The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-17
OUR CHILDREN MAY SEE IT.
Realistic Scenery for Plays Calling
for Truly Natural Effects.


The kinstograph-vitss cope-eid oloscope-
cinematogrsphc, or what-you-willograph
isstill in the cradle OF infancy. What
1t may develop into surpasses belief. Like
as not within few years II will take
the place OF the theatric scenic painter.
Why not? Already IL depicts the colors
and forms OF q landscape with greater
cunning than his skill evsn can possess
Further than that 1t Stimulates motion
almost exactly. We observe the precise
tints and conformation of foliage, the
bouRhs waving In the breeze, the surf
rolling up the shore, the water falling
In cascades. What skeptic can deny
that this invention may not presently
form an amazingly real background for
the dranaY lie might argue the limita.
average length OF 90 yards, lasting
about 80 seconds. But that fault Is easily
cured. The eidoloscope "Bull Fight"
lasts about 10 minutes. showing us the
entrsnce OF Tsururs into the fateful
arena, his torture by the bsnderiileros.
his furious charges against the matad ors
and his eventual death at the swords
point of the EscamiIlo. This picture is
perhaps least distinct In point Of photo
graphic sharpness, but as the complete
and tragic relation of a story 1t is the
most wonderful of these inventions.
III, then, the eidoloscope people have
been able to make a film that viii revolve
Tor 10 minutes 1t Is not impossible that
they or Nj. Lumiere, or our own Edison,
may discovered some plan whereby a
film can last for AZ minutes, or the aver
age length OF dramatic act. That being
done, the scene painters calling IS TO
some degree gone. He will still be
necessary tC design interiors and pictures
that require mono OF the action OF anil
mn ta ytatt Ratt In, Iu,o arfx
backgrounds and the effects OF melo-
dramatic machinery photographer can
press the button and the camera will do
the rest. For example, in Wagner's
opera, "The Ride OF the Walkure," now
q clumsy and often ludicrous device Of
the olo-fashioned magIc-lantern, could
be represented with startling verisimili-
tnde by the new moving pictures. In
"Shore Acres" the lighthouse could be
surrounded by apparently real waves dash
ing furiously against its base and send
ing their spray high in the air. In
Rce's "Evangeline" we could see an
honest ship sailing across an honest
ocean and genuine sea serpent coming
out of the depths to terrify the Lone
Fisherman.
The possibilities OF this invention are
illimitable. Say ballroom scene is to
be presented on the stage. Mr.. Edison or
M. Lumiere can turn on his dynamo and
Immediately an accurately des igned salon
is filled with men and women hand
somely attired, animated in movement
and gesture, and with nothing of the
awkwardness Of supernumeraries. Or
battle sccne-at once 1t is filed with an
army, cavalry ana infantry. the smoke OF
artillery, the victorious, the dying and
the dead. Or a forest scene, such as in
A Midsummer Nights Dream--the foliage
trem bling in light breezes, birds and but
terflies, now feebly represented, flying
naturally through the air - fairies,
gnomes and sprites-and Puck darting
nimbly into space instead of being clums-
lily hauled up by pulley ropes. This will
be q saving in scenery, for the landscapes
when not in use can be packed in hand
box. 1t will be a saving in salaries and
costumes, for the pictured walking ladies
and gentlemen need nothing except an
electric light and a magnifying lens to
make them clothed and in their proper
position. 1t will be a saving to the nerves
of the audience, which will thereby be
removed from the irritation Of much
awkwardness and bad painting on the
stage. M. Lumiere, Mr.. Edison, Mr..
EidoIoscope, Mr.. DAILY, Mr.. Frohman,
Mr.. Palmer, Mr.. Canary-I ederer, Mr.
Rice and Sir Henry Irving must lay
their heads together over this idea and
carry 1t into practice. The moving pic
lures are among the most wonderful
things of these times, and their practica-
bility as aids to the drama is no longer
a matter of doubt.