Variety (December 1909)

12 VARIETY NO LONGER SALARIED OFFICERS. Chicago, Deo. 2. It is said that Capt. L. A. Boenig and D. W. McKinney, secretary and vice- presideDt respectively of the International Producing & Projecting Co., are no longer receiving salary for holding their official positions with the company. There are many rumors afloat in con- nection with the "independents" in the picture business. URBAN OVER HERE. The English picture manufacturer, Chas. Urban, arrived in New York, Wednesday, to stay, in America a fortnight or more. While hare he will give a special exhibi- tion of his kinema coloring for motion pic- tures at Madison Square Concert Garden. The date will probably be Dee. 11. Mr. Urban arrived in time to attend the special meeting of the Motion Pictures Patents Co., which was held Thursday. -CONSUL- Of PICTURES. The Urban Eclipse release of Wednes- day waa the most interesting picture the Edison-Biograph combination has turned out in a fortnight. The picture was taken on the steamship George Washington last July by Charles Urban, who happened to be coming across on the same steamer. William Morris, who engaged the mon- key abroad, appears in the picture quite frequently with his smile in pleasing evi- dence. Mr. Urban took the picture before interviewing Frank Bostock. When the animal's owner found out it had happened he tried to collect a strong royalty from the picture maker. Bostock aajd the mon- key waa insured for $100,000. Urban told him the picture would prove, in the event of Consul's death, that perhaps it wasn't over-insured. Then Bostock kept still. FIGHTING FOR SUNDAYS. Hartford, Conn., Dec. 2. The managers of picture houses here are preparing to fight if the order issued by the Prosecuting Attorney that all Sunday shows shall be abandoned after New Year's goes into effect. Ten thousand people visit the picture houses here on a Sunday, and the patron- age will not be lost with equanimity. BUFFALO DECISION ON APPEAL. Buffalo, Dec. 2. The Appellate Division in Rochester will have an opportunity to pass upon the decision of Judge Lambert in grant- ing a permanent injunction preventing the Buffalo authorities from interfering with Sunday performances in local moving picture theatres. Several cases have al- ready been referred to that court and Cor- poration Counsel Desbecker will file others shortly. Justice Lambert's decision covered the operation of nine places. Nearly a dozen others are still under the ban of the police in giving Sunday performances. HAVE CHICAGO OPENING. Chicago, Dec. 2. Independent pictures are now shown in the heart of Chicago, but apparently away from the main artery, for the attendance is very light. The house is located on Madison street, between Clark and La Salle, a block from the four houses show- ing Patents Company pictures. MINE DISASTER AN ATTRACTION. Chicago, Dec. 2. The opposition has been a little warm among the picture houses in the center of the city, as the managers are vieing with each other in presenting ideas of the recent mine disasters at Cherry, 111. The Alcazar brought Salvatori Pigan- atti, one of the miners, to lecture from the stage in his working clothes. He speaks poor English, but proved a box- office attraction. The Boston and the Bijou Dream pre- sented slides taken of the scenes in the mine. Business was greatly increased for a week. PICTURES FOR PRISONERS. The chaplain of the Ohio State peni- tentiary has suggested that a moving- picture machine shall be installed as an entertainment feature for the inmates of that institution. He says the pictures will give the men some idea of what is going on in the outside world and will present new ideas to the great number who have been in the prison for many years. There are a number of prisoners who have never seen an automobile; they be- gan their long sentences before automo- biles became common. EXCHANGE FOR FIGHT PICTURES. Chicago, Dec. 2. The Fistiana Film Exchange is the new- est in the field. Jimmy Cofforth, the vet- eran pugilistic promotor, is one of the in- terested parties. The concern will make a specialty of handling films of big pugilistic battles. Joseph P. Geiger, for more than a year connected with the Chicago Film Ex- change, will be the active head of the new enterprise. Already the concern has sup- plied a large demand for fight pictures. PROJECTED HOUSES. In New York plans have been filed for remodeling the hall at 2056 Second Ave- nue for use as a moving picture place. In this city also the four-story business building at 235 Avenue A will be converted into the same sort of enterprise. Fifty-second and Sansom Streets will be the location of a new picture house in Philadelphia, projected by the Auditorium Amusement Co. St. Paul will have a new one also, situated at 447-440 Wabasha Street. PRIVATE PICTURE THEATRE. Henry Payne Whitney has decided to establish a private moving picture theatre to show films which he has had taken and will have taken of sporting events he is interested in. Whitney took an American polo team to England a few months ago and cleaned up the British champions at this highly polite and exclusive society game. Mov- ing pictures of the various games were taken and Whitney's first entertainment at his new theatre will be the releasing of these reels. The new Colonial at Toronto opened last Saturday. It is located on City Hall Square. "Talking" pictures were the first attraction. PICTURES BY BRIGHT LIGHT. If the invention of two Paris picture experts works out in a manner entirely satisfactory, the objectionable feature of darkness when moving pictures are being shown may be eliminated entirely. There arc two systems being now experimented with in France; daylight in the afternoon and electric light at night obviate the darkness which is now required in the pro- jection of pictures. Philadelphia is to have another picture house to cost $10,000 and seat 750 peo- plefl It will be built at 1420 Point Breeze Avenue for Daniel F. Gallagher. Buffalo and Pittsburg police and fire authorities have been making exhaustive