Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

640 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD OBSEROTIONfi >BV OUR MAN ABOUT TOWN Everybody appears to be singing "Kelly." "Has anybody here seen Kelly ?" No matter where you go you hear the same tune, if not the same words — "Has anybody here seen Kelly?" But has anybody heard anything new in connection with the moving picture business? Aye! there's the rub, as Hamlet would say. I have been over the Broadway and the Whiteway for a week past and I have failed to discover anything new. Of course, I have heard that Hammerstein is still on the Independent list and all the Wm. Morris' houses are the same, and that is about all. There is an excellent opportunity here for a man to express (or register mail, for that matter) his candid opinion, but I dare not do so. Why? Because that editor who wields the blue pencil is on the lookout for me. If I say anything against the Patents Company I get a knock; and if I say anything for the Patents Company I get a knock; so I have decided to knock nobody but myself, so here gtjes. * * * Some people arc not able to discriminate between a knock and a boost, nor are they capable of appreciating a compliment. 1 feel that I am in one or the other of these classes. A friend of mine told, me the other day that I would make a good expert witness in a patent suit bearing upon moving pictures. I protested and begged that my name be kept in the dark. He reassured me with the assertion that I would not be kept long upon the stand because the men who knew the motion picture business from A to Z are always the greatest help to a jury. Now, what do you think he meant by that? * * * I made a few remarks in my last letter regarding operators. I wish to add a few more. Look out for the bogey man! He is not a myth, nor is he a specter, but he gets into your booth at one time or another. One of the most valuable assets of the operator is his card. When he loses that he loses his license. 1 know many worthy boys who depend upon their card for a livelihood. I know of others who think the card is good for anything from a joy ride to a trip to Europe. Be careful of your cards, boys. I may be treading upon the all-claimed territory of another writer, but I still give the warning cry. Look out for your cards! If you do not, the municipal department will. They have men out on the job. Don't lend your cards to someone else. If you must eat, see that the man who takes your place has his card. It is better for you to throw up your job than to have the department take your card from you. Take a case for instance: An operator with a card goes to supper and leaves his machine in charge of a friend whom he knows is perfectly capable, but the friend has no card. While the man with the card is enjoying his beef and an inspector drops in. The substitute is asked to show his card. Of course he has none, and an apology is made to the effect that the man with the card is out, getting something to eat. The inspector leaves a notice for the regular operator to report to the public department at a certain time. The operator complies and his card is taken away from him. In some cases the operator ignores the notice, and then the department shuts down the show. I have heard of no less than three cases of this type during the past week. The moral is that every operator keeps his eye on his card. This is not a question of unionism, but one of self-protection independent of all organization. The municipal department looks to you for your card and you must not only be on. the job, but you must also have the card. When I refer to the card 1 mean the card issued by the municipal department. * * * By the way, I know of a young man who is an active union worker and holds a union card, but he failed to pass examination before the municipal department. I do not say the party I refer to was incompetent, but what I wish to convey is that wdien an operator gets his card he should not treat it as a license for life. All men who hold a job should always keep themselves posted on all things bearing upon it and be ready for examination. To get a license for the privilege of turning the handle of a machine is to get a license for nothing. The handle is one thing and the ma chine another. There was a time when an operator of a moving picture machine was looked upon as a craftsman, and he was. He was given an outfit and told to play a house. At times it happened that the house to be played had no electric wiring, and I am sure that some who may read these notes will recall the time when they were obliged to climb electric light poles and train a line into the hall they were expected to play in that night. But they were operators — not handle turners. They could go out on the road, set up, give a show, pull down, pack up, and give a show in the next town the next afternoon. In other words, they were men who entered and studied the business, and the most of them are among the foremost of our stage electricians to-day. * # * I heard a street rumor the other day that the Patents Company was on the job and that within a few days something would leak out that would make some people sit up and take notice. Take a tip from me. The Patents Company (which is practically the licensed manufacturers) is not doing anything radical. I am now speaking from a business standpoint, and not as the mouthpiece of any concern or combination. I feel as certain as certainty can be that, at best, all the floating rumors are the fruits of premature conception. * * * In conclusion let me say that the municipal department of Greater New York is fortifying itself on the non-inflammable film question. Every show of pictures of any importance is being watched and a report is made as to the quality of the film used. This has been drawn down to such a nicety that the city department has data showing that the Keith & Proctor houses have been supplied with non-inflammable film more frequently than others, and yet in the tally of one month these houses showed non-inflammable film exclusively but one day. * * * The latest I hear is that the electrical department is about to insist that the regular theaters using moving pictures must install booths. With flame shields, automatic shutters, noninflammable film, etc., etc., as presented to-day in comparison with the crude, open work of the past, the remonstrances of the theater managers seem justifiable. Yet, where can you draw the line? Pennsylvania Aisle Law. — A decision has been handed down by Judge Kunkel upholding the State factory inspector in his efforts to enforce the law requiring three 4-foot aisles in all moving picture theaters. The exhibitors nodded else this absurd law would never have been passed. Their thanks are due to the Pittsburg Calcium Light and Film Company for the fight that they have made and, although the first decision has been adverse, we are informed that they are appealing the case to the Supreme Court. Coffeyville, Kan. — The Jefferson and another large theater have closed after a successful season. The Princess, Royal and Star are running moving pictures and vaudeville to S. R. O. nightly. We will have three airdomes for this Summer, which are now under construction. The Star Theater management are opening an airdome. Mr. Pachen will also open an airdome about the 20th of this month. Pollock & Catul will open their airdome immediately. Altogether the business is in a very prosperous condition in this part of the country, although most of the pictures have renewed their youth by reason of their age before they reach us. — C. F. Hutchinson. The Casino Theater, on Madison street. Chicago, 111., has a unique musical auxiliary in a set of electric bells situated at different points throughout the house, in which numerous selections are rendered. The bells are of the chime pattern and have cial muffler for soft passages, which brings out the distance effect when in accompaniment to films which require such assistance from these melody machines. Many theaters throughout the city arc adopting these methods of attracting patrons, and not nlone for this advantage but in order to be able to exhibit their film subjects with a better and more realistic effect.