Reel Life (1916-1917)

The Weekly — Reel Life — See America First — Tours Around the World The wreck of the submarine IT-3 from Mutual Weekly No. 105. Submarine Is Shown Wrecked Arrival of soliders from Mexican front also pictured. ONE of the biggest things ever caught by the Gaumont camera¬ man will be shown in Mutual Weekly No. 105. This is the wreckage of the submarine H-3 at Eureka, California. In a dense fog the undersea boat was wrecked and 24 men nearly perished. They were rescued by the coast guardsmen and the breeches buoy. Other events of importance and interest pictured in the Weekly are the floating of a 10,000-ton oil-burning steamer at Quincy, Mass. Andrea Fenwick christens the “Julia Luckenback”; 22d engineers arrive in New York from the Mexican border; President Wilson’s daughter leading chorus, which sings Christmas carols on the steps of the U. S. treasury; park employes of New York City re¬ ceive Xmas gifts from Mrs. Russell Sage; Cardinal Gibbons sends 110,000 telegrams to raise funds for charity; Jackies of U. S. warship “New York” provide Santa Claus for kiddies; suf¬ fragists of Washington, D. C., pay tribute to Mrs. Boissevan; Christmas tree for animals held in Boston, Mass.; young Indian wins marathon at Venice, Cal.; Squadron “A” ar¬ rives in New York City; Colorado guard receives armored motor car; Charles M. Schwab pledges big steel plant to nation’s aid. THE week of Jan. 7 brings from the Gaumont studio through Mutual the customary four single reels and the eighth installment of the sensational photo-novel, “The Vampires.” The first to reach the screen is “Reel Life,” the Mutual Magazine in Film, No. 36, Jan. 7. It shows making “Turpentine from Waste Timber,” “An Argosy from the Arctic,” growing “English Wal¬ nuts in the United States,” and how to “Design Your Own Gown.” Two days later “Tours Around the World” No. 10 is released. It con¬ tains wonderful pictures of “The Foothills of the Pyrenees,” charac¬ teristic scenes of “Life in Egypt,” and views of Budapest, Hungary. The third single-reel of the week is the split-reel, “See America First,” No. 70, “In the Heart of the Blue Ridge,” and a Gaumont Kartoon Komic, _ “The Gourmand.” The scenic views are of great historical interest, showing Lexington, Va., where are located the Washington and Lee University, the Virginia Military Institute, the home of “Stonewall” Jackson, and the grave of Robert E. Lee. Another inter¬ esting view is of the celebrated Natural Bridge. The fourth single-reel of the week is the Mutual _ Weekly. No an¬ nouncement of its contents can be made in advance of its release as it _ is only made up the day it is shipped. " Turpentine from Waste Timber” One of interest¬ ing subjects in "Reel Life" — No. 36 THE recent change in the subject matter of various releases of “Reel Life,” the Mutual Maga¬ zine in Film, brings to the screen, in Number 36, issued January 7, sev¬ eral entertaining series of pictures which had been previously announced. First on the reel is “Turpentine from Waste Timber.” This shows the method now employed in the south whereby stumps are removed from the ground and shattered by explosives, and the splintered woods forced to give up their turpentine by distillation. The second section of the reel, “An Argosy from the Arctic,” pic¬ tures the trophies and spoils brought back from the frozen north by a whaler. There are views of whale¬ bone, an ivory tusk taken from an extinct mammoth that perished ages ago when the far north had a tropical climate, and the method employed by an Eskimo in harpooning a walrus. The ship brought back a native, and he is seen in his kayak paddling about just as if big game. “English Walnuts in the United States” takes the spectator to a large California grove. How the pickers work, how the walnuts are dried and culled, the methods of the packers in testing and grading and sacking are among the interesting processes pictured on the screen. A fourth section of the reel is a chapter in the Gaumont series en¬ titled “Design Your Own Gown.” These pictures are for women who plan their own costumes, and have proved deservedly popular. # * * Mary miles minter, the adorable star of the AmericanMutual cohorts, is on a ram¬ page. In fact, nothing breakable about the studio is safe these days. The trouble is, some feminine person of whom the soulful eyed young star is not particularly fond called her “a nice girl.” “I won’t be called a nice girl,” says the agitated Mary. “People say that when they can’t say anything else. It is like ‘She meant well’ and ‘She’s good to her mother’.” Not even “Mickey Mutual,” her green pup, can cheer her up, which means that fair Mary is in an un¬ happy frame of mind. * * # THE Helen Holmes Company, at work on the Mutual’s success¬ ful serial, “A Lass of the Lumberlands,” spent New Year’s Day at the Tia Juan race tracks, filming the fourteenth episodes of the con¬ tinued film story. The entire com¬ pany, headed by Helen Holmes, driv¬ ing her own car, and Director J. P. McGowan motored down and spent the day in the vicinity of San Diego and Tia Juana. In the Heart of the Blue Ridge Through famous Vir¬ ginia mountains in "See