Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

April, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 23 The camera as designed is small and portable, and has a direct finder, similar to that of a reflecting camera. ' The figure accompanying presents a view of the camera with the side door open. No. 977,466. Film Cleaning Device. Frederick E. Mortimer, Boston, Mass., assignor of one-half to Jennie E. Hutchings, Boston, Mass. A film cleaner comprising a pair of pads and a pair of brushes, between which the film may be passed during the operation of rewinding. The illustration discloses the idea of the device. No. 977,665. Electric Sign. Archibald Mackenzie and Thomas M. Norton, Denver, Colo. The object of the sign is to produce a large and evenly illuminated surface from a single lamp. To secure this, the lamp is placed inside the box of the sign, with a mirror, and inclined prisms are placed behind the sign surface of the box to turn the inclined rays more directly through the sign. No. 977,683. Coin Controlled Vending Machine. Judson H. Sencindiver, Washington, D. C, assignor to Cabinet Vending Co., of same place. No. 977,745. Coin Controlled Vending Machine. Adolph H. Koch, Los Angeles, Cal. • No. 978,121. Film Perforating Machine. Julius R. Engleman, Jersey City, N. J., assignor to Herman A. Metz, Brooklyn, N. Y. This invention contemplates reinforcing the edge of a motion picture film with a strip of similar film wide enough to cover the perforated margin but not covering the picture portion of the film strip. The picture film, whether positive or negative is not stated, is completed in the usual way, with a single thickness of celluloid having perforated edges. Then, in the further preparation of the film for use, two narrow strips of celluloid, say three-sixteenths of an inch in width, are cemented to the picture film in alinement with the two edges, thus reinforcing the film by making it of double thickness at the sprocket holes. In the invention of the patent, the reinforcing strip is cemented upon the picture strip while unperforated, and then the perforations of the picture strip are carried through the reinforcing strip by a special machine, namely, the machine of the present invention. Concerning his invention, Mr. Engleman says : The object of the invention is to provide means for manually controlling the spacing between perforations, thereby insuring uniformity in the position of the perforations and the registry of the perforations in such reinforcing strips with the perforations in the film; also permitting an uneven spacing in the original perforation to be corrected and to enable such adjustment to be effected while the machine is in operation. The long films as usually supplied for moving-picture machines are perforated when manufactured. It is desirable to reinforce the films so that they will be durable in use, and such reinforcements when applied cover the perforations in the film. It is necessary, therefore, to perforate such reinforcing strips. _ These perforations must register exactly with the perforations existing in the film in cases where the latter was correctly perforated, and should correct any uneven perforation in the film. My invention is designed to form such perforations in the reinforcing strips in exact register with the previous perforations where they are right, or to perforate the film evenly whee the original perforations were uneven. Invite Public Criticism To place before the public of Indianapolis the fact that the moving picture shows have lost the "blood and thunder" aspect of former years and have established in its place a series of productions which are educational, is the object of a movement started by the Moving Picture Managers' Association. Criticism of any class of productions shown in Indianapolis is invited by this or ization. H. P. Lieber of the H. Lieber Company, is authority for the statement that the moving picture show in Indianapolis today vies with the best in stageland in its instructive power. "An injustice is being done the managers of the moving picture shows in this city by unjust and unfair criticism," said Mr. Lieber, "and we are going to attempt to remedy this situation by inviting this criticism and urging that it be reported to the managers' association. We will be only too glad to listen to such criticism." Mr. Lieber quoted from an article in a moving picture journal on the subject, as follows, asserting the Indianapolis situation is even higher than that of the average city: "As a mere novelty business, motion pictures can't have a long life in America, and it is as a novelty business that the moving picture business is being chiefly exploited at present. But there are two things which guarantee to the motion pictures a permanent prosperity and a still greater growth — dramatic art and education." Discussing this as applied to the Indianapolis situation, Mr. Lieber declared that geography, history, science and other educational subjects, taught by moving pictures, were on a parallel with the best on the modern stage, and that the little 5-cent theater would in time become a real school for the modern child. "There is no more of the questionable and no more of the cheaply sensational in the Indianapolis moving pictures," said Mr. Lieber. "Such things are being replaced by pictures of real life, pictures which elevate and educate. Take the film being shown by one of the local theaters this week, which takes the patron through the larger part of Ireland in an hour. Possibly there has been no correct hint of the Irish country in the mind of the patron before." ' A committee from the managers' association composed of C. L Sutherland and Joseph Gavin is now working in conjunction with H. P. Lieber to correct anything in Indianapolis moving picture shows which the public criticises. Cnurch Entertains with Films A moving picture show in a church auditorium, reference to plans for which in a recent article in The Elgin Daily Nezvs taken up by other papers throughout the country, created such a stir, is to become an actual fact. Rev. Clark S. Thomas of the Universalist church gave his second moving picture entertainment March 28 in Unity hall to an audience that crowded the place. At least 300 were present. It seems evident that the hall is not large enough to contain those who will wish to enjoy further shows of the kind to be given by Rev. Thomas and it has been decided to use the church auditorium itself.