The Film Index (Jul-Dec 1910)

THE FILM INDEX. Exchanges Join General Film Company New Organization Receives Many Offers and Accepts Seven of Them SELIG'S FIRE PICTURE At a meeting of the General Film Company, held at the company's offices, 10 Fifth avenue, New York City, last Wednesday and Thursday, June 22d and 23d, it was announced that a number of offers to sell had been received during the past two weeks. After considering these offers the company announced the purchase of the following exchanges: Actograph Company, New York City. Actograph Company, Albany, N. Y. Pittsburg Calcium Light and Film Co., Rochester, N. Y. Motion Picture Supply Company, Rochester, N. Y. Buffalo Film Exchange, Buffalo, N. Y. C. A. Calehuff, Philadelphia, Pa. Electric Theatre Supply Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Beyond this announcement no further details regarding the transfers have been given out by the General Film Company. American picture theatres and in making 90 per cent, of the pictures used in America comes pretty nearly being representative of the picture trade here; and, prejudiced or not, The Film Index stated only the bare facts regarding the situation. If Mr. Browne meant his strictures to refer to the "independents" only why didn't he say so at first. Now that he admits such to be the case we accept his apology. A LITTLE MORE ON "CAMERA DODGING." In acknowledging the correctness with which the editor of The Film Index grasped the question of "Camera Consciousness" raised by Mr. Herbert Waterbury in a letter to this paper published recently, the M. P. editor of the "Dramatic Mirror" propounds a question: "How can a player convey the impression that he is looking away from the camera, or, as Mr. Waterbury puts it, conspicuously avoiding it, unless by some furtive glance he first betrays the fact that he knows the camera is there, which in itself is the thing 'the Mirror' has criticized? Can the Index editor or Herbert Waterbury elucidate on this point?" The editor is not holding a brief for Mr. Waterbury; neither is he prepared to say that the M. P. actor has not been known to "dodge the camera" or become, as Mr. Waterbury explains, "camera shy." For ourself we are compelled to say that we have never known an actor to "shy" at the camera in a manner distressingly conspicuous. Our judgment was that "if" the actor did conspicuously "shy" the fault was as bad as to everlastingly "gaze." Now that we have thus given our tentative support to Mr. Waterbury's contention, we must ask him to come forward with the documentary evidence in the case. This matter of controversy does, nevertheless, suggest that there may be grounds for Mr. Waterbury's contention in the manner in which some pictures have been put on. Just at this moment we do not recall a case in point, but there have been pictures in which we have observed the movement of the players to be mainly up and down stage, so to speak, thus presenting a full rear view too frequently. Possibly it is such a situation that Mr. Waterbury had in mind. We recall nothing of recent issue illustrating that fault and despite the "Mirror" critic's constant pounding of the "camera gazers," we do not anticipate that M. P. players will develop the fault of "camera dodging" to any alarming extent. JUSTICE TO MOVING PICTURE MAN. Editor of The Globe: Sir — The fact that certain moving picture shows are immoral is, to a great extent, due to the management of the houses. I have been in certain shows on 125th st and have been a witness to the actions of boys and girls who frequent the buildings. The shows consisted of two murders and the always present cracksman. Only two blocks from these shows is a theatre in which for 10 cents one may see as clean a show and hear as good a lecture as any one might wish. The reason for that is the employment of capable men and a capable woman to see that all within the theatre is kept as it should be. I believe that the growing popularity of clean picture shows is tending to the uplift of every class of people. This theatre produces pictures of great celebrations thousands of miles away. Why, then, should the city direct attention to all those places and classify them as immoral? Like certain theatres and even streets, some of the picture shows, where children without proper protection are admitted, should be closed, but why do the parents themselves permit the children to enter them? H. A. D. New York, June 12. The above letter appeared in a recent issue of the New York "Globe" and is a fair statement of the conditions as the writer saw them. He might have gone farther and have said that any leaning toward immorality in the picture show is entirely due to the management of the house. There is no necessity for picture theatre managers resorting to sensationalism to gain business. The class of pictures now made by the best producers do not depend upon commission of crime to arouse interest. There is enough in life to supply comedy and drama of the clean, the safe and sane sort, for all the needs of either legitimate or picture stage. Then, too, there are the educational subjects, which command the attention of everyone, great or humble. The range of subjects is wide and readily obtained. The picture and the picture theatre as a form of amusement as an institution should not be condemned. Each individual theatre is just what its owner makes it. If he is a man of good character he will reflect that character in his business. He will keep his show clean and observe the law. Unfortunately, the exhibition business