experiments to prove whether or not films are dangerous material to be stored within city limits. The results thus far have proven to nobody interested that such is the case. Chas W. ("Pink") Hayes left town Monday in advance of "The Candy Shop." He will be an agent for one of the Ring- ling Bros.' three shows next season. Joseph M. Gaites is rehearsing a com- pany which will support Dick Carroll in a musical piece, "Table d'Hote," taking the road in two weeks. Keegan and Mack were compelled to cancel the Lynn Theatre, Lynn, Mass., this week on account of Mack's sickness. W. E. Greene, of Boston, has leased a theatre now in course of construction in Portland, Me., for a period of five years. He will present vaudeville and pictures and will be ready for business about* Jan. 1. Wireine, the wire walker, has been en- gaged through B. A. Myers to play over the winter with one of the circuses or- ganized for the south. The United Moving Picture and Adver- tising Co. was incorporated in Dover, Del., for $100,000. Its announced intention is to manufacture, buy and sell moving picture machines and films for advertising purposes. The Bison Film Manufacturing Ob. has been incorporated for $50,000 in Brooklyn. The incorporators are L. Burnstein, A. Kessel and W. T. Sandall. The new Auditorium, at Cortland, N. Y., opened Monday. It is managed by the Dillon Brothers, who have the Opera House there. Geo. Kleine and Win. Selig, two of the Chicago members of the Patents Co., ar- rived in town Wednesday to attend the meeting of the Edison-Biograph combina- tion. On Dec 18 the first anniversary of the Edison licensees will happen. Lubin, of Philadelphia, will attend that meeting. The Christian Science Monitor of Bos- ton pauses to observe that the moving picture industry has advanced and is ad- vancing rapidly toward artistic presenta- tions, quoting the fact that "broad farce that is mere horseplay" is giving place to more serious dramas. Somebody on Mrs. Ediee's Monitor has perhaps found even the Pathe horrors entertaining enough to relieve his brain throbbing with high thoughts. But ask the rental men what has the call from their stocked shelves, and they will tell you weepingly that they find no cause for joy or source of profit in this so-called advance from "broad farce" to "more serious" dramas. The exchange man's complaint is that the "farces" are not anything out acrobatic knockabouts. Alfreds Miss, manager of the Poly- tiama Aerial Gardens at Havana (soon to open) was in New Orleans this week look- ing for "dumb" acts. He is going to Chicago and New York. The former trio called Jewett, Hayes and Lind is no more. Hayes and Lind, by the 8a me process, become a "sister" act and will play over the small time. The NYBO will book them. Stepp, Menenger and King, the male trio which recently made its appearance on the vaudeville horizon, have been booked for two consecutive weeks at Hammerstein's this month. "A Fortunate Thief," the new produc- tion by B. F. Barnett, is at White Plains this week. PICTURE REVIEWS "The Wolf Hunt" (Paths). There Is little real value to this. It Is classed ss s "sport film." but the wolf doesn't hsve chance enough to mske much sport out of the game. The wolf is supposed to carry off s baby; the hunters accomplish the rescue by causing the wolf to drop his burden and try to make good with getting swsy with his own life. There Is one sharp scene where the wolf la on the run with the hunters trailing, and the death of the wolf Is also shown. The winter scene has no besuty In Itself and the film entire Is Just an- other of numberless excuses to come across with s regular release. WALT. "Fortune Follows the Brave" (Melies). This Is a children's reel, trick photography, fairy folk and all. A young lad hears the story of a treasure trove which the men are going to try for. He starts out alone to beat them to It snd succeedi. There Is much fancy photography of scenes under the esrtb where elfins and genii reign snd guard the treasure. But the bravery of the lad wins their favor and they lead him to the bags of gold which he carrlei* home In triumph. There Is lots of color and action and the film la a good one of lta kind. WALT. "Two Sides to a Story" (Eaaanay). Photographically good, full of action and of fair comedy value, this film passes In good shape. A gay old spark makes a "mash" at the seaside, courts her in the park and provokes a speedy marriage. When he goes to bis wife's home she will not let him enter, but signifies that she will explain why later on. Going Into the bouse she ss greeted by her seven children. Remorseful at not having explained this group to her newest husband she decides to take them all to him and beg forgiveness. When the husband gets to his home he is welcomed by five secrets he hss kept from his wife. Remorse also overcomes him and he starts for his wife's home with bis five chil- dren. The two mobs meet half way. There Is consternation generally. Both husband and wife exchange forgivenesses and the newly-married pair with their twelve children are shown labelled "A Group of Teddy's Delight" aa the finale. WALT. "The Legend of Orpheus" (Paths). The French producers have made a beautiful picture out of the mythological story of Eurydlcs and Orpheus. The death of Eurydlce Is shown, and a vision of her body In Its tomb Is accom- panied by the suffering of the grieving husband. Then ensues his Journeylngs to Hsdes, bis audi- ence before the King of Uades, and his Joy upon having his wife restored to him Is pictured. Leaving Hades with her under Instructions not to look upon her face until he has restored her safely to earth, be nearly accomplishes this pur- pose, when In response to the pleadings of Bury- dlce he looks upon her face and she dies for a second time. The Intervention of Oupld again restores her to him. These details are accom- panied by handsome colorings of some beautiful scenes, the graceful pantomiming of a host of mythological beauties and the pomp and splen- dors of court scenes. The entire film Is of the very best Path* sort. WALT.