Reel Life (Sep 1914 - Mar 1915)

Eighteen REEL LIFE The Exhibitor's End of It OVER in London where Keystones are the most popular comedies on the screen just as they are here, they recently got out a novelty, which has already attained wide circulation. To each of the Keystone stars, Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand, Roscoe Arbuckle and the rest of the screen celebrities, who help to make the world laugh, was presented the "Iron Cross", for merit in motion picture artistry. The "Iron Cross" reproduced on this page was the one conferred on Keystone Mabel, and is similar to those conferred on the other screen favorites, except that the picture of each appears on the decoration especially designed in their honor instead of the attractive features of Miss Normand. The crosses, which are made of paste-board, with a red, white and blue ribbon bow at the top, were got out by the Western Import Company, Ltd., of 4 Gerrard Street, London, W., and photoplay fans in all sections of the United Kingdom have since been seen wearing the decoration of their favorite Keystone star. T HROUGH an error of our printer a mistake crept into the February 20th issue of Reel Life., which we would like to correct here. On page eleven of that number, two scenes are shown from Ambrose's Sour Grapes, the Keystone two-reel special, released March 1, and Sid Chaplin and Chester Conklin were mentioned as being featured, when, in fact, neither of these two popular stars appeared in the picture. It is not often that Reel Life makes mistakes of this kind, and we are the more glad to rectify it, even at this late day. Mabel Nonmand and Other Keystone Stars Have Just Received the "Iron Cross" for Motion Picture Artistry THE unusual interest which has been shown everywhere in the winning of the $10,000 prize offered for the solution of The Million Dollar Mystery, the trtemendously popular Thanhouser photoplay, which was awarded to Miss Ida Damon of St. Louis, makes the following letter received from her at the Thanhouser studio, New Rochelle, N. Y., doubly so St. Louis, Mo., February 22, 1915. Thanhouser Film Corp., New Rochelle, N. Y. Gentlemen : I wish to thank you for the $10,000.00 check for the solution of The Million Dollar Mystery, which was presented to me today by the Bon. Mayor Kiel of St. Louis, at the Grand Central Theater. The President of the Times and other officials were present. This has been the greatest moment of my life. I realized that it would be a great honor for the winner, but the glory of being the winner had gone far beyond my dreams. Even now I can hardly believe that I won out among so many other contestants. I have been very skeptical, but from now on I shall believe in all good things. I thank the judges for their consideration and hope that I may have the pleasure of sometime thanking them in person. My best wishes go forth to the entire Thanhouser Film Corporation, and I hope that you may enjoy a most successful year. To the "Big Six" cast and other members I extend sincere wishes and would be delighted to have the pleasure of forming their acquaintance. Again thanking you, I am Sincerely, Ida Damon, 3731 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, Mo. THE ruling of the New York Fire Department, as embodied in the following communication to Reel Life from Fire Commissioner, Robert Adamson, is of distinct importance to every exhibitor and exchange. It is hardly necessary to state that the dangers of transporting film in any quantity, when improperly cased, are so many and obvious, that the measures taken to prevent catastrophes similar to that mentioned in Mr. Adamson's letter are absolutely essential, and film men everywhere should give heed to them. The letter follows : Fire Department of the City of New York February 8, 1915. Reel Life? 29 Union Square, New York City. Gentlemen :— On the evening of November 24th, 1914, a passenger on a train running out of Chicago carried into the combination smoking and baggage car a paper-wrapped package containing four reels of moving picture films which he had secured from a film company in Chicago for use in an exhibition at a suburban club. The package was placed on the floor of the car between two seats, near the center of the car, and about four minutes after the train had left the Chicago terminal a puff of smoke arose from the package which was instantly followed by a burst of flame. The train was stopped, but before the passengers could get out of the car thirty-eight persons were badly injured. Two have died as a result of their injuries and one is not expected to live. The damage to railroad equipment amounted to $2,465. In order to avoid a similar accident in this City, where films are carried in all public conveyances in all manner and forms, this Department has found it necessary to rule that "No person shall transport inflammable motion picture films in any street car, subway or elevated line, omnibus, ferryboat, or other public conveyance or carry the same into any railway, subway station or ferry house, unless each of such film shall be enclosed in a suitable metal box with a tightfitting cover, and not more than ten (10) films so enclosed shall be carried at any one time by any person." You will assist this Department very much if you can see your way clear to giving this information as wide publicity as possible. Respectfully, Robert Adamson, Fire Commissioner.