Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

December, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 287 cant for the gears. A stock of fuses of the various sizes should be kept on hand. Wire for incandescent lighting and an extra set of asbestos-covered wire with connection terminals fastened on ready to attach. We have the following inquiry from Red Oak, la. : "What are the usual arrangements between picture theaters and their exchanges, relative to allowing the theaters to take films from other sources, occasionally, if they so desire?" I suppose you are aware that there are two kinds of service, licensed and independent. You cannot run both licensed and independent in the same house at the same time. You must either run films from one or the other. You can change service from one independent exchange to another as often as they will stand for it. Ir is possible to change from licensed to independent service, but you could not switch back and forth for a week or' two, as you suggested. Of Interest to the Trade Los Angeles Correspondence We have previously hinted that there is a lot of activity in film production in and around this town. The colony grows. Since the Bison crew has been augmented by the addition of the 101 ranch, we have all sorts of odd characters. Sensational "westerns" by' sensational westerners. While we have had our full share of cowboy paraphernalia, the "ranch" crew has simply overwhelmed us. And the Indians ! This man Bauman hasn't spared us; he brought everything. If we have grown weary of the wild west as a film, .we are now to make our peace or grow still more peeved with the wild westerners who invade us with their trappings. Kurt W. Linn liked the town. He is known to be Pathe's general traveling representative, but what he came for or what he took away with him is something else. But Linn is a likeable fellow at that. When the polish is put on in the good old German schools it sticks. Wm. N. Selig's recovery was rapid and his wound healed in a satisfactory way, leaving no bad effects. He has the bullet that passed through his left arm — a pocket-piece that will doubtless cling to him for the rest of his life. This bullet penetrated Mr. Selig's coat sleeve before entering the flesh and after boring its way through nine inches of his arm, between the elbow and shoulder again cut the lining of the coat sleeve and stopped. The bullet was discovered in the sleeve of the coat. Mr. Selig has returned to Chicago, but is expected to return here about the middle of December. Since our last letter, the Biograph crew has returned to the studio at Pico and Georgia streets. Prior to their coming there was a general house-cleaning. By the way, why do we refrain from talking about these people? They are plain, human beings, known to everybody about this city. They deoort themselves in the usual and ordinary way; have their likes and dislikes. We have never seen their names in print. Is it to respect the divine rights of the Standard Oil representative on lower Broadway that we keep this silence, or shall we send in the names of the whole crowd and tell you where they appear in the films? It will be easy and it ought to please a lot of folks. Among the recent Bison arrivals from New York were Tom Ince and Charley Weston, director and assistant ; Miss Alice Inward, an English actress and wife of Mr. Weston, and Miss Ethel Grandin. Miss Grandin was Chauncey Olcott's leading lady before motion pictures won her. These people were formerly with Imp. David Horsley of New York has established himself at Hollywood. Members of his company are already on the ground and arrangements have been completed to establish a Nestor branch. Mr. Selig will devote that new tract of land located between Hill street and Pier avenue to his animals. That will add Big Otto to the colony for Selig's famous menagerie would never be complete without its picturesque chief. Up to now, Charley Goodman, who did the sensational getaway last month, hasn't returned. If he shows up, tag him and send him to Melies. Moving picture theater managers of Quincy, 111., have concluded that the public does not like illustrated songs and have discontinued them. Bison Secures 101 Ranch Wild "West The New York Motion Picture Company has contributed an item of considerable importance by announcing that they have secured the use, for motion picture purposes, of the 101 Ranch Wild West. The Bison stock company has already joined their new recruits at Bear Valley, Cal. In speaking of the combine, Mr. Kessel, president of the New York Motion Picture Company, says : "The company we now have is the largest in the world, comprising more than four hundred people, employed daily. It includes the reorganized regular stock company of sixty people, and the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Company of 350 people. We have been extremely fortunate in securing this famous aggregation and with the world's most daring riders — men and women who think but little of their lives when some hazardous feat is to be performed — added to the Bison company's staff, I perdict the passing of the cut and dried western picture." Cinderella's Slipper Miss Mabel Taliaferro holds the reputation of having the smallest foot upon the American stage. The famous slipper which she wears in her performance of Cinderella, an elaborate three reel production of which the Selig Polyscope Company is to release upon Monday, Jan. 1, 1912, was made to order for the occasion and is a number twelve size. This is in reality a child's size and Miss Taliaferro finds much difficulty in securing ready-made shoes that are small enough to answer her demands. The Selig Company publicity department has evolved from this fact an unique idea which will be turned over to exhibitors to use in connection with their own publicity campaigns on the Cinderella pictures. Selig Actress Sings to Prisoners Miss Myrtle Stedman, leading woman of Selig's Colorado company, sang at the prisoners' service at the Colorado state penitentiary on Thanksgiving Day. The prisoners gave her the closest attention and at the conclusion of Miss Stedman's songs there were many tear dimmed eyes. "I enjoyed singing to the poor fellows," Miss Stedman said. "I was never so thankful that I could sing, as when I looked into their eager, appreciative faces." The hearty rounds of applause that followed Miss Stedman's songs carried ample testimony of the prisoners' appreciation. Before joining the Selig company Miss Stedman was well known on the stage and in musical circles. At the urgent request of the prisoners she has accepted an invitation to sing to them every Sunday that it is possible for her to do so.