The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Vol. 1. No. ii THE PHONOSCOPE 9 a little above and over the heart. Said he was jumping from Dallas, Texas, to Dawson City in the Klondike. He had a vitascope, phonograph and gramophone. He volunteered the information that the gramophone was a much better instrument than the phonograph, all of which I was very thankful for, I may never have known this if he had withheld it from me. '"Well," I said to myself, 1 'here is a subscriber to The Phonoscope; if I can only get a dollar from him it will increase the subscription, list and also tend to make me more solid with the Phonoscope Co." So I coughed once, as 1 always do just before and just after and said, "do you ever see The Phonoscope?" "O yes!" said he, but they are no good, there is nothing in them, they are not half as good as the vitascope! He thought The Phonoscope was a picture projecting machine. Then I went star-gazing till I could get my second wind and then I made a few remarks about the dry climate of Oregon, and this vitascopic dude went to his hotel, and now he is on his way to Klondike, the land of the midnightsun, the land of dreams and gold nuggets, where every beefsteak carries gold enough to fill a set of teeth. Mr. E. E. Pierson, Manager for The Pacific Coast Talking Machine Co., of 1322 Market Street, San Francisco, gave us a call recently. He is selling the graphophone slot machine; is making good success I think, for he has been laying off here a few days because he can't get machines as fast as he sells. The wet season is just now starting in and from now on look out for water. From November to May, there is never any drouth in the Willamette Valley. Roses are yet in bloom; can be seen in most any front yard, and the lawn mower is used here every month in the year. SEI.AH. -*-«-« General IRews Several of the Eastern Companies have been kept busy of late furnishing master records for duplicating purposes. The Excelsior Phonograph Company have purchased the entire plant of Roger Harding, and with increased facilities will manufacture records for talking machines. The services of Mr. Harding have been retained as general manager. Messrs. Harding, Spencer, Porter and Depew, known as the Greater New York Quartette, have made quite a hit in the phonograph world. Film business is very good and shows a steady increase. One of our leading firms shipped goods to Russia and South America during the past month. The passion play (or life of Christ), now being exhibited at Philadelphia under the direction cf Dr. W. W. Freeman, will be reproduced at the Lenox Lyceum, New York City, about January 1, 1898, for an indefinite run. The films or subjects, some 4000 feet, were made by The International Film Co. , and are considered to be the best defined and clearest films ever exhibited to the public. In the exhibition grounds at Brussels, there is a cafe which provides hot and cold luncheons entirely by the automatic method. By placing a franc in the slot a chop or steak, with potatoes, can be procured hot and well cooked; another ^rauc will produce a half bottle of wine, half a fane will supply a plate of cold meat, with salad and roll; and a nickel of ten centimes will extract a piece of bread and butter and cheese, or a 'brioche." Besides all this a "nickel" will draw an excellent glass of hock from one of the two arge vessels in the center of the cafe. At the command of H. M. the Oueen, a special exhibition was given on Monday evening, Oct. 25th, at Balmoral Castle, of the series of Lumiere Photographic Films of the Jubilee Procession. These films were exhibited by Messrs. Maguire & Baucus, Ltd., through their agents, Messss. Walker & Co., of Aberdeen. The agents telegraphed that the Royal party was greatly pleased with the pictures shown, and that the principal persons in the procession were readily recognized and that the exhibition was a great success. Messrs. Riley Bros, have placed on the market an improved apparatus for projecting living and moving pictures, with which every movement of actual life may be depicted on the screen. The apparatus is shown with a biunial lantern, which enables the operator to project the title of the picture from the upper lantern or show ordinary slides while another film is being introduced. He may also illustrate his lecture by ordinary lantern slides, and at suitable intervals project animated pictures from the lower slide, or he may use the lantern in an ordinary way, and in a few moments remove the bottom tubes and fix the kineoptoscope in position, and so close an entertainment with a demonstration of animated photos. The construction is such that vibration is reduced to a minimum, and the machine takes any standard films, which will pass through without tearing and quite uninjured. The machine