Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1935)

March 2, 1935 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 35 Films in Relief by Stereoscopic Plan Shown byLumiere Motion pictures in relief, obtained by applying a stereoscopic system to the principle of anaglyphs, were demonstrated in Paris Monday to the noted Academy of Sciences by Louis Lumiere, who with his brother Auguste presented some 40 years ago the first motion pictures seen in the French capital. Mr. Lumiere, making no great claim to originality, explained that all the principles involved have been known for many years. What he has succeeded in doing, he said, is the obtaining of a perfect synthesis. A wireless dispatch to the New York Times from Paris told how all the spectators at the demonstration were provided with special spectacles, each glass of which was tinted in different colors permitting the passage of various color rays. "Experiments were made with no fewer than 1,500 coloring materials before success was obtained in making these glasses, without which the picture on the screen appears as usual and not in relief," explained the Times correspondent, who added: "What is important is that the glasses do not fatigue the eyes." A stereoscopic apparatus was used for taking the motion pictures and a specially pigmented screen employed. Further cabled reports said that the graybearded, dignified savants of the Academy of Sciences started from their seats while witnessing the demonstration when they thought they saw a real elephant charging at them. They first saw racing motorboats, cruising off a coast — then the elephant, waving his trunk so menacingly he looked as though he was going to trample the academicians underfoot. Mr. Lumiere, now turning 73 years, was said to have told the Academy that the advance he has made provides the basis for practical application of the long-sought secret of depth as well as height and width for motion pictures, thereby making them more realistic. Edwin F. Tarbell of Allied, Dies in Albany Edwin F. Tarbell, for the past two years executive secretary of Allied Theatre Owners of New York, died late last week at the Albany Hospital, Albany, N. Y., after a brief illness. Mr. Tarbell had been associated with the film industry for 25 years, having been branch manager for Vitagraph, Fox and Universal. Edith Mera, French Actress, Dies in Paris Edith Mera, French stage and screen actress who attempted suicide last Spring because of a morbid fear her customary "vampire" roles were exerting an evil influence over her, died last week in Paris, following an operation. Only 27, she was recognized as a player of ability, and had performed before the Hollywood cameras. "Q ?2 ^ s a i ^ i FEB.! FEB. 9 FEB-/6 im 110% 100% 90% OU/o 70% PC 1 4-4 \/ f\ \ // / / / / / / / y / y... * \ \ -// f ■jscol ^ \ \\ f.. 1 . PCN'JEP. SAN ft V-t — 1 » \ The chart, based on Motion Picture Herald's compilation of box office grosses, indicates the business done^n each of three Western key cities during the eleven weeks period from December 8, 1934, to February 16, 1935. The gross in the first week of this period In each city Is taken as 100 per cent for that city. Reports Persist^ Laemmle Denies Reports persist as to possible deals for the purchase of a controlling interest in Universal Pictures Corporation, but there is an emphatic denial of any sale issued this week in Hollywood by Carl Laemmle. "Twenty years ago on March 15 we opened the largest studios in the world at Universal City," said Mr. Laemmle. "We have been far too successful and have learned far too much by experience there to dispose of this property on our anniversary or any other time.'' At the present time, it is learned, three propositions haA'e been made, the first having been an offer extended by a group headed by John Hay "Jock" Whitney. It is understood that this represents the largest cash offer thus far advanced. David Selznick is said to be associated with Mr. Whitney in the matter. The second offer is one presently headed by Albert M. Greenfield of Philadelphia, with whom B. P. Schulberg is associated. The appearance of Mr. Greenfield in this negotiation tends to lend credence to the reports that William Fox is interested in a possible Universal deal because on many occasions and for many years Mr. Fox and Mr. Greenfield have been on intimate terms and have participated jointly in many deals. The identity of the third group said to be interested in a purchase is not revealed at this time, however. The president of Universal said that "Universal, like Old Man River, it just keeps rolling along." English Circuit Plans Expansion Union Cinemas, English circuit headed by Fred Bernhard, plans to build seven large theatres, several of them to seat 3,000, the locations including Bath, Belfast and Huddersfield. Leo^ Metro 's Lion^ Is Dead at Twenty Leo, the lion, is dead. The famous and widely publicized animal succumbed to heart disease on Monday in the Philadelphia Zoo at the age of 20. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, for whose pictures Leo served as emblem and who kept him traveling for more than 15 years over the country and through Canada and Mexico, have not yet completed plans for the funeral. Leo was captured at the age of one on the Nubian deserts of Africa and brought to America for exhibition in zoos. Hollywood took him and he appeared in bits in jungle pictures. His career reached its climax when he was chosen as the Metro-GoldwynMayer trademark. In the silent days he did no more than turn his head at the opening of each picture. With the coming of the talkies, his roar became a familiar sound to millions. For more than 15 years Leo was kept touring in a trio of specially designed and constructed cars. His own car, a speed truck, measured 24 feet over all, with a private cage of 13 feet, silver bars to the cage, unbreakable glass three feet high on all sides and canvas drops that could be lowered in bad weather. The decorations were in red and gold. The second of the three cars was a completely equipped office for Leo's business manager; and the third contained a 57-note calliope. He was an honorary member of more than 200 Lions' Clubs and of numerous Adventurers' and Explorers' Clubs. Leo, in spite of his extraordinary weight of 734 pounds — the average male lion tipping the scales at 500 — traveled in every known conveyance in addition to his private car. He was the first lion to be transported in an airplane. He was also a passenger on steamships, trains and oxcarts and once was slung across a camel's back to take him across the desert. Officials of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer are engaged in the search for a successor to the late Leo.