The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

348 Cl)e Cbeatte olis one may not find a better qualified man to organize and direct for the screen. The persistency with which the various inventors of singing and talking pictures are developing improvements during the present year has caused many heretofore skeptically inclined persons to alter their views as to the future possibilities of the efforts to create a perfect synchronism between the film and vocal records. Dr. Kitsee has proved with the Harry Lauder "vocal films" that he has at least evolved a production that is good enough to induce vaudeville managers all over the country to pay $1,000 a week for the privilege of exhibition, and the outlook for the immediate future is excellent for the reproduction of distinctly musical numbers without large demands for stage action. Wholly apart from the Edison preparations, by which grand opera is likely to be available to all of the people instead of a luxury for the very few, there is nothing to prevent the popular vaudeville stars from emulating the Morris-Lauder success. One may name offhand a dozen celebrities of the "two-a-day" form of entertainment who would add not only immeasurably to their income from the already existing status of the various brands of talking and singing pictures, but their fame would extend into the remotest districts, thus greatly enlarging their value to the managerial faction, though as always is the case when an effort is evidenced to cater to the masses the men most likely to benefit ultimately may enforce an embargo on the stage talent, threatening to bar the performers from their stages. What Dr. Kitsee, Mr. Mahan and Mr. Webb have accomplished so far, however, plainly indicates that