The Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 5i Hi!! ■ OBSERVATIONS BY OUR MAN ABOUT TOWN THE nineteenth annual meeting of the electrical committee of the National Fire Protection Association will be held at 123 William Street, New York City, on the 26th and 27th insts. The rooms in which the meeting will he held are those occupied by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters. Committee reports and suggestions for changes in the "National Electrical Code" will be considered. Among the reports will be one by the committee on theater and moving picture establishment wiring, which will submit a new section to be added to the rules under the heading, "Moving Picture Equipments of Approved Miniature Type for Home Lecture and Similar Purposes." The section will embrace four rules as follows: (1) Arc lamp used as a part of machine must be constructed as far as practicable similar to arc lamps of theaters, and mus: not require more than 350 watts to operate same; (2) the rheostat or other current controlling device must conform to the requirements for similar devices for theater work, and must be attached to and form a part of the machine; (3) films must be of the non-inflammable type and must not be more than 100 feet in length and one inch in width; (4) where the use of an approved booth is dispensed with, a mat made of asbestos or other approved material must be placed under the machine when in operation; this mat to be of such size and so arranged that machine may be easily and quickly enveloped in same in case of accident to film. * * * Miss Florence Turner, late one of the most popular members of the Yitagraph stock company, made a big hit both at the Flalsey Street and Fifth Avenue theaters, Brooklyn, following the close of her successful engagement at the 116th Street Theater. Manhattan. Miss Turner was exceedingly popular with the employees of the Vitagraph. She always had a cheery smile and a kind word for all of them, particularly for the girls and young women employed in the film departments. When they learned Miss Turner was booked for Brooklyn engagements these employees prepared to give her a cordial reception. One night the joining room girls occupied boxes at the Halsey. The first night Miss Turner appeared at the Fifth Avenue, the printing room girls filled the boxes. The little actress was much affected by the cordiality accorded her by the groups. They showered flowers upon her and wildly waved flags bearing the Vitagraph imprint as she made her appearance upon the stage. * * * As a part of her monologue Miss Turner takes occasion to announce that her new departure does not mean that she will not be seen in the motion pictures again, as it is her intention to combine with others in the production of pictures in which she will be starred, as already announced in a recent issue of the Moving Picture World. * * * Among the latest rumors bearing upon the incorporation of new companies for the production of motion pictures is one to the effect that a company is about to be formed by twenty-five publishers and a number of authors. It is stated that the combination is to be a co-operative one, the publishers and authors sharing in the profits derived from the film productions of the latter's work. The name given as that of the proposed combination is "The Famous Fiction Film Company." The incentive of this scheme is said to have emanated from the Daniel Frohman undertaking. One of the chief aims is to attract attention to certain fiction publications through the film productions. Now that motion pictures have forced general recognition for themselves, hardly a day passes that some new scheme to make use of them in some way is not developed. The resources afforded by motion pictures are unlimited, but it is feared that ere long schemes will become so numerous that the outlet for them will become choked and many ventures will fall by the wayside. It may well be said "everybody's doing it" and at the same time there is a certainty that a good thing may be overdone. * * * Following the examples set by many of the foreign municipalities, Greater New York has turned to motion pictures as an agency for the enlightenment of school children on municipal government and hygienic rules. The chairman of the Public Health and Education Committee has had films made showing the importance of care of the teeth. It is claimed that exhibition of the films will eliminate absence from the schools on account of tooth troubles. The undertaking is a commendable one. It is hoped the exhibition of the films will not be restricted to the school rooms. Arrangements should be made for their exhibition in the motion picture houses, so that interest may be elicited on the part of parents as well as the pupils. This plan has been adopted for the exhibition of motion pictures especially made for showing the work of the street cleaning department. Clean streets and clean teeth are akin. No better selection of films can be made for the picture houses, as they treat upon subjects in which everybody in all walks of life should be greatly interested. * * * And along the municipal lines let another step be taken. The Board of Health should get busy and follow the example set by the municipal authorities of Berlin, Germany. There the meat inspectors have called motion picture cameras to their aid in determining if food products are in proper condition. The films show the micro-organisms in motion should the inspected meats be diseased. While the municipalities of foreign lands are cited as launching examples to be followed, it should not be assumed that they originated the ideas involved. Due credit must be given an American brain. Mr. Charles Urban, of London, England, was the first to demonstrate the great value and possibilities of the motion picture camera along the lines stated. For several years he has produced a number of highly commendable subjects, but they failed to gain the recognition they deserved owing to the tardiness that attended the willingness of the public to give motion pictures the attention now accorded them. When the pictures now prepared an,d in course of operation secure public approbation, which they surely will, we will then turn admiring and grateful glances to Mr. Urban as the grand old man of the municipal utility of motion pictures. Where does the American brain fit in? Oh, yes; that was almost forgotten. Mr. Urban has been in England so long that he is looked upon as a native of that country. He is not. He was born in America and resided here many years. When visiting here, having acquired the accent of his adopted country to some extent, Mr. Urban derives much pleasure from the discomfiture occasioned some of the people he meets who cater to him in the belief that he is among the brilliant products of His Majesty's domain. He has always had a warm heart for the land of his birth, and now that Kinemacolor has been received here so well the warmth of his heart is still greater. Mr. Urban deserves all the success he has attained. He was and is among the hardest working pioneers in the field of animated photography and has advanced scores of original and commendable ideas in the field. * * * Here is a new one. Two exhibitors were discussing the advantage to motion picture houses by having well-known photoplayers make personal appearances in them. One said it helped advertise the pictures and increased the box office receipts very appreciably. The other concurred in the statement, but added that he never had a player appear at his house in person because he believed that it dispels an illusion that is an important factor in the business. "I have watched closely appearances at other houses," he said, "and almost invariably I have found that the audiences have been disappointed and eventually the player loses prestige with them. The players in the flesh do not seem to meet the ideals which their appearances in the pictures have created in the minds of the people. That is how I account for requests for reappearances being rare." POWER'S CAMERAGRAPH INSTALLATION. A Power's Cameragraph No. 6A has been installed in the St. Michael's School, Clinton Avenue and High Street, Hoboken, N. J., through the Universal Film Exchange of New York. The Broadway Theater, 41st Street and Broadway, New York City, has installed two Power's Cameragraph No. 6A through the People's Vaudeville Company. MISS STONEHOUSE RESUMES WORK. Ruth Stonehouse, the charming leading lady of the Essanay Eastern stock company, returned to work last Monday. Miss Stonehouse has been ill for the last three weeks with scarletina. A surprise party was given in her honor by the members of the stock company. A beautiful floral piece was sent to Miss Stonehouse by the photoplay "fans" of Denver. Miss Stonehouse will be featured in some forthcoming dramatic productions.