Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 24, 1923 M O V I N G PI C T U R E W 0 R L, D Simple Animation for Mounted Star He Had Lights Because the failure of, the water power through lack of summer rains caused a rationing of the electric service in Johns, N. B., the Queen Theatre found a fine local angle for a Norma Talmadge play. The bulk of the advertising in newspaper, on the boards and in windows was to the effect that : “Whether the Hydro Service works or not, we have The Eternal Flame for three days.” Eternal flames sounded mighty interesting to a town where they had to go to bed by candle light to save the juice, and it added materially to the business the star’s popularity would have pulled in anyhow. It served to make good business better, if you get the idea. On this page is shown an animated figure for The Cowboy and the Lady, devised by Fred Webster, of the Grand Theatre, Norfolk, Neb. These figures are cutouts from the 24sheet, and in the lobby a real rope ran from the rider’s hand to the fiure of the girl. The photograph is too dark to show the details, but the figure is mounted on tripod of which two legs run to the platform below while the third extends to the rear. These support an upright which terminates just above the waist of the rider, and the cutout is pivoted just below the point of the vest, permitting free motion. Back of the pedestal is a fan motor geared to three wheels to reduce speed. The first belt runs from the hub of the motor to the circumference of the first wheel. The hub of the first wheel is belted to the circumference and the third wheel is connected the same way. This third wheel has a peg near the outer rim to which is fastened a short rod connecting with the hind feet of the horse and as the wheel revolves the horse moves up and down, like a hobby horse. It is very simple, yet it gives a far better attractor than any still pose cutout, and the rig can be used for many similar animations. The rod should be pivoted to the horse’s hoof, to permit the swinging of the connection as the wheel revolves. This is simply done with a bolt with a washer between the rod and the cutout to allow free play. Beat ’Em Up Monday to Wednesday records at the Garing Theatre, Greenville, S. C., were badly mangled by The Merry Go Round which opened the Greater Movie Season for H. B. Clarke, doing a better business, by several A Paramount iteieuae A Rathe Release THIS ODD ROAD BANNER HELPED TO SELL WHY WORRY It was one of the contributing factors in an exceptional run for the Harold Lloyd production. At the bottom of the board is the message “Tivoli, one week. Harold Lloyd in Why Worry?” It was one of the stunts of F. H. Dowler, Jr, of Chattanooga. AN ANIMATION STUNT FOR ANY MOUNTED STAR The original was devised by Fred Webster, Grand Theatre, Norfolk, Neb, for The Cowboy and the Lady. It was used inside the lobby, but for the photographer it was moved down to the curb line to get a better light. It involves little building. hundred dollars, than had been done on those days for the last couple of years. A special showing, plus the reclame of the Greater Movie Season, did the trick. The lobby was nicely set with a mounted 24-sheet overhead and a three-piece banner with four legs enclosing the lobby. Don’t forget to plan a free matinee for the poor children at Christmas: and another for your regular clientele. Why Worry Banner Had Them Worried One of the stunts used by F. H. Dowler, Jr, to put over Why Worry? at the Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga, was a novel roadside banner, apparently placed on the Lookout Mountain Drive. The mandatory notice attracted attention and a lot of persons read the sign, more through curiosity than because they felt that they were compelled to. They merely wanted to see what it was all about, and it was all about the Harold Lloyd showing at the Tivoli. This was roughly lettered on a letterhead of the bill posting company to make it look different. He had ten of these along the various drives for which Chattanooga is noted. He also got out 1,000 windshield stickers bearing merely the title, and a number of cards with both star and title. These last he posted in the most conspicuous places, including the front of the newly constructed eight-story office building of the Tennessee Electric Power Company. The business section of the town is so small that everyone saw it. With a thousand stickers and as many goggles, he built up a business that was close to the record.