The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

THE PHONOSCOPE August-September, 1897 Xtfe on Canvas A Phantom Ride on an Express Train and Other Remarkable Views Hade by the Biograph Every week new and representative scenes are added to the collection which the American Mutoscope Company exhibits from its biogTaphs. Those shown at Keith's recently were as satisfactory in the presentation of typical views as an} that have been taken, while in sprightliness of subject and smoothness of action they were superior to most of them. There were four new numbers in the collection of sixteen, and of these the palm must be awarded to the panoramic view of the Haverstraw tunnel. Some of the most lifelike pictures displayed by devices of this kind represent an approaching express train. Workmen are plying their shovels in the foreground, and far in the rear is the faint streak of smoke that heralds the advance of the mighty visitor. Faster flash the shovels and larger .grows the spectacle until a roaring locomotive with flying cars behind it seems rushing right over the footlights. Such a view indeed was given recently, and the audience shrank back as before, when the threatening apparition of the Empire State Express was disclosed. But the vision of the tunnel was wierder. The spectator was not an outsider watching from safety the rush of the cars. He was a passenger on a phantom train that whirled him through space at nearly a mile a mimite. There was no smoke, no glimpse of shuddering frame or crushing wheels. There was nothing to indicate motion save that shining vista of tracks that was eaten up irresistibly, rapidly, and the disappearing panorama of banks and fences. The train was invisible, and }-et the landscape remorselessly, and far away the bright day became a spot of darkness. That was the mouth of the tunnel, and toward it the spectator was hurled as if a fate was behind him. The spot of blackness closed around and the spectator being flung through that cavern with the demoniac energy behind him. The shadows, the rush of the invisible force and the uncertainty of the issues made one instinctively hold his breath as when on the edge of a crisis that might become a catastrophe. If there had been a collision in that tunnel half the women in the audience would have been carried off in a collapse. But daylight shone ahead, and again the spectator was being swept through the fields and amid a fair country. A figure appeared on the tracks ahead, but it stepped aside and was swallowed up b} space. There w-as a last flicker of light and the canvas hung across the stage without a mark upon it. The audience that stood five deep back of the orchestra chairs half reeled as it caught itself. It had been snatched up and rapt away by a phantom train. The effect, it was explained, was taken by placing a camera on the front of a West Shore express. It was a relief to turn trom the intensity of that wild ride to the succeeding number which presented a view of one of Coney Island's newer and most genial institutions. That was the steeplechase race course which decorates the end of the Howery and from which sundry shrieks and swoops issue to enliven and diversify that merry thoroughfare. The view showed the wooden tracks for a moment and that was all, but far away was heard a clatter, and then and there dashed down the slope three hobby horses, each carrying double. It was a saucy picture that might stand for Coney's ideal of an elopment, for seated in front on every wooden steed was a damsel in skirts, but riding clothespin fashion, and seated between her was the young Lochinvar with his arms about her waist, because that is the only way to hold on at Coney Island, it is explained. You observe a fugitive expression of glee on the faces of the riders and they dash out of sight and other hobby horses appear. It is a very cheerful souvenir of the departed summer. The third of the new views represents the abandon of more diminutive youth. It is designated as the "Baby Merrv-Go-Rouud," and if the exclamations of the women were any criterion it will continue to go around all winter. The scene shows a dainty carrousel, with dainty slips of girlhood on it, and little juveniles in the anteroundabout epoch, and they are speeding around on harmless toy animals and quaint little vehicles. You suspect that some of them know that they are before the camera, for they kiss their hands to you right out of the canvas and smile and look knowing and winning. There is no such skillful and ingenious actor as a small girl. It is her preparation for the more serious duties of coquetry. The last of the brand-new views was a reminiscence of Hallow' een Night, but not of its sentimental side. Indeed, the spirit of this picture was pure fun of a boisterous sort and nothing else. The canvas showed four dusk) figures seated before four pans of flour. Problem: To dive into the flour and, with your teeth, fish out coins there buried. It was a grotesque spectacle, for the four candidates went at it as if they enjoyed the rigors of the game. The dust of the flour ascended in a cloud, and every face changed its color. To those w:ho have watched a litter of half-grown pigs rooting for grubs in meadow sod further description is unnecessary. There were no heartaches in that number. The old favorites got the old vociferous reception. One of these was "Shooting the Chutes." The boats came bouncing across the stage, it seemed, and a shout of laughter greeted their daring, saltatory flight. There was a funny view of a lover tumbling into still waters and a lot of other attractive subjects, concluding with a pillow fight by four youngsters in their "nighties." It is a remarkable series of views, and is staged with a smoothness and force that reproduce life with startling fidelity. 