The Film Index (Jul-Dec 1910)

THE FILM INDEX 25 drawing quality, as is shown by the fact that "The Hero Engineer" in a number of instances broke all records for paid, admissions in prominent moving picture houses throughout the country, and in "The Engineer's Sweetheart" the Kalem Company promise fully as strong an attraction. "BIG ELK'S TURN DOWN."— "Big Elk's Turn Down," the Kalem Company's release for Friday, Oct. 7, is based upon a situation which borders rather close to comedy, but because it is absolutely true to Indian life it works out into one of the strongest dramas the Kalem Company has yet produced. Big Elk, a young Indian warrior, fancies a white girl, the daughter of a settler living on the border line. In his primitive view of the proper thing to do under the circumstances, he goes to the girl's father and makes an offer for her with skins and ponies. The offer is a very good one, and if the girl had been an Indian, it probably would have been accepted and that would have been the end of the story, but the white girl did not appreciate a wooing of that character and Big Elk was turned down most emphatically. When Big Elk decided that he could not buy the girl, he would have her anyway, and when a favorable opportunity occurred he gathered up the white maiden to the back of his pony and made off with her. How her father and her white sweetheart finally rescued her and how the girl finally became reconciled to the situation forms the strong dramatic situation of the story. The photography and scenic environments make "Big Elk's Turn Down" a picture that will take a prominent place in the long list of Kalem Indian successes. NEW PICTURE HOUSE FOR BRONX Will Be the First Theatre in America to Be Built in Syrian Architecture Syrian architecture will make its first appearance in the Western Hemisphere with the completion of the three-story playhouse to be erected on the north side of Longwood avenue, 170 feet east of Westchester avenue, New York City, by the Damascus Amusement Company. W. H. McElfatrick, architect, who was commissioned with the task of drawing the plans for the most original specimen of architecture in America and Europe, has incurred great expense in obtaining models for the work. As a result the theatre will be the most expensive motion picture house in existence. R. G. Knowles, the Oriental lecturer, and Frederick Klein, of New York, compose the owning corporation. Mr. Knowles, who desired that the house harmonize in design with the subject matter of his lectures, is responsible for the adoption of the Syrian style. He is now traveling through Syria and India, sending home suggestions for the construction of the theatre. The first difficulty encountered by the architect was to get some one thoroughly acquainted with the architecture of the Orient to aid him in the work. After months of searching he managed to secure the services of Alexander I. Finkle, pupil of Bozart and Pasquale, who was assistant architect in the construction of the Paris Opera House. The latter had specialized in Oriental design, and to this end had spent years traveling through the Holy Land and the adjacent countries. He reproduced on canvas certain specimens of architecture, which he adjudged to be the most typically Syrian, and these he will impress into service in the construction of the new theatre. Foremost among these models is a picture of the main gate in the wall that surrounds Damascus. In style the entrance to the theatre will follow the lines of the ancient postern exactly. In regard to the project Mr. Finkle said: "Strictly speaking, the design will be IndoSyrian, a composite of the Indian and Syrian motif. In fact, Syrian architecture itself is a composite. Neo-Syrian architecture is of pure origin and dates back to almost prehistoric times, but it is barbarously simple and might be said to comprise four bare walls. With the COMEDY AND WESTERN Every WEDNESDAY Every SATURDAY Release of Wednesday, Oct. 5 ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A LIE Length, approx. 1000 ft. A FULL REEL COMEDY ! A GENUINE SCREAM ! Always stick to the truth even if your wife don't believe you. That's the moral of this extremely funny farce. If Smith and his friend had not tried to make a lie stick where the truth failed they would not have had all the trouble that supplies the fun in this comedy. GET THE POSTER A WESTERN PICTURE YOU WILL FEATURE Release of Saturday, Oct. 8 THE BEARDED BANDIT Length, approx. 1000 feet A new film by our new Western Stock Company. Jim Connors, a respected Western ranchman, is at the same time the mysterious "Bearded Bandit," with a price on his head. J Shot at a gaming table, he confesses his wrongs to his daughter that she may claim the reward,, but in loyalty to her father's memory she destroys the evidence he had given^her. A stirring dramatic picture. GET THE POSTER GREATTOR THE LOBBY The Essanay Indian Head Poster Placard, an artistic lithograph, to be used in the lobby of your theatre when you have an Essanay Film on your bill. Order it today. PRICE 25 CENTS Express Collect POSTER DEPT. B i . «■> , mam . | H va&< K» W-* Tnlk* ' JMfi&dbJ BR'^U |& JjS jfc^ HE Wum «?IIIMIJ| LONDON ESSANAY FILM MFG. CO. BERLIN BWardour St., W. 435 N. Clark St., CHICAGO, ILL. 35 Friederich Str. importation of the Gothic and Moorish idea, however, Syrian architecture became more elaborate. "But through all these centuries of improvement Syrian architecture still retains its one distinctive, and yet most primitive, characteristic. You will notice that all the embellishments on a structure built in this style look as though they had been added after the building proper was completed. For instance, tne windows, which are all built in projections, resembling somewhat the modern bay windows, impress one with the idea that they have been added as an after-thought. "This effect will be present in the new theatre, as well as the battlements in place of the modern cornice. It is safe to say that the Da mascus Theatre will be the only structure of its kind in America or Europe. A seating capacity of 1,200 will be provided for in the theatre. The interior design will be in keeping with that of the exterior. All the most brilliant primary colors — red, blue and yellow — will he employed in the color scheme. The background will be white. The cost of the theatre is estimated at about $80,000. Acme Film Co., New York City, to manufacture, export and import moving pictures and moving picture machines; also to build and conduct moving picture theatres. Capital, $10,000. Directors: August J. Clapham. 12 East 15th Street; Louis J. Rosett, 2lJ Liberty Street, New York City; Anna Gardner, 1544 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn. Swab Film Service Co.; capital, $100,000. Incorporators: L. M. Swab, S. M. Swab and L. J. Downey, all of Philadelphia.