we term a flat picture, it has the same effect on a person as if they shut one eye to look at a natural scene. The reason is that we see only one part of that which we are looking at, while the effect of binocular vision is to see two parts of an object at once, a different part with each eye, and when these two objects are dis- solved into one in the brain, we then get this idea of solidity and distance. Every one knows what a stereoscope is and how the picture stands out. You are looking at two, but in looking through the stereoscope you think you only see one. If you examine both pictures, you will see that each is a little different from the other. I submit a clipping of recent date from tiie French paper, L'lllustration, which speaks for itself: According to L'lllustration, of Paris, an epoch making discovery in photography has been communi- cated to the French Academy of Science by Prof. Lippmann, of Paris, whose reputation as an optical expert is well known. Prof. Lippmann has submitted to the Academy the first specimens of pictures taken by a new photo- graphic apparatus which reproduces the relief im- pression of an ordinary photograph when seen through a stereoscope, only more distinct in outline. Moreover, the perspective on the photographic plate changes according to the angle of vision under which it is.viewed, a thing which has until now never been accomplished. ' The eye thus sees a photographed landscape liter- ally true to nature. The method by which this result is achieved is said to be of the simplest It can be readily seen that we will get the same effect on the film as we now get in the stereoscope. This, combined with the production of natural colors, will be the acme of the motion picture business. This may seem like too good a promise, but when we stop to think that all the great things we have to-day were made piece by piece, one. man perfects one part while another would perfect another, and so on until finally some practical man would bring the dif- ferent discoveries together and astonish the world. The non-inflammable ■ film is here. Color photography is here. The method of giving the appearance of solidity to distance is here. Sciene has done her share. Now, who is the matt with the means at his command to marshal all three into one and give us the motion picture of the future? St. Joseph, Mo.—Geo. W. Bell & Sons have installed a moving picture show at Krug Park. Justice Kelly, sitting in the Supreme Court,.Brooklyn, has decided that moving picture shows must not be conducted in tenement houses. Hoboken, N. J.—According to a decision of the Board of Council, motion picture shows will be assessed a yearly license fee of $100. Evansville, Ind.—Motion pictures, with mechanical talking accompaniment, is to be the attraction at the Majestic Thea- ter, which has been leased by Edward Raymond. , Toluca, HL, June 5.—The Toluca Theater, Roberts & Pasina, managers, has just been opened. Pictures and songs. Admis- sion, 5c Crawfordsville, Ind., June 1.—The Majestic Theater has been leased by Wayne Ash for the Summer months. He will run only motion pictures and illustrated songs. The Grand Opera House, Indianapolis, Ind., is employing graduates from a local dramatic school to,do the talking be- hind the screen, in conjunction with the pictures. This is a step in the right direction. Springfield, O.—The Fairbanks Theater, under the manage- ment of Lee M. Boda, has opened with pictures and songs. The pictures are further enhanced by talking parts behind the screen performed by members of the Valentine Stock Company. Indianapolis, Ind., Tune 1.—The city building inspector has notified all the nickel theaters that they must cut out vaude- ville and confine themselves strictly to pictures, or, else take out theatrical licenses and conform to the theater construc- tion ordinance. Grand Rapids, Mich.—Mr. A. J. Gilligham's new Vaudette Theater on Monroe street is said to be one of the most taste- fully decorated and best equipped 5-cent theater in the State. Several features are worthy of mention—the excellent ventila- tion, a lecturer who explains the pictures, and a singer who really can sin*. Columbus, Ga., June 3.—The Broadway Theater (formerly the Gay), on Twelfth street, has been opened under, the management of T. E. Cofneld. with moving pictures and illustrated songs, exclusively. The house has been renovated and the latest comfort-giving devices installed, and at 5 cents admission is drawing large crowds. Norfolk, Va., June 4.—A permit has been issued by Build- ing Inspector Holland for the erection of an $8,000 theater at the corner of Granby and Washington streets. This theater will be open by the 15th of July and possibly sooner. It will be managed by E. St. John Howard, of Newport News, and will be known as the Royal Theater. The com- pany which is backing the new enterprise was financed in Newport News principally. Galveston, Tex^ June 4-—Mr. W. J. Nichols, who is going to open the Crystal moving picture show where the Colonial Vaudeville used to be, has made arrangements to have Mr. G. K. Jorgensen, formerly owner of the Theatorium, who is now living in Little Rock, Ark., come to this city and. super- intend the installing of the new show. Mr. Jorgensen in- stalled the first picture show in Houston, which was known as the Electric Theater; also the first to introduce moving pictures in Galveston. Owing to the fact that he has been in the show business for some time and has always been successful in all its branches is a good guarantee that the Crytal is going to be up to date in every respect.