The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-06-13
TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY.


prefer to call itself, an ''llluSl0nlSt, ana
the uncanny feats it performs will soon
put its more human competitors to shame.
1t commences its performance by show
ing on the white screen two men seated
at small table. They seem to be carrying
on an excited conversation, but, after some
discussion, agree to make a wager on the
cause of the dispute. Then each takes
from his waistcoat pocket tiny doll,
dressed like boxer ready for champion
ship match. The dolls are placed on the
table, Immediately "come to life, and
commence sparring in the most scientific
manner. The two Gullivers applaud the
Lilliputian pugilists as they fight vigorous
ly in space that might be covered by a
dinner plate, and when at last a five grain
glove inficts the knockout blow on a
head that is smaller than an early green
pea, the conqueror and the conquered are
picked up and ANONYMOUSLY replaced in
the waistcoat pockets of their owners.
This clever effect, the manager of the
biograph company explained, is obtained
by superimposing two films, which are ex-
posed separately. First the two men seat
ed at the table act their part Of the per-
Torrance in front of the camera, and then
another biograph photograph is taken OF
boxing match, and the two rolls Of films
are then skillfully placed together. The
difference 10 the size of the boxers and the
onlookers is accounted for by the fact that
the latter are placed much nearer the
camera than the former.
But even more startling illusions than
this can be produced. For instance, the
bio.raph throws upon the screen picture
of "a headless man standing by Il huge egg,
from which one might expect healthy
young roc to emerge The decapitated
man cracks the egg with a mallet and dis
closes his missing head inside.
The face smiles recognition and allows
the hands to take few hundred ordinary
sized eggs from its mouth, fol no particu-
lar reason except to show that it is capable
of further miracles Then it looks long
ingly toward the neck and shoulders from
which it has been exiled and is finally
lifted into its place. The complete man
then bows to the audience and disappears.
1t spoils good illusion to describe too
fully its inner mysteries, but 1t may be
limited that this effect is obtained by the
iudicious use of black velvet curtains.
Black velvet, in fact, is the material from
which the modern biograph magician shapes
his invisible cloak, - and the garment is
quite as effective as the one the prince in
Andersen 5 fairy tale wore when he set
out to discover the wicked doings of the
witch.
The Prisoner Dream is the name of
another piece Of geographic Juggling. The
prisoner is shown in his cell asleep. On
the forbidd,ng stone wall mistily outlined
figures appear. Gradually they become
more and more sharply defined, though
the wall can still be seen through the sub
Shameless forms. One of the figures is
as that of the sleeping prisoner;
the other is a girl.
There is a quarrel, the flash of a weapon,
and the girl falls Imply to the ground as
the real prisoner starts from his sleep
and stares wildly at the dream picture Of
himself and his victim. The vision fades
away, and in its place the ghostly face Of
the girl floats across the wall.
The subject is somewhat morbid, but as
an example Of trick photography it is an
extremely clever piece of work The result
is obtained, us in the case Of the boxers,
by the combination of two films.
All the scenes are acted in studio il
Illuminated by what is perhaps the most
unique electric lighting apparatus in Lon
effective can be judged when it
is said that each Of the thousands that
compose Il biograph moving picture only
receives about one four hundredth part of
Il second exposure.
Actors OF some considerable ability are
required, for it is by no means as easy
matter to tell story entirely in pantomime
so that every one can clearly catch the
and careful rehearsal is generally
necessary before the actual photograph is
taken. \ really successful biograph neg
ative,'' however, is worth striving for, as
it may prove little gold mine, for hun
dreds Of films may be printed from it, and
they are sent all over the world and ex-
hibited before millions of people in the
course of few months. The trick pho
are certain TO be popular, as the
variety Of subjects that may be. produced
is endless, and the widest dreams of the
most imaginative conjuror may be realized.
The Arabian Nights stories Of magic
carpets upon which their lucky owners nav
igate the air lose their SAVIOR when COM
pared with the feats the biograph will
make possible.
Already the films have been shown in a
few provincial theatres, and they are
shortly to be seen in London, and it is
probable that the new illusion making
scheme will be standing feature for many
months.