Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1920)

Photoplay Magazine 45 scenario, but that gave it a concluding punch. That picture was more than a sensation, it was a riot. And I can't even remember the name of the star. I only recall that I got him from the vaudeville stage. This was in 1897, 22 years ago. That same year, on March 17, motion pictures were taken of the CorbettFitzsimmons argument at Carson City, Nev. It was done on a special size film, of much greater width than used now but as it required a specially made projection machine, comparatively few persons ever saw it. Of course there was a great deal of scene taking during the Spanish-American War and some very good films were made at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. Then followed a long period of litigation and filming was confined largely to scenics, parades, etc., the forerunner of the present news weekly. I can remember filming the Grand Army Parade on 1910 vintage. Left to right: Eugene Thomas Santschi, Art Acord, Hobart and Iva Sheppard. State street, Chicago, and showing the film on the screen at the Hopkins while the parade was still in progress, an unprecedented feat and one that even today would be commented upon. During the next few years while the courts were occupied with patent litigation I confined my efforts to making scenics along different railroad lines which were used for advertising purposes. This was one of the early uses of the motion picture for commercial purposes. The next era of the film industry begins with the production by Edison of "The Great Train Robbery." It was the first single reel picture containing a story in continuity, though it was really only 800 feet long. However it was a big step from' the short length single scenes and marked an important milestone in the forward march of the new art form. Soon afterwards I made a picture of similar length, "The Lynching at Cripple Creek" and this went out, like "The Hobart Bos-worth's first picture, "The Roman." This was made in 1908. The girl is Betty Harte. This picture was filmed on the famous Gillespie estate at Santa Barbara, since widely filmed. Train Robbery," for a long "run" under what we used to call the "black tops." the dark-hued tents which were familiar to all devotees of the county fair. Chris Lane, of a vaudeville sketch team, played the leading part in the lynching affair. Later I engaged as a director Gilbert M. Anderson who later became famous as "Broncho Billy." He had played a part in "The Great Train Robbery" and he applied for a position as a director. His first picture was "The Tomboys." This was followed by "The Female Highwayman." "Who's Who." "Dolly's Papa" and "Lights of a Great City." This was in IQ06. Later Anderson joined forces with George Spoor, organizing Essanay. I almost forgot to chronicle the production of "Humpty Dumpty" a 675 foot classic in 1904. This came before "The Lynching at Cripple Creek," which was followed by another "Western" — "The Holdup of the Leadville Stage" done in 850 stirring feet of film. Other productions of that time were "The Serenade," 500 feet long, and "The Gay Deceivers." Francis Boggs, so far as I know, was the first stage director to undertake seriously the making of motion picture plays. He had been an actor and Bob Leonard's first picture job, with Betty Harte, in "The Politician." How do you like the style, girls?