Cinema News and Property Gazette (1912)

December, 1912. THE CINEMA. 13 An Instantaneous Success. We are pleased to record that The Film Service, which recently opened an establishment at Leeds has scored an instantaneous success. Northern exhibitors have not been slow to appreciate the advantages offered them, and the bookings of the two exclusives, *' When Woman Loves," and " The Pace that Kills," have been so great as to necessitate the purchase of additional copies. This is indeed striking testimony to the ability of The Film Service's film selectors. Readers in the localities served from Leeds would be "well advised to keep their eye on The Film Service. -#> A Resourceful Manager. Mr. Mockett, of the Golden Domes, Camberwell, is nothing if not resourceful. Recently he was showing the South Pole Expedition films, and in addition to having a number of sandwichmen to advertise the pictures he employed one stalwart specimen of humanity clothed in the full garb adopted by Captain Scott's men to parade the streets with them. As a result of this novel form of advertisement the theatre was filled at every performance, and such a success was scored that the film was booked for a return visit, when " house full " was again the order of the day. Golden Domes has jumped into popularity with remarkable rapidity. Music Hath Charms. The picture palace without music would be a sorry spectacle, but whatever music is provided must be of the best. The piano and the orchestra are necessary adjuncts to every cinema aspiring to the name, but no picture theatre can be said to be fully equipped musically which does not contain an organ. There are periods in the pictures when only an instrument of this description •can adequately supply the connecting link between the sight and the ear. For this reason we have much pleasure in directing our readers' attention to the announcement of Messrs. Corps and Son, Church and Saloon Organ Manufacturers, of 28 and 30, Oxford Road, Finsbury Park, N. Established in 1835, the firm enjoys an enviable reputation for the quality and tone of their instruments, which can be supplied at prices ranging from £100 upwards. Readers would do well to write for a copy of their catalogue. The Cinematograph in Education. Professor R. A. Gregory presided at the exhibition of cinematograph illustrations of scientific subjects, given to the members of the Royal Societies Club by Messrs. Pathe Freres. The pictures, which were briefly explained by Professor E. A. Minchin, showed the life history of a sea urchin, the germination of corn, the growth of hyacinths, the birth of a dragon fly, the circuation of blood in the lung of a frog, and other phenomena. In further pictures one saw movements which are as quick as thought analysed by means of cinematography. These included a rifle bullet' in motion, leaving the rifle at 195 ft. a second, but slowed down by cinematography until it appeared to travel slowly across the screen. Professor Gregory said that in regard to cinematography we were in the stage of the novelette and the penny dreadful, but when the possibilities of the instrument were better realised we might expect to see more pictures of things having a closer connection with real life. Before long the cinematograph would he regarded as an indispensable part of the equipment of every up-to-date teaching institution. "Twixt War and the Girl,'' THE Exclusive.— WALTURDAW. South Australia's Campaign by Cinema. The six thousand feet of cinematograph film depicting scenes of everyday life in South Australia, which have been sent by the Government of that State to the AgentGeneral in London, were " rehearsed " before Mr. Whiting, the secretary of the South Australian Government Office, and some cutting down was effected in much the same way as a play is cut and pruned after the dress rehearsal. Mr. Whiting found that the best of the films is that showing the review of the Imperial cadets, the body of young South Australians formed in accordance with the scheme of national defence which has seized the imagination of Australians, and is becoming more and more popular every day. Another good film shows the Adelaide Oval with an England v. Australia cricket match in progress. Others show various phases of industrial activity, street scenes, farming and shipping operations, and mining. These films will shortly be available for use in cinematograph theatres in this country, and for lecturers and institutions. Applications for their loan should be made to the Agent-General for South Australia, 85, Gracechurch Street, London, E.C. The Picturesque Age. The following, taken from Lloyd's Weekly, is too good to be missed, and deserves the wider publicity amongst those in'erested which our columns afford : — " We live in a picture-esqueage — picture palace-esque. There seems no end to the resources of the film. It is a pictorial hold-all. It brings the world to us. Soon we shan't want to move about — the pictures do that — and in our big high road or our little back street we can see kings being crowned, empires toppling, or baby having his bath. " But these are commonplaces to what we are going to see. We are promised microbes and protoplasms, and bacilli and other cheerful companions at work and play. Something jolly to take George or Gertrude to : — ' Pleasant Half-hours with the Measles Microbes' is their latest novelty act of giving little Jimmy a scratchy time. " Sister Susie's got the mumps, See them on the film. Poor old father's got the jumps, See them on the film. Mother made a Christmas cake, Of it we did all partake, Now we've got a funny ache, See it on the film. " Johnnie fell in love with Jane, See it on the film. Began to warble love's refrain, See it on the film. His trembling knees he flopped upon, But, being poor, Jane said, ' Begone ! ' The feelings of the jilted John — See them on the film. " Father put some cash away, See it on the film. To pay the rent on Saturday, See it on the film. But little Bob that money got And straightway went and blued the lot. A bird's-eye view of father's ' swot ' ! See it on the film."