may be fitted into the stage of any ordinary lantern which is open at the bottom, with a slight lengthening of the bolts. The lantern is furnished in a variety of styles, and the kineoptoscope accessories include the apparatus fixed on brackets and rails; with special short focus lens of high quality, fitted in an adjustable diaphragm, etc. The mechanism is so simple that the machine is not liable to get out of order. The board of Park commissioners held its regular monthly meeting at the office of the city clerk, in Omaha, Neb. A concession was granted to the Omaha & Council Bluffs Railway and Bridge Company, by the terms of which the company has the right to place and operate in Fairmount Park next summer a large cinematograph apparatus for the display of moving views. The entertainment will be free to all who come, and the motor company expects to be paid for its trouble by the increased attendance which the attraction will draw to the park. When the plan for making a display of this character was first suggested, Superintendent Dimmock discovered that the cost was a serious bar to its success. He then began correspondence, which has resulted in the formation of a circuit comprising about twenty-five western cities, in each one of which a machine will be operated and which will exchange views so that the views will be exchanged during the entire season. The city council at its last meeting passed a resolution to transfer from the various other funds to the general fund in the city treasury such amounts as had been during the years past improperly appropriated from the general fund to pay the county treasurer's commission on taxes collected. The board of park commissioners expressed itself decidedly against the assumption by the city council of the authority to make such an order regarding the park fund, but avoided a quarrel over the matter, voluntarily recognizing the justice of the action of the city; and a warrant was ordered drawn for the amount due the general fund from the park fund. Messrs. Maguire & Baucus, Ltd., announce that a large shipment of Lumiere films, new subjects, have just arrived. Some of the new effects produced by the Messrs. Lumieres in the animated picture business are entirely novel and most beautiful. A new "Cavalry Charge" has just been taken showing 500 horses approaching the camera at once. Another new subject shows the TJ. S. Battleship "San Francisco'' in the Mediterranean Sea, the photograph being taken from a boat and showing the panorama along the Mediterranean, giving a marvelous and beautiful effect; and giving the spectator the impression of being a part of the moving scene as if he were on a boat himself. In the latest "£t2eple Chase" taken by the Lumieres they show a broad field with a number of horses in the race, all of which successfully jump the pond except the last one, which underestimates the distance and falls into the water, throwing his rider. This is a very vivid and exciting subject and it is hard for the spectator to realize that he is not on the field himself so perfect is the scene. Another exciting subject is the "Falling Chimney." A large brick chimney topples over and as it falls to the ground clouds of dust arise; as the dust clears away a number of people are seen running hither and thither and scrambling over the ruins. The National Gramophone Company are experimenting with an indestructible needle, which they hope soon to be able to furnish in place of the points now in use. It is reported that Chicago people will soon establish a phonograph factory in Muskegon, Mich., capitalized at $r, 000, 000. A $ro,ooo check from the Verascope Company was one of the things that helped to put champion Fitzsimmons in good humor for Christmas. There has been much gossip as to the profits made from the verascope feature of the Fitzsimmons-Corbett fight, the scheme having been alternately called a failure and a big success. Fitzsimmons when asked recently what kind of a Christmas he spent, said : "Well, I ought to feel pretty good. I got a check for $10,000 yesterday for my share of the profits from the verascope." Manager Julian explained that the payment was the second that had been made and was for five months' exhibition. The details of the contract between Fitzsimmons, Corbett and the verascope company have not been made public, nor has any definite idea been given of the earnings of the enterprise, but Fitzsimmons is reputed to receive fifteen per cent, of the profits from the fight pictures. This would indicate that the pictures had realized nearly $70,000 during the last five months. Should you receive a copy of this paper and are not a subscriber, we want you to read it over carefully and see if is not well worth the sum we ask for it, and if satisfactory to send in your subscription at once.