Moving Picture News (Jan-Dec 1911)

22 THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS "Love and Cheese" picture. It was so disgustingly suggestive, and Max didn't add one iota to his popularity in this city by that reel. In fact, it was just the reverse. I note that Beulah Binford, the paramour of Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., convicted of the murder of his wife, is in New York to pose "for motion pictures." Don't you think, Mr. Editor, that's going a little too far? The good women of New York who are interested in amusements and the keeping clean of things that should be clean have protested against this girl going on the stage. Why must motion photography, for the sake of the "almighty dollar," stoop to her level? I like to believe that the greatest industry and amusement in the world to-day. the making of motion pictures, stands for all that is good and true in this life, and if Beulah Binford is not good enough for the American stage, she shouldn't be permitted to appear in motion pictures. There will be more little ones see her in the picture theaters than there would with an attraction or in vaudeville. I don't like to wish any manufacturer bad luck, but I sincerely hope that if she appears in any reel, that managers with a proper sense of decency will decline to order it from their exchange. And I'm not a "radical" in any sense of the word, either. THE LADY IN THE BATHS. "WASHINGTON LETTER Washington, D. C. — Ft. j\Iyer is again being besieged by the Solax Company, under Director Melville and Mr. Lewis, to take part in its military dramas. It is the up-to-date tactics of these pictures that has given to this company its superiority in modern military photoplays. Captain Dean, of Ft. Myer, has been an able right-hand man in this enterprise, from the military as well as the dramatic side. When you meet him unceremoniously at the fort, this young and goodlooking captain is a rather unpretentious individual, but he knows a "whole heap." Romaine Fielding, the leading man of the Solax Company, has appeared frequently in the Washington theaters. It is his work in the past in intensely dramatic, legitimate dramas that has so well prepared him for the photoplay. He is just as courteous ofif the stage as on it, and he is quite an adept at cranking an auto. ^ * * No one felt very joyous after the presentation of the films of "Dante's Inferno"; they weren't expected to, of course; but one young lady near me was positively afraid to go home after the show, while another said, "This reminds me of 'The Goblins Will Catch You, if You Don't Watch Out.' " The fact that Mr. Smithfield, who gives the remarks during the reels, has made a historical and literary study of the divine comedy and the instances therein has added much interest to his talk. The recitation of excerpts direct from the "Inferno" during the presentation of the pictures is very effective, and as Mr. Smithfield was connected with the dramatic stage before his bow as a lecturer, he knows how to do it. J}c * * * Tom Moore is back to his desk as busy as ever. He had a delightful trip and saw people connected with the moving picture industry at every turn, especially while in New York. His recently inaugurated Sunday concerts with motion pictures at the Gaiety and the Academy have begun with a dash. First run Independents are the photoplays, while his artists are select. * * * * The presentation of the motion picture travelogue of Alaska was thoroughly enjoyed at the Columbia Theater on Sunday last. A lecture supplementing this by Will T. Jones added much to the better understanding of the frozen North, its people, customs and industries. This forms one of the most educational sides of the animated camera. * * * * The Cosmos has inaugurated an all picture show during the hours from 5 to 7 o'clock. The pick of the picture-plays and scenic views are offered, with something scientific occasionally. This has become a popular resting place for the weary to be amused. !|< * * * The Virginia had an exceptional run of "Ben Hur," which received favorable comments by all who witnessed this photodrama. Bedford, la. — A new opera house will be erected here to be known as the Clark Opera House. Richmond, Cal. — Local business men are forming a company for the erection of an opera house on McDonald avenue. LOS ANGELES Hamburger's Majestic Theater is showing the five reels of "Dante's Inferno," put out by the Monopol Film Company, and has been playing to capacity houses all week. The pictures are perfect in photography and a lecturer explains the different cases. A Simplex machine is being used, the first one in the city. * si: * * The Coronation of King George V., made by the Kinemacolor Company, will be here for the first time to-morrow at the Grand Opera House. The Wonderland has redecorated and rebuilt the lobby, changing their program from Independent to Trust. Two reels of "Dante's Inferno," made by the ]\Ionopol Film Company, were run at the Shell Theater for five days and played capacity houses. The Lyric has taken off their vaudeville and are now showing four reels of pictures. Since the vaudeville has been taken off, the theater has been doing better business. ^ ^ ^ The Europa, which was closed for some time, has again reopened with Independent service from the new National Film Exchange. ^ ^ ^ ^ The National Theater is the only one in the city showing six reels of pictures for five cents. ^ ^ ^ ^ Mr. Lewis Stone, Mr. L. L. Burns and Mr. D. Daniels have just returned from the Moquis reservation, where they have been for the past three weeks. After surmounting considerable difficulties, and, with hard work to obtain special permits, they have succeeded in obtaining the only pictures of the Moquis tribe and their snake dance. Thousands of Indians from all the surrounding territory visit this spot annually for the religious rites and medicine dances, and this is the first time in the history of the world, after considerable expenditure, that these Indians have been filmed while performing their religious fetes. This only goes to show the progressiveness and aggressiveness of the Co-operative Film Manufacturing Company. Mr. D. S. Markowitz, their president and general manager, has spared no expense nor effort to obtain all educational stories of any and all religious or educational features that could possibly be procured. Only recently they have filmed the ground-breaking ceremonies and the high pontifical military mass which took place in San Diego. The proofs of these pictures were exhibited to a very critical audience composed of newspaper men and same have been pronounced a perfect piece of motiography. From an educational standpoint, these films have no equal. The company are going ahead with their plans and in a very short time Mr. Markowitz will be on his way to New York with samples of some of their work, which will more than do justice and reward the manufacturers for their efforts. ALEC FEINSTEIN. • OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT London Office of the News, 8 Sherwood St., London, W. Jury's Pictures, Ltd., are the latest people to go in for larger premises, and they are now installed in a really palatial building in St. Martin's Lane, within hail of their original quarters in Long Acre. Many developments are promised by this old established firm, including the production of a "film newspaper." One of the oldest members of the trade, Mr. Jury, has kept pace with modern developments in a remarkable fashion, and deserves all his success. The railway strike is happily over, and business is resuming a normal course again. Some little dislocation was caused the trade, particularly by the troubles at Liverpool, where everybody practically seemed to be on strike and a state of anarchy reigned for a time. One of the American boats put out for the States again with all its cargo on board, having been unable to discharge it, and among that cargo there was a considerable quantity of film. Things are still very unsettled at Liverpool, many men of all classes refusing to go back to work until some corporation trainmen who were out are re-instated by the Council, and I was told a day or two ago that the Lusitania, also carrying a quantity of film subjects, was still waiting an opportunity to land its cargo. The chances of a general settlement are, however, undoubtedly more favorable now than for some time past.