Moving Picture World (Mar-Dec 1907)

249 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. O^f hall in this city, has fallen into the hands of the Quinetescope Contpany, of Montreal, Bennett’s upper Canadian rivals, and will open on Saturday as the “Bioscope,” while as a next door neighbor it has the Unique, which is being operated by the Bennetts themselves. 'S The Empire, Halifax, N. S., opened recently with a splendid series of moving pictures and illustrated songs by Miles Brothers, New York.. Nothing but the very best films are used. Manager Mullane has the building seated to accommodate about 1,500 people and has also provided for his patrons an ice cream parlor in the building. _ * * * Bathe Freres, of Paris, were in New York last week and formed a corporation in Jersey City, N. J., to deal in cinematographic negatives and positives and apparatus ; o capital, $1,000,000. Incorporators: William H. Corbin, 243 Washington street, Jersey City, N. J. ; Ernest A. Ivatts and Charles Bathe, Baris, France; Collins & Corbin, Jersey City, N. J. * * * The members of the skeleton chamber in “Night and Morning,” at Luna Park, New York, met in executive session recently, and after a heated and lengthy discussion passed resolutions criticizing the brand of cigarettes that the management supplied them. Each member of the Stygian chamber had a voice in the heated discussion, which resulted in the appointment of a committee to wait on .Frederic Thompson with a “frame” of the resolutions. Mr. Thompson’s desire, naturally, is to please the House of Skeletons, and will have a special brand of cirgarettes manufactured for their use. The new cigarette will be “The Luna,” guaranteed to superinduce peace, happiness arid good-fellowship in the executive branch of the chamber of skeletons in the realm of “Night and Morning.” [Next, please. — Er>. ] * * * metal box with tight-fitting cover; each machine must be run by hand ; a three-gallon fire extinguisher must be kept close to machine ; that machine must be housed specially as directed by fire chief and city electrician ; that violation of this ordinance will make offender liable of fine not exceeding $100 and imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, either or both, each day of operation make separate offense. * * * The “penny arcades” in the cities are coming in for a general criticism and being characterized as dens or schools in vice. Another form of innocent amusement gone wrong that might prove wholesome entertainment. * * * With moving pictures which are claimed to be the best ever shown in Rhode Island the Westminster Theater Providence, is to reopen its doors for a Summer season. The views shown will be strictly up to date and refined in every respect and smoking will be prohibited, the management catering particularly to ladies and children. * * The North Side, Corning, N. Y., is to have another picture show. The promoters of the enterprise are : Glen Billinghurst and H. W. Loghry. They have secured a lease of a store in the Walters block. They have purchased the picture machine and equipment of the defunct North Side Electric Museum Company and as soon as the store can be. altered to meet the demands of the business the enterprise will be opened to the public. v * * Muscatine, la., is to have a new theater. The room in the Warfield Building, at 112 West Second street, has been rented by Mr. Gordon, of Sioux City, who will at once install a first-class moving picture machine. The new theater is to be called “The Unique.” Mr. Gordon, the proprietor, promises to exhibit nothing but strictly moral moving pictures, while illustrated songs will be one of the pleasing features of the house. Bert Ziv, of Chicago, a theatrical manager of many years’ experience, and well known among the managers of Chicago, has been secured by Mr. Gordon to manage this house. * * * A church in a five-cent theater. A minister on a stage where two hours later a knock-about comedian will appear. A choir of sweet-faced choir girls as rivals of a ballet chorus. These unusual sights will be seen at Gary, Inch, the new mushroom city built by the steel trust, next Sunday. A town of nearly 4,000 inhabitants and growing faster than any town in the United States, in the world, perhaps, Gary has no church. Worshipers have been compelled to go to other towns to attend services. But the Congregationalists decided to-day to change matters They declared they would hold services in Gary if it were possible. Committees were sent to lease a building, but the only place available was the nickel theater. A contract was closed and notices of the Sunday meeting were posted conspicuously about Gary. * * * St. Louis oculists agree with Berlin physicians that moving picture machines are injurious to the eyes, but sav there is no necessity here to declare war on the kinemetograph shows, as they are doing in the German capital. According to a press cablegram, the Berlin physicians have become so alarmed about the possible injury to the eyes by the 2,000 kinemetograph shows there that they are urging the Government to close them. Dr. James A. Campbell, a leading St. Louis oculist, says there is no A new ordinance of the City Council, Charleston, S. C.. was passed at its meeting, June 11, in order to make the moving picture shows here of all classes give the most complete fire protection to their patrons. Chief Behrens has already put into effect certain precautions. Itssalient features are as follows : That existing electric theaters where moving pictures arc displayed shall comply with the ordinance within thirty clays from the time of its passage ; that a permit must be secured from the fire chief and from the city electrician for any such theater hereafter, before a license will be issued ; that all wiring in such places of amusement must be done under the supervision of the city electrician, and that infractions of this section will render the theater liable to closing; all fuses must be fireproof; .all exits are to be indicated and lighted ; all lights must be independent of stage light excepting general auditorium lights, and must be controlled from the lobby or other convenient place, and there must be two circuits into the auditorium, one controlled by operator and the other on the outside ; that every portion of the building used shall be lighted, and also all outlets, corridors, etc., one sixteen candle power arc lamp to every four hundred square feet of floor space being the standard ; each arc lamp used as a part of the moving picture machines must be run according to specifications of city electrician ; also rheostat ; reels must be encased in iron box, with no solder construction ; handle or crank must be secured to spindle ; automatic shutter must shut off light rays when machine stops running ; extra films must be kept in a