Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1911)

202 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD that is now given it by the best piano players in the field, but I cannot believe that it is impossible for the orchestra to give as intelligent a rendering of this work as a piano alone; providing of course that you have the right kind — and this proviso holds good with the pianist at the present stage of the game. As matters now stand the experience lies mostly with the piano players, and for that reason it is more than likely they will have charge of the music generally in houses where other musicians are added and where it is desired that the pictures shall be properly accompanied. But this does not mean, to my way of thinking, at least, that the balance of ability lies with the pianist; rather say "the balance of experience." Lyric Theater, St. Louis Mo. One of the newer modern picture theaters of St. Louis, Mo., is the Lyric, erected at 6th and Pine Streets by John W. Cornelius. The accompanying photograph of the front of the house gives some idea of the ornate scheme of architecture and decoration which has been carried out by the builders, making it the most beautiful of the downtown houses. Six hundred high candle power tungsten lamps and two flaming arc lamps illuminate this front, which is further brightened by an electric sign on top. The lobby and box office is done in Italian marble and on the balcony above the box office are a number of statuettes, which give a pleasing effect. An interesting feature of the Lyric is its elaborate ventilating plant. The equipment consists of a 78-inch exhaust fan — said to be the largest in use in St. Louis — and thirty cooling fans distributed about the auditorium, having the effect of reducing the temperature some 20 degrees. The operator's booth is of steel and large enough to accommodate two machines and operators, working constantly. An Edison and a Powers No. 6 have been installed. In construction the Lyric is of concrete throughout. The floor is sloped so that the screen is visible from every seat in the house. The screen itself is built upon the concrete back wall — a part of the structure. The house seats 600 persons. It is announced that Licensed pictures will be run at the Lyric. The management is in the hands of Mrs. John W. Cornelius, assisted by John A. Cornelius. Special pictures will be featured as issued, as the Lyric has the reputation of being the feature house of St. Louis. A Horrible Example Attention of the Moving Picture World has been called to what may be considered the most astounding expression of inhumanity that has yet come to light, by the following letter: New York, July 16, 191 1. Editor Moving Picture World, Dear Sir. — I would like to have your valued opinion of a person mean enough to write or approve of the enclosed (writer enclosed copy of advertisement, which we do not reproduce): Mr. Albert Brighton was a personal friend of the writer. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and for any manufacturer or producer to use his tragic end as a medium to peddle their wares, seems positively inhuman. Yours truly, J. C. HAMILTON. As related in last week's Moving Picture World, Mr. Albert Brighton lost his life while enacting a drowning scene for the Belmar Photoplay Company. Under the circumstances the most common conventions would have suggested some sympathetic expression of regret on the part of the picture maker and good taste would have suppressed the connection between the tragedy and the picture, during the taking of which it happened. No such nice distinction influenced this manufacturer. On the contrary, he rushed to the Morning Telegraph and caused to be inserted in the columns of that publication an advertisement for the picture in question, calling attention to the tragedy and asserting that the death struggles of the unfortunate player lent realism to the film, concluding with a bold-typed admonition to "order now." We would like to accommodate our correspondent with our true opinion of this film maker's act, but we are free to confess that it would not look well in print. Speaking moderately, however, we would say, that while Mr. Belmar had a right to offer this particular film for sale, his policy of trading upon the fatal misfortune of one of his players was inhuman. If it were possible officially to bar his picture from the theaters we would recommend that measure, but we hope that managers of picture theaters have still sufficient decency and human sympathy to prevent it being exhibited in their houses. As for the Morning Telegraph, which accepted and published the atrocious advertisement, condemnation cannot be too severe. The thing casts a stigma upon the trade that paper is eager to represent and common decency should have operated to suppress such a glaring example of bad taste. But the Morning Telegraph is a notorious panderer and could not be expected to be influenced by any of the nicer human emotions. Fakirs of the film business are finding it a ready recipient of all their schemes to fool the public with announcements of spurious pictures. Commenting upon the incident and the advertisement, the New York Times of July 17 contributes the information that the mother of the unfortunate player paid all the expense of transporting the remains to Minnesota for burial, telegraphing the money to the undertaker for that purpose. STOLEN REELS. The United Motion Picture Company, 112^2 W. Main St., Oklahoma City, Okla., ask us to make the following announcement: On May 18th a party giving the name of George L. Williams arranged with us by telegraph from Hot Springs, Ark., for a service of 21 reels weekly, for use in a theater he was supposed to be operating at that point. In violation of our usual rule we made shipment, upon his urgent request, without waiting for the execution of the usual contracts. It has later developed that this party accepted the first two C. O. D. shipments containing 12 reels and left for parts unknown, since that time we have been unable to locate him. We will pay $25 for information leading to the apprehension of this party and the recovery of our property. The following is a list of the missing films: 718, "A Child of the Wihd"; 781, "As the Master Orders"; 765, "Unreasonable Jealousy"; 663, "Dots and Dashes"; 693, "Keeping His Word"; 695. "Ranchman and Miser"; 624. "Lena Rivers"; 304, "His Yankee Girl"; 646, "The Coward, "The Thief Well Received,'; 311, "Rivalry in Oil Fields"; 618, "Restoration"; 586, "Sinner's Sacrifice." All reels have the reel number and the initials U. M. P. Co. stamped into them by perforations. Since Messrs. Keyes Brothers inaugurated Independent photoplays in the Elite Theater in Des Moines, Iowa, which they recently purchased from an amusement company, it has proved a big success.