Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

486 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 1, 1923 New Zealand Used a Cyclorama for O. T. A First National Release ANOTHER EFFECTIVE DISPLAY FROM THE EMPRESS, WELLINGTON This was designed by Harold Righton for Fui‘y, and the sight effect is supplemented by a storm wheel and flasher lightning. A ship’s bell on the box office is rung by the cashier at odd moments. One of the most effective lobbies on Oliver Twist comes from New Zealand, where the Empress Theatre, Wellington, made an unusually elaborate effort to put Jackie Coogan over. The box office is masked in by a picture of Jackie asking for more, and this is backed by a clever cyclorama covering the entire inner wall space of the lobby, cut for the entrances. The painting shows the streets of London as they appeared in the time of Dickens, with the character cutouts from the lithographs peopling the thoroughfare. Above is a partly cut out banner, with two old-fashioned lanterns hanging in front. Pillars on either side are lettered with the name of the star and the production and there is a second banner above the one just mentioned. Of course the color values are lost in a monochrome reproduction, but some idea of the effect may be gained in black and white, and we do not recall anything used during the first runs here to match this careful and effective appeal. Almost as good is a display from the same house on Fury, designed by Harold Righton. This suggests a Pinafore set, but with a cutout of Barthelmess standing by the box office. On top of this structure is a ship’s bell which is struck by the cashier whenever she has a spare moment. Back of the set is a wind machine on a motor driven gear, and a flasher system contributes fairly realistic lightning. Lightning seems to be the weak point in lobby work and a flasher is about the best anyone has yet done in the way of a mechanical effect. The employment of a man to operate the carbon and file is often too costly. We should like to see someone try out a scheme whereby a carbon mounted on a slow moving wheel strikes a file surface at some point in its revolution. It would appear that this should give a better flash, and the building would not be very elaborate if a brush feed is used. If anyone tries out this scheme, we will appreciate a report and if possible a photograph of the device clear enough to show the details of its construction. It would be not unlike the sandpaper “puff” on animated locomotive cutouts. Governor Endorsed a Picture Theatre Getting the Governor to write a warm letter of congratulation and approval was one of the ways Harry F. Storin, of the Leroy Theatre, Pawtucket, R. I., put over his sixth anniversary — and it was only the sixth monthly anniversary, at that. He put it'on the screen and it got a hand at each showing. In its essential paragraph, the letter runs : “The people of Pawtucket should feel justly proud of their possession of so splendid a playhouse and I feel sure that they appreciate the efforts of your company to provide the high type of entertainment which has been typical of the Leroy Theatre.” Outside of asking the Governor to make it a legal holiday, you could not look for much more than that. The celebration bill was The Green Goddess, and the Governor does not have to be ashamed of endorsing that. The mailing program also lists the underlines and Mr. Storin seems to have most of the good ones and few of the poor offerings. He is commencing his anniversaries early, but the more the better. Here’s looking forward to the sixth yearly anniversary ! Serial Signs It’s not easy to startle Sandusky citizens, for anything that is out of the ordinary is promptly blamed on George J. Schade. That’s why the citizenry refused to thrill with alarm when painted signs recently read "Look out, bootleggers. K. K. K.” The people just smiled and wondered what was coming to the Schade Theatre. They found out a few days later when the completed sign read : “Look out, bootleggers. Every K. K. K. will see Within the Law. Schade Theatre, Sun., Mon., Tues.” They just laughed a little and joined the K. K. K. to this extent, at least. According to the First National publicity, Mr. Schade does not believe in window work, arguing that the goods display will detract from the theatre announcement. He declares that blank walls and similar places in good locations are much more striking. Even at that we should be afraid to offer Schade a window if we didn't want him to use it. We think Walter Eberhardt is goleming again. Black Cyclorama Lights Up Nicely At the Rivoli Theatre the other evening we noted that the metallic cyclorama seems to be black or a very deep blue, taking colors from the spots with a new and very pleasing effect. It does not reflect as much light as a gold or silver curtain, but it gives a change from those backings, and if you have an old curtain too badly tarnished" to be effective, perhaps your druggist can suggest some wash which will blacken the surface without destroying the luster. Another good effect can be obtained through the use of a black scrim drape over a metallic curtain. As in the other effect the contrast of the black with the coloring gives emphasis to the value of the lights. A First National Release LONDON STREETS MADE NEW ZEALANDERS HOMESICK This striking lobby was worked for Oliver Twist by the Empress Theatre, Wellington N. Z. A litho cutout of Jackie dresses the box office, and the remainder of the lobby is masked in with a cyclorama depicting other characters in Old London.