Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1911)

874 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD be to have printed a sufficient number of slips of paper, in this form: „ Do you or do you not like the "sound effects" — horses galloping, etc. — in addition to the music? Yes. No. Tear off end of slip indicating your preference and drop it in a box as you go out. The vote of one night would give a pretty clear idea of the preferences of a probably representative section of the public. A slip should be given with each ticket sold. There would, of course, be some litter occasioned, but it would be for one night only, and everyone coming in would at once know the cause of it, so it would be of small moment. Also, the bulk of patrons would be flattered that their opinions were wanted. The same method might be followed in regard to illustrated songs, or vaudeville. I think some managers would be rather astonished when they came to check up the ballots. Before retiring from this bloody field, I must regretfully turns my guns upon a young lady, and a violinist, at that. Not because she doesn't play well, for she does exceptionally well, but because she is the cause of the electric fans being shut down, and because her solo lasts ten minutes by the clock just above her head. After sweltering through those ten minutes, one is very much inclined to doubt whether even a mighty good solo was worth what it cost. The music made by electric fans isn't so bad when the temperature is up about ninety. Put that up to the patrons and it is a very large chance that the young lady will be out of a job until cool weather. EMMETT CAMPBELL HALL. Framing the Screen First, I wish to apologize to those exhibitors who wrote me regarding my letter which was published in the Moving Picture World of April 29th, and who did not receive a reply from me, as I received many inquiries from all parts of this country and Canada and as it would be impossible to answer them all personally, I am giving herewith full directions and sketches, which I trust are intelligible. Many exhibitors make the mistake of putting a frame around the screen and then go hunting for a lens to fill the space left, with the result that as it is practically impossible to procure a lens that will fit the curtain exactly to the edges. The picture will be either too small or will overlap the frame and if the frame is gilded as it is in most cases, the dancing shadows prove very distracting to the eyes of the audience and in no way help to produce good results. *> eucx CLOTH OH Dui.lii.acX Paint 1 To £1 INCHU V/IOt p-WHlT£ OOTTCO i.incs SW.W WBIAI EOIO Of picture snovi.o STHlXe. o»eiu»>wi 7\J/£ lolttll a o« 4 imch e s It occurred to a former employer of mine to use a black cloth border instead of the gilded frame and when the same was tried out it was found that not only did it do away with the dancing shadows, but it also enhanced the value of the picture by giving it perspective or greater "depth" than was formerly obtained and which of course is a very desirable feature. The best way to put on the black border is to project the picture on the screen, apply the border which should be of dull black cloth or paint, the cloth being more desirable as it is more dense and absorbs the shadows better than the paint will. The border should be anywhere from eight to twelve inches wide and the inside edge should overlap the picture three or four inches or, in other words, the picture should "shine" on three or four inches of the border all the way around, but in cases where the ceiling is low, a satisfactory result can be obtained by framing the sides and bottom only (see sketch). The sketches will, I think, explain themselves and if the border is properly applied, the results will be surprising and it will be found that the picture will be clear right to the edges of the border, that all fuzziness and discolorations which sometimes appear in the best projected pictures will disappear and with properly shaded lights it is possible to obtain a good "daylight picture." TI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CEIL, ivsre $AM£ AS ABOVE, APPLIED ON SIDES AHD BOTTOM ONLY, F OA * O W C BIKINGS TACK BLAtK Cier*/ cA *A inT C&U.JN0 BKACK ABOUT /f INCHES +IJOE, THE ENTIRE. WIDTH OP OURTA/H AMO AkPclP The lights along the side walls should be shaded so as to throw the rays downward on the seats where it is most needed and the ceiling lights may be lit if they are painted at the bottom of the bulb, but do not make the mistake of using too many ceiling lights, as the rays will cut into those of the picture machine and dim the effect on the curtain and this I believe is the trouble with all of the present so-called "daylight" pictures, despite the claims of their inventors to the contrary. A single row of lights in the center of the ceiling, placed about fifteen feet apart, using a single eight-candle-power lamp in each should be sufficient for narrow houses, and a double row of the same for wide houses, and care should be taken not to get the first lamp too near the curtain as the picture rays are widest at that point and are more easily affected by the surrounding lights. GEORGE B. ROCKWELL. THE BEST WAY TO GET NEWS. Everyone wants the news! Some want it the quickest way, and others the surest and best way, even if this happens to be a slower way; the slower way is more likely to be the more correct way. The cinematograph is constantly springing surprises upon us, however accustomed to its versatility we may be; that it should become a dispenser of news was not considered as probable — although readily possible. We have now, however, the "picture newspaper." Pathe and Vitagraph are both issuing "editions" at regular intervals, portraying current events at wide range. If other makers follow this excellent lead we may soon expect from the divided territory to be supplied with "picture news" from all parts Oi the world. The quickest news is conveyed by the "talking newspaper" first established in Budapest, where those connected with a central telephone exchange, have the latest news simultaneously read to them; although this advantage has not yet reached American cities, they are surely the first to have the best method, even if slower one, of the "picture news." While the "talking newspaper" has the advantage of speed, it can never possess detail, minutiae is after all the most important; this the "picture news" conveys, with interesting and often most delightful satisfaction. If proof were required, the kinemacolor pictures of the outdoor scenes of the coronation will amply supply the same. Never before was such "picture news"; even the most ardent optimistic moving picture enthusiast may be pardoned if he displays a little "open-mouthed" wonder. Other events chronicled by the recent issues by the firms named possess their own interest. There is no doubt the regular "editions" of these films will be taken with the same regularity as the daily paper. The writer is still of a formerly expressed opinion that the time is coming when the cinematograph will produce within a building, events taking place in the streets — an instantaneous picture news portrayer. A new record for speed in the complete manufacture and display of a motion picture is claimed by the Selig Polyscope, the employes of which took a picture of 200 guests at the new plant in Chicago and displayed it three hours afterward.