Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1911)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 871 Our eyes are relieved for a moment from the monotony of stupendous sights as we watch the busy apple pickers near Canon City, Colo., and thence we are whirled away to Cripple Creek, the great mining camp above the clouds. There we are treated to a panoramic view of its straggling buildings. Last we go up the Skyline driveway, near Canon City, in an auto, and learn that the massive underlying masonry and the entire road has been built by convicts from the State penitentiary, in Colorado Springs. "Picturesque Colorado" is a scenic film of fine educational value. It will serve to teach many Americans that there is sightseeing right at home that will make a pigmy of the Alps and a streamlet of the Rhine. Best of all, it will teach dwellers beyond the sea something of the glories of our natural scenery and will tend to turn a stream of summer travel toward the awe-inspiring scenes of Colorado and Arizona. The film, which is lightly tinted, is marked by clear, soft photography. It should have a big sale, as we have had too few scenics of our own country. Let's have more of a similar kind. The Pathe Weekly. Novel Innovation in Motion Pictures that Promises to Become a Leading Feature. In no other manner is the wonderful scope of the motion picture and its power as an educator so powerfully illustrated as in the review of world events, now being issued by Pathe Freres under the title "Pathe's Weekly." A glimpse of the most recent issues of this interesting publication is most convincing. In No. 36, for example, the weekly continues its "royal progress" in its .presentation of the "Crowned Heads" of Europe. A recent film presents Queen Wilhelmina of Holland as seen riding through the streets of Brussels while visiting in Belgium. The funeral of Queen Maria Pia, which took place in Rome recently, is very clearly portrayed with the information that this wonderful woman had seen her son, the King of Portugal, assassinated, also her grandson met a similar fate, while another grandson, King Manuel, was deposed. From London comes the picture of Beaumont, "King of the Air," at the conclusion of his great all England flight. Vienna presents the most picturesque scenes in its "floral fete," which is very pretty. The whole world is represented in a picture of Jager-Schmidt boarding the "Olympic" in New York on the last stage of his "round the world in forty days" trip. Another great voyage is shown by a picture of the 25-foot vessel "Sea Bird" on its arrival in Rome, Italy, after crossing the Atlantic from America. Sydney, Australia, sends a picture of the return of the Australian delegates from the coronation of King George V as they are given a rousing homecoming by their friends. From Turkey come pictures of the great fires which devastated a portion of the historic city of Constantinople. The fires in the famous forests of Fontainbleau, near Paris, are also shown. America is represented by a series of views showing National Guard officers in camp at Fort Meyer, Virginia, a typical camping scene. The Aviation meet at Chicago presents some thrilling aeroplane ascents. Politics are not forgotten, as a picture of Congressman Rucker, of Missouri, brings to mind his near-fight in the House of Representatives in Washington a few weeks ago. Paris fashions for ladies are always an acceptable conclusion to Pathe's illustrated views. In No. 37 will be found to be an equally comprehensive review and one fully as interesting. The list of events given are: ROCHESTER, N. Y.— President Taft and General Fred D. Grant reviewing the last National G. A. R. veterans' parade. CHICAGO, ILL.— Great Elgin Motor Race. The drivers: Hugh Roberts, winner of the Kane Cup, in his Mercer car; Mortimer Roberts, winner of the Aurora Cup, in his AbbottDetroit car. BERLIN, GERMANY.— Kaiser Wilhelm II heading the Standard bearer's company. NYACK, N. Y. — Aviator Atwood resuming his flight from St. Louis to New York. MANCHESTER, N. Y.— Wreck of a Lehigh Valley train; 25 killed, 60 injured — most of them G. A. R. veterans returning from Rochester. STRASSBURG, GERMANY.— Water jousting tilts on the Rhine. MIDDLETOWN, CONN.— Wreck of a New Haven & Hartford train from Saybrook; 1 dead, 70 injured. BOULOGNE, FRANCE.— Auto race circuit. This is followed by No. 38, issued for the week of Sep tember 23, which pictures record breaking bicycle and motor car contests, athletic events, etc., as will be seen by perusal of the following list: NEW YORK, N. Y— Bob Burman lowers his own World's Record for one mile on a dirt track at Brighton Beach in his Blitzen Benz. WASHINGTON, D. C— William Eads How, the Millionaire Hobo, on his way to the Hobo Convention. RICHMOND, VA. — Scenes in connection with the Henry C. Beattie trial at Manchester Court House. NEW YORK, N. Y.— The Labor Day Parade and the American flag used to collect money for the defense of McNamara, the alleged dynamiter, now in jail at Los Angeles. CHARLESTON, S. C— A storm of cyclonic velocity devastated the city, killing seventeen persons. QUINCY, MASS.— The launching of the largest battleship in the world, the "Rivadavia," for the Argentine Republic. PARIS, FRANCE.— For the ladies— the advance fall styles in women's suits and dresses. BUCHAREST, ROUMANIA.— A great oil well is on fire and has now been burning for two weeks. DUBLIN, IRELAND.— The King and Queen of England pay a visit to their Irish subjects. NEWARK, N. J. — Kramer successfully defends his title as National Bicycle Champion. BROOKLYN, N. Y. — McGrath, champion hammer thrower, attempts to break his record at Celtic Park. CONEY ISLAND.— Miss Elaine Golding, of Bath Beach, wins the swimming race from Battery Park, New York City, to Coney Island, fifteen miles in 5 hours and 54 minutes. With commendable foresight Pathe Freres have not forgotten the weakness of the women patrons of the photoplay theater for the latest Parisian modes. Living models, examples of feminine grace and beauty, give life illustrations of the latest creations in gowns and hats and the most approved style of coiffure. This feature has proved especially attractive and is causing much comment among the fair sex. The possibilities of this feature alone as a business getter for the theater manager can hardly be overestimated. The coloring of this fashion revue is singularly true to life. Exhibitors should be quick to estimate the drawing power of the "Pathe Weekly" and never fail to include it in their week's program. FRANKLIN THEATER CHANGES HANDS. Messrs. J. Hesser Walraven and Leon T. Carpenter, formerly with Oscar Hammerstein, at the Philadelphia Opera House, have purchased the Franklin Theater, Fifty-second Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, and will operate it as a high-class motion picture theater. Messrs. Waldraven and Carpenter closed the house for two weeks, during which time it was completely repainted, renovated and refurnished generally. The managers are confident that their policy of showing only the best will insure a continuance of the crowded houses which have been the rule since the opening on Saturday evening, September 2. As a publicity feature, the house runs a snappy one-sheet pamphlet which is mailed to patrons and distributed throughout the audience. FLICKERS. Censorship boards are good things. When official censors are detailed to put in "a couple of hours a day" they are qualified to report back why exhibitors cannot personally examine every reel they get. * * * No one but a degenerate would have suggested featuring an unfortunate girl in moving pictures. This means that there is a pole-cat somewhere in the business who needs "smoking out." * * * The newspaper reports of an Italian who shot himself and daughter in imitation of something he was alleged to have seen in moving pictures fail to state what part "booze" played in the affair, or how much he had on board at the time. * * * No further testimonial is needed as to the attractive power of moving pictures when a Kansas farmer will leave his bed in a hospital and hot-foot it to a picture show in his night shirt.