Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

504 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD ourselves, although the time at our disposal on the occasion tii" our visit was somewhat limited, put the Bianchi camera to a practical test. One of us turned the crank while the other sat on the stage and did a little acting with a charming young actress who figures in "The .\ct<ir> Children/' much to the edification of Mr. Thanhouser, Mr. Bianchi, the staff and other guests. Then the few hundred feet that were exposed, were developed and brought to us for our inspection, and the negative, considering tin nature of the exposure, turned out to be of very gcx d quality. So that, all in all. the Bianchi camera came out of the test and experiments with flying colors. It seems, so far a^ we ran judge, to he a perfectly practicable instrument, demanding, perhaps, a little extra care and thought on the part of the camera man who uses it; perhaps a little extra care in keeping the simple extra devices in order; but, on the whole, an unquestionably practicable success. I 'erhaps it is right to say here that the Bianchi camera is being manufactured and rented under the auspices of the Columbia Phonograph Company, of Bridgeport, Conn.; that .Mr. Bianchi himself is personally supervising it-, manufacture and that its use is open to the world on suitable terms of buying and renting. We congratulate Mr. Bianchi on the -ucce- of his highly ingenious camera. YVc have further to say that we were very much pleased with what we saw and what was done with it at the Thanhouser works the other day. LET THE GOSPEL IN. By H. F. Hoffman. A little experience with a store gospel congregation some time ago has given ri>e to a philanthropic idea within my fertile brain. No doubt 1 will get the "Ha I la" from some of the wise ones, but "I don't care — I don't care." Last Summer ] signed a contract to close my theater and transfer my movable property to a larpe airdome that was to open nearby. Although my Summer's rent was taken care of by the contract, I was still mercenary enough to cast around for a Summer tenant for my building. As the scats remained in the place, the tenant would necessarily have to be someone who wanted an auditorium. I could not imagine for the time being where I could pick up such a tenant until one Sunday night I happened to pass one of those store missions on a side street. The place was packed to the doors. The brethren and sisters were singing hymns to their hearts' content while sweltering in the early Summer heat. "Here's my chance," thought I, and I managed to get the car of a white-bearded old fellow, who looked as though he might have some authority. I suggested to him that the mission people were evidently in need of larger quarters and he admitted that such was the case. He told me also that a committee had been appointed to look for a bigger place, and then, seizing my opportunity, I described my theater to him in glowing terms. I told of the prominent location and the cool electric fans, the comfortable individual seats that were so much better than their hard benches. I told of my stage that could be used as a rostrum, as well as for special entertainments, and even went so far as to hint that once in a while they could give illustrated lectures or even biblical subjects in moving pictures to attract attendance, with a silver collection to swell the treasury. The old man listened until 1 sot to the silver collection and then he murmured half to himself, "The Lord has answered our prayer." The old fellow insisted that 1 should come around after the service and meet the superintendent, which I did. The congregation were as poor as church mice, but very lively and sociable; so much so that it took a half hour for any one of them to say good-night to the rest. When the members had departed I had my business meeting with the superintends nt and committee. The idea looked good to them from the start. They went with me to inspect my place and wne highly pleased with it T know, for they began to exclaim, "Praise God!" "Hallelujah!" "Amen!'' etc., etc. Finally the question of rent came up. They had been paying $20 per month and had found it always a struggle to raise tin amount, so they had been hoping to reduce it to $iS. When 1 told them the rent T expected they all threw up their hands and the deal was off. They filed out the door, and right there was where I made my mistake in not calling them back and letting them have the place for the mere cost of lighting. As I said before, T was mercenary, and it was not until I had afterwards disposed of my theater that this generous idea came into my head, and 1 now give it out for what ■t is worth. It is not worth anything to picture houses that are already giving Sunday exhibitions, but to those that arc not and arc not likely to. it may be the means, if adopted, of gaining some popularity and respect, and perhaps some additional patr< mage, Most managers are aware of the hostility of the religious element toward moving pictures and. therefore, if the church will not meet the exhibitor half way. perhaps it would help some if the exhibitor went all the way to meet them. In most every city there is some struggling gospel band. There could be no great loss if some charitable exhibitor were to approach them and offer the use of his auditorium free of charge on Sundays. He could thus offer them a prominent location, plenty of room for increasing membership which the arc lights would surely draw, a stage for the speakers, heat in Winter and fresh air in Summer, etc. Yet by far the main item would be that the arrangement would give those people a chance to give good entertainments and make some money. They could hold their childrens' and Lenten and Christmas exercises in better style; they could, now and then, have their stereopticon lectures on China and what not; but, most important of all, they could give religious moving pictures and get a bunch of money out of a silver collection. The point I wish to emphasize is: that in allowing them to give moving pictures under your own roof it would go a long way toward disarming criticism from the pulpit. Much ado could be made in the newspapers about this Utopian alliance which would be bound to reflect some credit upon the good intentions of the exhibitor. There would no doubt be some increase in patronage. It would soon accustom the people to a Sunday show and probably start some men to thinking. I understand well that many of the gospel stores are holding services several nights a week, but that is no matter. Let them still use the small store during the week and on Sundays hold the big meeting at your auditorium. One entertainment a month would pay the rent of the small store and any more would swell the treasury. Charge them for the light and heat if you must, but if you can afford it give it to them free. Taste the joy that springs from well-doing and they will rise and call you blessed. A TIP TO FILM MAKERS. In August, ioio, the Supreme Lodge of K. of P. and the Supreme Assembly and encampment of the Uniform Rank of K. of P. will meet in Milwaukee. There will be drills by the crack drill companies of the United States Knights of the Uniform Rank; 826 companies of Uniform Rank in the United States. The encampment of the Uniform Rank, at Milwaukee, will bring them from all parts of the country. Camp life, camp conditions, drills, parades, etc., will be the feature for several days. The members of the Knights are prominent men. they will scatter to all parts of the country ;:fter the meeting — the films will be in demand. Every Pythian Lodge in the world has a stereopticon and slides illustrating the play of "Damon and Pythias." On the friendship of these two Knights the order was founded. Many lodges have already discarded the slides and use the motion picture machines, and all the lodges are gradually discarding the obsolete for the up-to-date moving pictures. This will mean that not only will the theaters get the first call on pictures taken in Milwaukee and have a very popular run, but after the theaters have used them hundreds of films could be sold outright to Pythian Lodges and for years after the theaters have finished with them they will be rented by Pythian Lodges for benefits and entertainments. It will never be a "dead subject." A K. OF P.