3Leoal IRotices Judge Kirkpatrick has refused to grant a preliminary injunction to restrain the United States Phonograph Company from using the terms vitascope and Edison's vitascope. The complainant was the Vitascope Company. A judicial inquiry by the Correctional Tribunal of the Seine at Paris, concerning the terrible disaster of the fire at the charity bazaar in the Rue Jean Goujon several months ago, has been proceeding some days. The president of the bazaar managing committee, Baron de Mackau, and two persons — Bailac and Bagrachoff — who worked the lighting apparatus of the cinematographe, were indicted for culpable negligence. Baion de Mackau is fined five hundred francs, and the two others are sentenced to imprisonment. Kmma F. Benedict is an enterprising woman of business. In May, 1S96, she leased one of Kdison's vitascopes at a rental of fifty-two cents per day. She subsequently sublet it to the linn of Knuckles & Morrison, who engaged a room in premises owned by Harry and Jane Hunt, at Coney Island, New York, for exhibition puqjoses. Later the firm abandoned their original intention, disappeared, and left the vitascope on the Hunt premises. Mrs Benedict couldn't regain possession of the machine without paying Harry and Jane Hunt storage on it. This she positively refused to do. She received an offer, she declares, "to show the machine for a large consideration." and is unable to accept it, for the reason that the Hunts won't give it up. She has sought Judge Van Wart's effort to regain possession of the vitascope and incidentally to recover $100 for the wrongful detention of it, and for the additional sum of eighty -five cents per day from July 16, 1897, for being deprived of its use. The systematic robbery of the National Automatic Machine Company's penny-in-the-slot weighing machines still continues. Two weeks ago the two machines in the Philadelphia and Reading passenger station at Philadelphia were broken open. The contents of one were scattered, but in the other twenty cents were left, showing that the thief must have been frightened away. Within a few days the machines at the Philadelphia and Reading stations in Shamokin and Sunbury were also opened and robbed. There is a reward of $50 offered for the apprehension of the guilty parties. The machines along the route of the New York Central have lately been robbed in much the same manner as those in this vicinity. A young man of twenty years named Joseph Owens was caught in the act and taken into custody, but broke jail and escaped. It is thought that he is now working in this region. He is described as light complected, five feet, five or six inches tall, and weighing from 125 to 130 pounds. His right hand and wrist are withered as though burned, and the fingers of the same hand are doubled up. A gentleman who was shown the description thinks that he saw the man at the Philadelphia and Reading depot since the machines there were opened. Philadelphia Becord: "An attraction that would be a star card in any vaudeville theatre, Lubin's cine 'graph, is the feature of the vaudeville bill. This moving picture machine has no superior. The most sensational picture of the sort ever shown here is a rescue at Atlantic City. Even Blase Newspaper men became excited over this veiw.'' Cincinnati Enquirer: The most sensational moving picture ever displayed in America is a rescue at Atlantic City, reproduced in Philadalphin last week by Lubin's cineograph. The scene provoked cheers." Philadelphia Press: • Lubin's cineograph is the the most satisfactory moving picture machine that has been devised up to date." Philadelphia Bulletin: "The shining light of the star of the vaudeville in the theatre was lUu cineograph.'' Philadelphia Item: "The amusement managers declare that Lubin's cineograph is as good as any moving picture machine extant. It lias been added ,o the outfit of many traveling companies, under other names, and is likely to be a permanent feature of the entertainments provided in many variety house.- throughout the country." Chan. E. Ford, Ford's Theatre, Baltimore; "I have had your projecting machine, the cineograph , in operation since June 7. and although it was picceded by both the cinematograph and biograph, the results have been so satisfactory that it is considered the "nest machine of the three." C. A Bradenhunj Proprietor and Manager, Ninth and Arch Museum, Philadelphia, says: Your ciueograpli has proved a great drawing card in connection with my vaudeville bills. I consider it the best moving picture machine up to dale. Certainly no other machine ever exhibited in this city has made so marked a hit."