Reel Life (Sep 1913 - Mar 1914)

Res! Llf8 13 "Movies" for School Moving pictures, which have been the object of many attacks as "exerting an evil influence on school children," are to be adopted and used as an aid in teaching by the Calvert School of this city. The school is planning to give lessons in geography and possibly also in history and literature with the help of moving pictures. Head Master Hillyer of Calvert School has been studying the feasibility of adapting the moving pictures to the work of elementary teaching, and is enthusiastic over the prospects of this "royal road to learning." "I have been repeatedly astonished," said Mr. Hillyer to-day, "at forms of knowledge displayed by persons I would never have suspected of being so informed. On inquiry I have learned that they had acquired their information from moving pictures, all unconsciously, yet accurately and permanently.' — Baltimore (Md.) News. The Film as an Educator The value of the moving picture as an educational agenoy finds interesting demonstration in the use to which the departments of the Federal Government are putting this device. The navy department utilizes film pictures to promote the recruiting service by showing life on shipboard as it actually is, and not as it is only too often incorrectly represented. The agricultural department takes advantage of the same method to demonstrate the processes by which plant life is developed, and the department of commerce presents instructive pictures illustrating the lighthouse system, sponge culture, the seal reservations and other subjects embraced in its field of activity. The possibilities thus indicated contrast in an encouraging way with the trivialities which mark the supposedly typical moving picture show and which not infrequently af¥ord ground for complaint against this popular institution. The abuses of the device, however, are susceptible of correction and they are of but small significance in comparison with the varied and highly serviceable uses to which it may be turned and which are already conspicuously in evidence. Intelligently handled, the moving picture exhibition is one of the most useful products of -our modern civilization. — Danhiiry {Conn.) Ne-ivs. Nicholas Power Company Exhibit At the Electrical Exposition and Motor Show of 1913, held from October J5th to 2Sth, inclusive, in the Grand Central Palace, New York City, the Nicholas Power Company, 90 Gold street. New York City, gave an exhibit and demonstration of their exceptional Motion Picture Projection Machines. Power's Cameragraph No. 6 — -long without rival on the market — was on display, also its successor, incorpora.ing numerous, vital improvements. Power's Cameragraph No. 6A. In the new equipment, the No. 6 mechanism has been retained with the following improvements : Longer hours of work without retrimming, increased carrying capacity, saving expense of operating, absolute rigidity, thereby improving projection. It is approved with mo'.or drive by the National Board of Fire Underwriters and the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity of New York City. In addition to the above, Mr. Nicholas Power has perfected a device which means the dark house elimination, overcoming the annoyance of losing the lower loop — which will be joyfully welcomed by operators. The new arc lamp carries a capacity of 100 amperes. It has 14 adjustments, providing for every possible arrangement of the carbons. The lamp house ventilation is so vastly superior that the breakage of condensers will be greath^ lessened. The new stand is made entirely of iron, and can be tilted at any angle desired. The film shields provide for the film being practically enclosed from the time it leaves the upper magazine until the lower magazine receives it — thus reducing the fire liability to a minimum. All the improvements in the new equipment are characterized by simplicity of construction. Interesting features of the Power exhibit at the Electrical Exposition were the demonstration of the focusing of the light rays by means of the smoke box — ^^and of the mechanism of the dissolving stereoptican, designed to produce unique and beautiful effects, peculiar to the art of motion pictures. The new Power's Inductor — with a capacity of from 110 to 220 volts — is a notable device for economizing electric current, and producing a clear, steady light. In brief, the demonstration at the Grand Central Palace justified the Power Company's announcement that theirs is a machine "built for operators by an operator." The Water Cure Thatihonser