Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

This is an Open Forum for the trade, where all persons in the industry — especially exhibitors — have an opportunity to register suggestions or complaints. Every signed communication will receive careful attention. The Voice of The Trade "Whatever You Want To Know" — For any information you may require about films, theater accessories or any motion picture subject, write this department. Your inquiries will be answered below, or by letter if of a private nature. MOTION PICTURES IN "NATURAL" COLORS [To the "Exhibitors Herald"]: The letter on this subject which I sent you March last, and which you kindly published, has elicited some comments on both sides of the Atlantic, to which I will be glad if you will allow me to refer in general terms. In reply to the question whether I had ever seen a demonstration of Gaumont's Chronochrome process: I was present at a public showing of the pictures at the Thirty-ninth Street Theater, New York, in June, 1913. I saw Mr. Friese Greene's early results at Brighton in 1906; the Urban results in New York, 1909; Prizma in New York, 1917. At least one other "natural" color process is imminent and I will not miss seeing the results if they are publicly shown. The Hochstetter and Pathe pictures have also come under my notice from time to time, and I have been askeu during my nine and a half years' residence in New York to pass upon the practicability of at least a dozen processes which only needed capital for their exploitation. Eastman Gets Gaumont Process The Gaumont process, I am informed, has been acquired by the Eastman Company. Why is it not being exploited? There are at present no Urban results being shown. Why? Kinemacolor is inactive; so, apparently, is Prizma. Why? • The Pathe and Hochstetter pictures that I have seen always pleased movie audiences. A London critic, is alone, I think, in calling them "horrors" and "hideous." Some of the tinted and toned films that are produced are charming. The 11,000 feet of "Cabiria," for which I wrote much publicity, did not have a single foot of plain film. With Mr. Ince's "Civilization," about which I also wrote a great deal, some agreeable effects were produced from sheets of "blue" and "red" gelatine suitably placed in the projection system. And here in New York a few years ago I saw some colored movies, made by simply painting the positive with consecutive bands of "red," "yellow" and "blue" pigments which in my opinion were neither hideous nor horrid. Physicist Could Define Principles On a future occasion I hope with your permission to submit some observations on the ideal process, based on principles which do not appear to be obvious to the above named experimentalists. I hinted at these principles in my first letter, which, though frankly provocative, quite failed to elicit a rejoinder from practical color Kinematographers, or scientific authorities of standing. An intelligent modern physicist could, I think, readily define the principles that are essential to success; but so far the problem has only attracted the attention of 'empirics and trial and error workers. For the information of a correspondent: It is impossible to produce stereoscopic effects on the screen without the use of occulars and the latter necessarily cut off so much light that the results if obtained would be intolerable to an audience. This was the case with Anderson's method with still transparencies, shown before the Photographic Society in, I think, 1893. A great deal of my time in New York since 1908 has been passed in motion picture laboratories. Between the years 1896 and 1905 in London I did practical work in then available movie plants. At the moment of writing I am vitally interested in the production and distribution of motion pictures — a fact which should demolish an apparent impression that hvpochondriasis inspired mv first letter. THOMAS BEDDIXG, 62 West 70th St., New York. [To the "Exhibitors Herald"] : I believe there has been a government ban placed upon certain films dealing with war or upon war subjects. Will you please write stating whether or not "War Brides" is affected by this ruling? I contracted for this feature some months ago, but want to make no mistake in showing it. Your attention to this request will be greatly appreciated. W. F. LINDSEY, Idle Hour Theater, Leon, Iowa. Reply: In reply to your inquiry of 23rd inst., relative to a government ban upon certain films dealing with war and war subjects, the "Herald" is informed by the United States district attorney that the government has taken no action against the. showing of war films, further than to publish requests to producers not to exploit pictures which would in any way discourage or retard enlistment. The United States district attorney's office advises us it is a matter that is up to the local authorities in each city or state. It might be well for you to inquire from the city or state authorities as to whether or not there are any objections to the showing of "War Brides." The "Herald" understands the showing of this picture was restricted in the state of Pennsvlvania. 'MAE MARSH DAY" AT CHICAGO EXPO IS SCHEDULED SATURDAY, JULY 14 Goldwyn Pictures Corporation has won the honor of opening the annual exposition of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League, to be held in the Coliseum, Chicago, beginning Saturday, July 14. The first day of the convention will be known and advertised as "Mae Marsh Day." Miss Marsh will arrive in Chicago on the morning of the 14th, accompanied by Samuel Goldfish and other officers of the Goldwyn organization. Hugo Ballin and William H. Cotton, Goldwyn's artistspecialists, and Herbert Messmore, scenic constructor and technical director, are building and designing special settings for the Goldwyn booths at the Coliseum, and will journey to Chicago to erect them. A late cable from Mary Garden, now in Paris, brings the information that she may arrive in America a day or two after the Chicago exposition has opened, but she gives the assurance that she, too, will journey to Chicago to appear at the exposition during the following week, as the closing day comes July 22. F. M. Brdckell, manager of Goldwyn's Chicago offices, will be in active charge of this company's Coliseum exhibit and handle the local arrangements for Miss Marsh's appearance.