Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1200 Motion Picture Newt Behind the Scenes With E. L. Hyman {Continued from preceding page) focused on the ceiling. The result was an ocean scene at night, with no great amount of detail but a soft blending of outlines, the swish of the ocean and the singer's song floating out from the ship. The orchestra accompaniment carried out the scheme, with chimes used for bell effects. As devised and carried out by Managing Director Edward L. Hyman this prologue was the last word in effective presentation, and it can be duplicated or modified for almost any theatre, whether or not lights and equipment are available. For the exhibitor using it as described, the set piece representing the boat may be made of compo-board, the local sign painter making a cut-out for the rail, cabin and funnel. The flasher plugs for the lighthouse sell for about seventy-five cents anywhere, and a 10 or 25-watt globe screwed into the plug socket, or even a 50-watt lamp, will do the work. For smoke, if electric heater is not used, a bellows puffing up flour gives the effect. A hand bellows is nearly always available. A spot as described for the singer, and soft blues bathing the whole set, with surf effect, will get over nicely. For the exhibitor without lights, or with only the spot, more detail should be worked into drop and boat, as the white lights would search out defects. Clouds in the sky and waves painted on the bottom section of the boat, with a clear outline of the lighthouse in the distance should be added. When the song starts the footlights or borders could be switched off and nothing would remain but the singer in the spotlight, or, if desired, the surf effect beneath. At the finish the lights could flash up again to show the set. But what if you are among those exhibitors who have no stage? It means eliminating the set only, for if you have a space large enough for the singer to stand there is no reason why you should do without the number. Properly attired, in oilskins and the customary fisherman or sailor whiskers, and covered by a spotlight while all other lights are off, the singer would create an illusion that if used just preceding the picture ' Fury " would serve as a most suitable prologue. Organ accompaniment would be ideal, thus no orchestra is necessary for the music. For the exhibitor who desires to use a little more space than enough to stand on, the suggestion is made that a frame about four feet wide by nine or ten feet high be put together and over this hang a transparency upon which is worked spars, masts, a sail or anything suggesting the sea. The light ean be placed behind this transparency, giving a good effect, and a light can be thrown on the singer from the side but so that it doesn't fall on on the transparency. A frame like this can be placed at the side of the curtain or screen if desired, with a plush or velvet draw curtain over it to be opened and closed at the proper time. Or the frame can be centered before the screen and the curtains parted just far enough to reveal it. The singer, of course, would stand directly in front of the transparency. Thus, it is seen that an elaborate presentation can be used. Joe Moulton Dies The motion picture industry will learn with the sincerest regrets of the death of Joe Moulton on February 13th, 1923. Mr. Moulton was exceedingly well known in this industry through his connections with the General Electric Company as New York manager of small motors and also through the distribution of motor generators and similar theatre equipment. Mr. Moulton had been active in this field for many years and was a member of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. Of Interest to Ticket Machine Users Every exhibitor who uses a ticket machine will be interested in the booklet just issued by the Automatic Ticket Register Corporation. This booklet, which was prepared by the construction engineer in charge of the Automatic factory fills a long felt want, and tella in detail how to get the maximum of service out of your machine. The Automatic people will mail a copy of this booklet free to the owner of a ticket machine of any make. Address Edgar S. Bowman, Automatic Ticket Register Corporation, 1782 Broadway. Baltimore 's Metropolitan Simplexized The Metropolitan theatre, which recently opened in Baltimore, Md., has as fine a projection room as anyone would want. It measures 10 feet by 18 feet and is equipped with three type " S " Simplex projectors with Snaplite lenses which project a 12-foot by 16foot picture on a Minusa screen at a distance of 93 feet. The above projectors were installed by N. C. Haefele & Company of Baltimore, as well as the following equipment: G. E. 100-ampere Generator, Kliegl Spotlight, Safe " T " First Film Cabinet and an enclosed film rewinder. N. Basil Morgan is the projectionist. New Troy Opens With Simplex Ticket Register The Mitchel H. Mark Realty Co., the owners of the Strand theatre, Times Square, New York City, opened their new Troy theatre in Troy, Nt w York. This theatre is reported to be one of the most beautiful theatres in New YTork State. The World Ticket and Supply Co., Inc., 1600 Broadway, New York City, installed the latest model Simplex Ticket Register. First Run House Fc r St, Louis It has been learned that Charles Thimmig, owner of the MidWay theatre, Grand Boulevard at Washington Boulevard, has swung a deal with a large construction company that virtually assures the erection of his contemplated $1,000,000 theatre and office building on the Midway site. The theatre, which would be devoted to first run pictures, would seat about 2,400 persons. E. 5. Bowman Announces Installations When anyone complains to Mr. Edgar S. Bowman, treasurer of the Automatic Ticket Register Corporation about bad business he just smiles and shows . said complainant the " Gold Seal " order book. Among the recent installations are the Gem, Jacksonville, Fla,; Rivoli, Chicago; Keystone, Chicago; H. & H. (2 machines), Chicago; Yale, Shelbyville, Ind.; Yale, Macon, Mo.; New Pantages and Empress theatres, Salt Lake City, Utah; Blue Mouse, Tacoma, Wash.; Whites, Frackville, Pa.; Queen, Wilmington, Del. ; Chevy Chase, Washington, D. C. ; Marcus Loew's Grand, Atlanta, Ga.; Marcus Loew's Victoria, New York City; Forum, New York City; Wm. Fox's Bedford, Brooklyn, N. Y. William H. Rabelle, President of the Independent Movie Supply Co., New York, Metropolitan distributor of Power's Projectors, signing contract in the qffice of Edivard Earl, President of the Nicholas Power Company, Inc.