America First” G |N the Heart of the Blue Ridge” I is the title of “See America x First” No. 70, reldased through Mutual January 10. This title is de¬ scriptive of historic Lexington, Va., and the country which surrounds it. First comes a general view of the town, then a picture of the North river, a tributary of the James. The whole nation knows of the Wash¬ ington and Lee University, that cele¬ brated institution of learning estab¬ lished here as Augusta Academy in 1743. When Robert E. Lee was its president it was known as, Wash¬ ington College, and at his death the name of the south’s greatest hero was added. There is a picture of the university, as well as of the Lee Memorial Chapel, the West¬ minster Abbey of the Confederacy, where the great leader of the lost cause lies buried. There are also pictures of the home of “Stonewall” Jackson, of the monument to this military genius, of the Washington statue given by the state to the Virginia Military Insti¬ tute, and of this school, known as the West Point of the South. The ruins of Liberty Hall, the school of the patriotic S’cotch-Irish destroyed by fire in 1803, stands as a memorial of the love of learning of the citi¬ zens of a century and more ago. Near Lexington is the famous Natural Bridge. It is shown in this release. This span of earth ranks as one of the wonders of the world. It is 215 feet high, 10O feet in width, and has a span of 90 feet. Other beauties of nature, including Lost River, the stream that runs under a mountain, are also shown. On the same reel Harry Palmer has an animated whimsicality called “The Gourmand.” This Gaumont Kartoon Komic describes in humor¬ ous fashion the gustatory antics of a man who believes in high living. * # * Notwithstanding that the Gaumont company is now re¬ leasing a stirring series, “The Vampires,” its former photo-novel, “Fantomas,” is still being booked in a highly satisfactory manner. The secret of its success lies in the rush of exciting incidents which crowd each other for a place upon the screen. It is similar in style to “The Vampires,” and the commendatory reviews of the critics have been as highly favorable. The one difference between the two Gaumont series is that in “Fantomas” one criminal de¬ fies society, whereas in “The Vam¬ pires” it is the entire band of the arch criminals of Paris in league against the law. Many exhibitors are booking “Fantomas” and following it immediately with “The Vampires.” “Fantomas” ran in novel form in a great syndicate of Sunday newspapers during the summer. In this form it is already familiar to millions who are still to welcome the greatest crim¬ inal in the world on the screen. Pyrenees, and Budapest Hungary Bois de Bologne of Paris,, France, in ‘ 'World Tours” AN intensely interesting reel is furnished from the Gaumont laboratories in “Tours Around the World” No. 10, released through Mutual January 9. Its pictures take spectators through the foothills of the Pyrenees, to Budapest, Hungary, and to see the life of the natives in Egypt. The Pyrenees are extremely picturesque. There are deep gorges not more than eight or ten feet wide, dashing cataracts, and rugged valleys. Especially pleasing is the picture of the Hourat Gorges through which rushes the Ossau river. Then at Laruns the Ossau comes out of its troubled mountain bed to become a peaceful river. Budapest, situated on both banks of the Danube river, is the largest city of the Kingdom of Hungary. In addition to a general view of the city there is a picture of the celebrated Elizabeth suspension bridge, a good view of the river boats, and pictures of the houses of parliament. Life in Egypt pictures the Proces¬ sion of the Sacred Carpet, taken every year to Mecca and returned to its Mosque at Cairo with stately cere¬ monies, the Khedive taking part. Other pictures show native soldiers, women transporting water from the Nile, an Arabian cafe, an Egyptian market place, and the primitive meth¬ ods of agriculture and irrigation still practiced. SINCE branch managers are in such close touch with exhibitors, who in turn reflect the desires of their patrons, the Gaumont Company keeps in close touch with the men of Mutual branches. A recent request for information shows that each reel is being edited to secure general fa¬ vor. It was interesting to find that the latest addition, “Tours Around the World,” sprang instantly into popular favor. Of this new reel branch man¬ agers wrote: “Subjects are excellent,” Winni¬ peg; “O. K.,” Des Moines; “Exhib¬ itors speak in highest terms,” _ At¬ lanta; “Exceptionally fine,” Regina; “Very interesting,” Louisville; “Go¬ ing well,” Albany; “Very good,” Port¬ land, Ore.; and “Going very big in this territory,” Buffalo. 4 | rHE Poison Man,” is the name of the eighth episode of “The Vampires.” It is re¬ leased January 11. All the leading characters who remain alive after seven chapters of highly sensational activities have prominent parts in this duel between Philip Guard, the brave reporter, and the arch criminals of Paris. Juliet Musidora, who has es¬ tablished herself as a favorite, has many exciting moments in her role as the queen of the Vampires. REEL LIFE — Page Nine