Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

788 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 5, 1917 exhibited at the Strand theater, New York City, the week of April 22. The regular release date of this number of the Pictographs will be April 28. National Academy Views Prizma Pictures Exhibition of Prizma Natural Color Pictures Viewed by National Academy of Sciences at Smithsonian Institute. BEFORE members of the National Academy of Sciences in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C, Monday night, Prizma, Incorporated, exhibited several reels of motion photography in natural colors, the first of their kind ever shown before that distinguished body. A varied program set forth the possibilities of color and motion applicable to the screen and proved highly entertaining to the scientists who were gathered at Washington in annual meeting. from the manager mentioned, while the clubhouses get some from that source, but also at times import special features direct from the States, including such productions as "The Birth of a Nation" and "Civilization." American Pictures Popular in British Guiana Dramas, Comics and Topical Subjects Constitute Most of the Programs — Growing Demand for Serials. SIX motion picture theaters are in operation in British Guiana, says Consul George E. Chamberlin at Georgetown, writing in "Commerce Reports." The principal ones are in Georgetown, and the others are branches which are supplied with films and accessories from the local houses. The Olympic theater, on Middle street, Georgetown, has a seating capacity of 1,520, including 300 seats at 24 cents, 220 at 12 cents and 1,000 at 4 cents. The London Electric theater, on Camp street, accommodates 2,000, including ISO seats at 24 cents, 600 at 12 cents and 1,250 at 2 cents. The company owning it recently took over the Royal Palace theater and changed its name*, while the original London Electric theater has been dismantled and removed to New Amsterdam, where it will be reopened with a capacity of about 1,000, at the usual prices — 24, 12 and 4 cents. The other theater at New Amsterdam has a seating capacity of about 800, with the same range of prices. Two houses are at Plantations Rose Hail and Skeldon, m Berbice County, and each has a capacity of about 600. All the theaters have daily performances, except on Sundays, from 8.30 to 10.30 p. m., and semiweekly matinees from 5.30 to 7.30 p. m. All makes of films (chiefly American) are used. The Olympic theater receives its supply through a company in New York City, and the London Electric theater through a film exchange in Trinidad, B. W. I. The price of the service ranges from $5 to $12 per reel of 1,000 feet, and the films are usually in the hands of the local houses from 2 to 6 weeks, which does not include time to transit. American films • and accessories generally give satisfaction, and the local managers have no suggestions as to improvement. The films shown are chiefly dramas, comics and topicals. There is, however, a growing demand for serials in 20 to 40 parts. Those recently shown drew crowded houses. Industrial and travel pictures do not appeal to the British Guiana public. Picture plays are popular, but a large portion of the patronage is from the laboring classes, which usually pay the lowest prices of admission — -2 and 4 cents. When pictures of special merit are shown the class of patronage is raised and the houses are well filled from the pit up. Panama Has Big Picture Theaters The America at Colon Seats 1,200, the Broadway Accomodates 1,000 — Admission as High as Thirty Cents. IN "Commerce Reports," Consul General Alban G. Snyder at Panama writes that the city of Panama has only three motion picture theaters of any importance. These are the Amador, the Aurora and El Dorado. The Amador and Aurora have seating capacities of 600 and 300, respectively. El Dorado theater seats about 600. It shows Spanish and Italian films exclusively. The prices of admission to the Amador and Aurora are 10, 20 and 30 cents, while prices at the El Dorado vary according to the features shown. The manager of the Amador and Aurora also has two theaters in the city of Colon — the America, with a seating capacity of about 1,200, and the Broadway, seating about 1,000. Prices at these theaters are 10, 15 and 25 cents. This manager imports all of his films from the United States through New Orleans, his service comprising most of the well-known American makes. The cost ranges from $75 up. The post exchanges and the Y. M. C. A. clubhouses on the Canal Zone also give motion picture entertainments from time to time, the former generally obtaining their service Millicent Fisher IN MILLICENT FISHER, who plays the role of "The Girl of the Vision" in Metro's wonder serial, "The Great Secret," in which Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne are co-stars, Director Wm. Christy Cabanne believes he has found an ideal screen face. About a year ago Miss Fisher came to New York to visit friends and one day visited the Metro-Quality studios. There she saw the initial chapter of "The Great Secret." Her pretty and unusually expressive face attracted the attention of Director Cabanne, and needing just such a type for one of his characters, he offered the part to her. She refused. "Don't be afraid, I have never made a mistake in selecting screen types, and right here I prophecy a success for you," persisted the director. "I admit, after what I have seen, that the motion picture has a positive fascination," replied Miss Fisher, "and I may say further " "Say nothing further," continued Mr. Cabanne, "until you have had a screen test," and forthwith Cameraman Fildew was brought into action. But Miss Fisher would not yield until her mother had come to New York and looked over the situation from every angle. The persuasive Mr. Cabanne had won. She scored an immediate success in "The Great Secret" as a young mother living in the Klondike, and Director Cabanne has made great prophecies as to her future. Miss Fisher is a native of Greenboro, N. C. Her father, now dead, was a captain in the English army and a man of wealth and distinction. He married into an exclusive set. After private tutoring the only daughter, Millicent, was sent to the Greenboro Women's College, and later to Penn Hall, Chambersburg, Pa., where her educational finish was attended to. She specialized in music, literature, vocal culture and domestic science. After her graduation, a year was devoted to travel and sightseeing and then followed her debut in Southern society. Upon her return home she applied herself to music and art. Miss Fisher lives at the Hotel Rutledge and is considerable of a social favorite. She is fond of outdoor sports and is a fine horsewoman. Millicent Fisher. LIST OF EDUCATIONAL AND SELECTED FILMS. Films for Children's Matinees, Sunday and Educational Programs. READY REFERENCE LISTS, alphabetically arranged, showing subjects released during the last six months of 1916. Mailed upon receipt of twenty (20) cents in postage. MOVING PICTURE WORLD 17 Madison Ave, New York City