Variety (May 1918)

MOVING PICTURE DEPARTMENT PAGES 39 TO 46 MOVEMENT STARTED TO HONOR CREATOR OF MOTION PICTURES Maurice Tourneur Believes Eadweard Muybridge Should Have Recognition by Film Industry as Propeller of Present Developed Moving Film. Muybridge Began Primitive Experiments in 1872. University of Pennsylvania Aid. Maurice Tourneur has started a movement to honor the man whose experiments led to the first motion pictures. "In 1872 Eadweard Muybridge began his experiments in instantaneous pho- tography," says Mr. Tourneur, "and yet, 46 years later, we have done noth- ing to honor this pioneer who made the photoplay possible. § "The popular idea credits Thomas Edison with being the creator of the motion picture. While Edison con- tributed a vital part to the develop- ment of the film, animated photog- raphy dates back to Muybridge. Out in California in 1872 this man began his experiments, which were later car- ried on at the University of Pennsyl- vania. That university provided him with grants amounting to over $40,000, the first instance of a scientific in- vestigation financed by a college, which developed a business of practical and commercial importance. "Muybridge did not have the photo- drama in mind when he started experi- menting. He wanted to study animal movement for the use of art and science. In fact his first experiments are said to have been backed by a California governor who wanted pic- tures of his race horses in action. "Muybridge built a shed which was painted black and was 120 feet long. Opposite the shed he constructed a camera house with 24 cameras, each having a lens three inches in diameter. In front of these cameras a horse gal- loped. The black shed was the back- ground. The cameras, operated first by brings which were broken by the horse's progress, caught successive ex- posures. Later a motor operated the cameras. Thus a scries of successive movement pictures was obtained. Later the work was taken up by M. Marey, of Paris, who utilized a sensitized film and was able to use a single camera. "Hut Muybridge not only took the first photographs of moving objects, but he also projected them on a screen, leading directly to the exhibition of motion pictures. He lectured and pre- sented these pictures beginning in 1880 and, at the Chicago Exposition of 1893, in a specially constructed building, showed motion pictures of birds flying, athletes wrestling, etc. "Here was the real beginning of the motion picture, later given splendid contributions by Edison, Eastman and others here and abroad," continued Mr. Tourneur. "It is singular that all the elements of motion pictures developed wholly in the Allied countries, in the United States, France, Italy and, in a measure, in England. Germany has contributed nothing, unless perhaps a certain development of the lens." BERST "UNITED" PRESIDENT. The United Picture Theatres of America, Inc., now announces that J. A. Berst has been elected president of that concern, confirming the intima- tion in Variety that the former gen- eral manager of the Pathe Exchange was probably behind the movement since its inception. Lee A. Ochs re- tains his plaice on the directorate in the office of vice-president. In his letter of acceptance Mr. Berst says: "I have no other affiliations in the film industry, no dividend inter- ests that might prevent me from carrying out this program." Until he was officially elected to the presidency Mr. Berst has consistently denied any connection with the United movement, although it is known he was present at several of the earlier conferences and at least one of the promoters of the co-operative plan has all along admitted privately that "Berst money" was behind the enter- prise. SCHENCK DENIES RUMOR. Joseph M. Schenck, who presents Norma Talmadge in all of her screen productions, has issued a statement denying rumors which have gained currency affecting the distribution of pictures presenting Norma Talmadge as their star. "I wisli to deny emphatically rumors which have been spread to the effect that Norma Talmadgc's pictures are to be released by the First National Exhibitors' Association. It is abso- lutely untrue that Miss Talmadgc's pic- tures arc to be released by that asso- ciation or by any distributing organi- zation other than the Select Pictures Corporation, who are, have been, and will be sold distributors of Norma Talmadge's picture productions." RED CROSS WANTS STARS. M. S. Ingersoll has been appointed a member of the Publicity Committee of the