Moving Picture World (April 1912 - June 1912)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 123 Pictures from the Maine Woods Series of Novel Subjects Taken by the Edison Company Soon to Appear — A Touching Comedy Drama. DURING the coldest months of the winter just passed a company of Edison players, under the direction of Mr. Oscar C. Apfel, spent about six weeks along the Kennebeck River, Maine, making pictures of the various industries of that region, interwoven with which are bits of life's comedy and drama to add zest to the portrayal. Notwithstanding that the snow was from three to four feet deep and the temperature hovered away down around 30 degrees below zero, some excellent pictures were made. Such conditions usually develop static electricity in annoying quantities, to the destruction of thousands of feet of film when not properly guarded against, but the Edison camera man was remarkably fortunate in eliminating that element and his negatives proved to be entirely free from "static." Thus the Edison company is able to offer some fine pictures of the wilds of Maine in the depth of winter. Logging Scene from "The Boss of the Lumber Camp" (Edison). The first of the subjects to be released is entitled "The Boss of the Lumber Camp." This picture is the first of a series dealing with the logging industry of Maine as it relates to the manufacture of paper. In it is shown the work of piling up the logs. A dramatic story is worked into this subject and it is very interesting. Briefly: John Warner, a lumberman, sends his son, Willis, to the woods to cure him of some of his bad habits. The boy's sister follows a little later to keep her brother from getting lonesome. There she meets Bob Foster, a college man, who is in charge of the camp. Bob tries to keep Willis out of trouble, but the boy loses heavily while gambling with the men and is caught cheating. The men determine to punish the young man, but Bob rescues him from the clutches of the infuriated men and he hides in the cabin while his sister, quickly donning men's clothes, leads his pursuers off the trail until Willis shall have time to get safely away from camp. The ruse succeeds and the story concludes quite naturally in a happy understanding between Bob and the sister with her father's approval. "THE LITTLE WOODEN SHOE" (Edison). Bannister Merwin has provided the Edison players a touching bit of life in the subject "The Little Wooden Shoe," which will be released April 23. It is one of those "heart interest" stories which dig down deep into one's sympathies. While the Edison company claims no monopoly on this class of picture, it has been singularly alone in the production of them. In this story Burton Prentice, a husband and father, is a drunkard. In despair his wife leaves their baby upon the doorstep of a well-to-do stranger in hope that it will thus be spared the poverty from which she sees no escape. In her haste the frantic mother leaves behind one of the baby's woolen shoes. The shock of losing his little daughter brings the father to his sejtises and in the years that follow he becomes prosperous. - During all this time the parents have made every effort to locate and regain their child, but have not succeeded. Finally, while riding in their automobile, a break-down compels them to stop near a pretty suburban home and the owner invites them to come in while the machine is being repaired. A children's party is in progress and "hunt the slipper" is the game with which the children are being entertained. The little hostess has brought her little woolen shoe into the game just as the parents enter. They do not recognize the child, who has grown past their recollection, but the mother knows the little shoe at once. Explanations follow and the long lost child is once more restored. See illustration on page 131. MISS ROSEMARY THEBY. Rosemary Theby is a St. Louis girl who started to work before the camera about six months ago. Her previous stage experience had been more brief than that of most photoplayers, but her unusually clean-cut features and distinct type, as well as her natural ability, qualified her to enter directly into motion picture work and make good from the start. After serving a brief time in minor roles she was given an opportunity to do something better, and the way in which she did it inspired still further confidence and brought her more important parts. In this way she has advanced in a short space of time to a foremost position, and is at present essaying roles that are exacting and call for a finished player. Miss Theby is of the pronounced brunette type, slightly oriental in character. Her personality is well adapted to heavy leads and no doubt some day she will give us some great characterizations. We would call attention to her impersonation of "Ruth" in the latest Vitagraph biblical production, "The Illumination," in which picture her work speaks for itself. KINEMACOLOR CHANGES HOUSES. On Monday, April 8, the New York exhibition of the "Durbar" in Kinemacolor was transferred from the New York Theater, 45th Street and Broadway, to the Garden Theater, at 27th Street and Madison Avenue. There the exhibition will be known as the second edition of "Durbar" pictures, for the reason that several new views have been added, showing some of the closing events of the festive season of the Coronation. Probably the most interesting of all the additions to the program will be the Kinemacolor views of the "Burial of the Maine." For marine views Kinemacolor is like nature itself, and a glimpse of the moss-covered Maine going down for the last time, is equal, through this medium, to being at the scene itself.