is beset with men devoid of moral character, whose only aim is to get the money. There are too many who pander to the evil that is in mankind. Many, lacking in character themselves, run their businesses down to their own level; thus we see the low, suggestive picture that gets a laugh, set up as the standard of what a picture should be. Along with that class of pictures goes naturally all the depravity of the neighborhood, for the manager who will stand for the one will permit the other. The attempt to correct the evil in the pictures by censoring them was all right as far as the pictures censored were concerned. But that did not entirely correct the evil. The corrective effort should be applied to the theatre and the owner or manager who permits questionable pictures to be shown in his house. By this sign there are some managers who would and should be "censored" out of business. IS AGAINST VAUDEVILLE. Louis Gerarini, manager of The Empire motion picture theatre, at 1519 Second avenue, New York city, reports that business on the East Side is better then he expected for this time of the year. His business has so increased that in the near future he intends adding 100 more chairs. At the present his theatre seats 150 persons. Mr. Garbarini is another manager who believes that pictures are the only thing for such theatres and that vaudeville, unless it is the very best, does more harm than good. He has a small orchestra to furnish music for the illustrated songs and believes that good music is one of the chief attractions for popular songs. Fire Chief's Daughter, Out This Week, Splendid Example of Realism. Many attempts have been made to secure Are runs and conflagration scenes and in fact for a time the market was fairly flooded with pictures of this class, but all gave the impression to the patron as a framed-up affair and assumed the atmosphere of picture posing, too much to savor of the real. In this respect Selig has produced a picture so true to life, so real in the heart interest, and the attending excitement prevalent at big fires that the slightest doubt as regards public opinion has been swept aside, and those who have been fortunate enough to witness the sample copy of this truly wonderful picture, have pronounced it the pinnacle of success and bespeak for it the popularity accorded the most noted films of the times. The story embodies a theme of intense interest and proves the oftimes repeated phrase, that "many a manly heart beats beneath a shirt of blue." The fire chief has a beautiful daughter whom he is desirous of marrying to a wealthy clubman pf political influence — but the fates and her heart had willed it otherwise. She had met and loved a fire lieutenant in her father's employ and sought only that love that is balm to the seathing emotions of true womanhood. The chief, incensed at the choice of the daughter, reduces the lieutenant to the ranks, and later forbids him the home. But "Love finds a way." So did Ellen — the humble little home of Jack Graves, with only his widowed mother as a companion, holds more in store for her than all the riches her father's choice could offer. She was at the parting of the ways — the future held her happiness in the balance. She followed the instinct of her own heart and is happy in her choice. The father casts her from his shelter and refuses to become reconciled. One day a fire is reported while Jack is at home — on ascertaining that it is the chief's own home, he is the first on the ground and fights the deadly flames with all the power within him, and risks and almost loses his life in saving the home and Ellen's mother. There was no mistaking to whom is due the credit and as a devoted wife and mother watches carefully over the sick bed of Jack and as the sultry days drag slowly on, a new spirit has awakened in the chief's heart and he goes to the young couple and gives his hand to the one he had turned from his door. MERCHANTS OPPOSE PICTURE SHOWS. Because Julius Both and a few selfish merchants of Huntington, W. Va., are under the impression that motion picture theatres in that ctiy are prospering, they have appeared before the city commissioners asking that there be no .licenses granted to motion picture men, claiming it is hurting their business. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the board, June IS, when J. A. Burns, one of the oldest showmen known in that section applied for a license. Mr. Burns is not only a citizen of Huntington, but is also a large property holder. When the meeting was over Mr. Burns was told his application had been turned down and there was no possible chance of him doing business in his own city. EXTRA SPECIAL RELEASE. The editor of The Film Index has received the following important announcement: "Mr. and Mrs. J. Stuart Blackton announces with pleasure the birth of Violet Virginia on Wednesday, June 22, 1910, at 9 a. m. Weight, eight and three-fourths pounds. Licensed by the Motion Picture Patents Company; approved by the National Board of Censors; but reserved for private exhibition only." The Index herewith extends heartiest congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Blackton and best wishes for the new "Vitagraph Girl." J. C. SHULL OPENS NEW THEATRE. J. C. Shull, of Dowagiac, Mich., opened his new theatre on North Front street, June 18. The house was crowded and gave every evidence of the business that could be done with a first-class house giving first-class pictures. The ground upon which the building stands was purchased by Mr. Shull from the Scott brothers.