Red Cross for the city of Wash- ington, and has been requested to obtain a number of prominent stars of the stage and screen to come to that city during the week of May 20-27. During that week there will take place the Red Cross' nation-wide cam- paign for $100,000,000. The committee will pay all expenses of the stars, and wants them to select any day during the above week when they will positively appear. AU acceptances must be made by them in writing to Mr. Ingersoll at the Red Cross headquarters, Washington. Thotos and press notices should also be sent. FILMS FOR PROPAGANDA. West Virginia has authorized the Educational Film Corporation to make a seven-reel special picture, entitled "The Romance of Coal." The picture will be taken under the direction of Fred Thomson, formerly of the Vita- graph forces. He will go to Charles- ton late this month. The Educational will release the United States Navy pictures which have the approval of Secretary Daniels, but which should not be confounded with the films to be released by the Committee on Public Information. TEN YEARS AND $5,000. Los Angeles, May 1. Robert Goldstein, who produced "The Spirit qf 76," a picture feature, and was recently convicted under the Espionage Act, was yesterday sen- tencedby Judge Bledsoe to ten years at McNeil Island and to pay a fine of $5,000. His attorneys are preparing an appeal. CHAPLIN'S SECOND. The second of the Charlie Chaplin pictures— the title yet to be selected— will tentatively be released in New York by the First National Exchange May 28. MU« Livingston Gives Up Press Work. Beulah Livingston has given up her press work and her press agency busi- ness and is devoting all of her time to being the personal representative for Olga Petrova. She went to North Carolina with the film star and succeeded in having several scenes taken in some girls' college. Chaplin May Never Marry. Charlie Chaplin, who is in town this week, denies the rumor that he is shortly to be married. He said: "That rumor creeps up every little while, but there is no foundation for it. I am not about to be marricTl, and I doubt whether I shall ever marry." CARE IN ROUTING FILMS. The Epoch Producing Corp., which controls "The Birth of a Nation," now has 12 prints out of the big Griffith feature playing the larger picture houses, but on a different basis than is usually adopted in booking pic- tures. Each print is routed the same as a traveling theatrical organization, with its own advance man, manager, mu- sical director and operator. No print ever leaves the hands of the official representative of the company owning them. PARALTA AFFAIRS. Los Angeles, May 1. The affairs of Paralta are said to be in a critical condition. The studio, closed two weeks ago, is still inactive, and, according to persistent reports, a complete reorganization must take place before producing is again resumed. Lack of money seems to be the trouble, but dissension among the offi- cials seriously threatens disruption. There are two factions, with Kane and Brown, the promoters, lined up against Katz, DeWolf and Robert Dunkin, each trying to oust the other. Saturday a proposition was made to Carl Anderson et al to take a lump sum in cash and stock and retire, but this was refused. The talk is that an effort is being made to squeeze Brunton and it looks as if this might be done, although Brunton appears to hold the whip hand. Henry Walthall has quit the com- pany and signed with D. W. Griffith. He gives as his reason for breaking his contract that Paralta is in arrears with salary. Bessie Barriscale and J. Warren Kerrigan are also quitting, it is said, because back salary is not forthcoming. The studio has not paid salaries for several weeks. BERT LEVY RECOVERS. Through the law offices of O'Brien, Malevinsky & Driscoll, Bert Levy, the cartoonist, this week was awarded a judgment of $6,000 in his suit against the World Film Corporation for al- leged "conversion of film." FEATURE FOR UNIVERSAL. Lois Weber has just completed a feature for Universal, entitled "For Husbands Only," starring Mildred Harris, that, according to accounts, is one of the best turned out by that con- cern. Miss Weber is said to be tied up to Universal for four more years at a salary of $25,000 a year. Her latest production is scheduled to go into the Broadway in about four weeks for a run. Rupert Julian, the star of "The Kaiser," is also understood to be under contract for three more years at $300 a week. Universal is about to abandon its Bluebird trademark.