The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-07

i DON'T Know which attracted the more
curiosity and attention on Saturday last,
the Anclents and Honorables. or the
Keith Biograph machine. but I'm inclined
to think IL was equally divided between
the two / was fortunate in having a po-
sition where | could get a good view or
both, and was vastly interested, i assure
you, for, like hundreds OF others, I've al
ways been very curious as 10 how these
motion pictures are taken. was trying 10
summon up enough courage 10 ask some
OF the many questions | wanted answer
Cd, for 1 was near enough TO talk 10 the
Biograph operator when | spied Electri-
clan Reddy. a cheerful. obliging young
man whom / had frequently met In my
visits behind the scenes at Keith's. In
addition 10 being the electrician OF the
theatre. Mr.. Reddy. when he Is not plan
ming some new features for the lighting
OF the new Pawtucket Keith theatre, is
the operator OF the Biograph machine al
the Providence Keith theatre, and had ac-
companied the Biograph representative
when the latter went over before the re-
viewing stand 10 take picture OF the pa
rade
He gave me a bright nod and ] imme-
diately began to overwhelm him with
questions "Can this little machine really
take all those remarkable pictures?"
Queried. "rhe last time | saw this ma
chine, although at a distance IL was
something like three or four years ago. IL
looked very large and cumbersome. and ]
remember all the fuss and commotion,
with an apologetic glance at the Bio
graph representative. there seemed TO be
over IT, Now Il seems TO be a very sim
pie matter. what's the difference
you're right" acquiesced Mr.. Reddy,
"there is great difference, which Mr..
Bitter can explain better than L. Then,
after introducing me TO Mr. Biltzer, Mr..
Reddy made n place for me next 10 the
operator. and that gentleman said: THE
difference OF which you speak Is the vast
Improvement made I'm the biograph pic
ture taking machines during the past
three years II has now been perfected to
such a degree that IL Is comparatively an
easy matter TO take motion pictures
nowadays. and. as you can see. this is
like taking a series OF snapshot pictures,
only that we can do things with bio
sraph picture taking machine that even
the best OF snap shot cameras cannot do.
This Is all the equipment | carry with me
when ! am taking pictures, and l am
rarely I'm one place more than a few
hours
when last came 60 Providence 10 take
some pictures II was in the fall of 1900. II
took three days 70 take three or four pict-
some trunks, and II took all OF two days
TO get my batteries charged and get the
necessary permits. This time, Manager
Lovenberg secured the permission OF the
authorities for me TO come within the
lines before / arrived, and when ! came
In from Boston. half hour ago. I simply
had TO unpack my solitary dress-suit case.
and with our more modern machine, l
was ready TO be shown the battle-ground
by Mr.. Reddy.
Everything has favored me today.
The sun Is shining so brightly that the
pictures will unquestionably be good.
clear ones. In Boston yesterday IL was
not so pleasant. 40 the pictures taken
there OF the Ancients and Honorables
won't be so good I'm afraid. as those
I've just taken here. Then. too. another
thing in my favor has been this little
sign" pointing TO small sign on top OF
the machine which read 'Keiths Bio
scope (Bioscope being another name for
Biograph). Something In this sign
seemed to attract the attention OF every
man In line. and as they came toward Il.
they turned with few exceptions. their
faces toward me, so that I'll get front
view OF their faces. The line halted right
here a few seconds and one OF the Lon
don Honourables said to me. with defer
ential fattery, for he doubtless supposed
me to be one or Mr. Keith representa-
tves We'll. the first thing we saw when
we arrived IN Boston was one Of these
machines with that sign. and when we
are in Providence but a few minutes. the
first thing we see or interest is that same
machine. or another like a. What enter
prise! II this Is a sample OF Mr Keith's
energetic and up-to-date business ability
we Londoners will be glad when his
beautiful Princess theatre In London is
completed and he joins the ranks OF our
foremost theatrical managers Too bad
we don't reproduce colors for those natty
uniforms are certainly stunning, aren't
they?
81 have taken about 900 feet Of film
and YOU can gain some idea of how many
pictures when I tell you that this ma
chine takes Is pictures per minute The
picture. when reproduced at Keith's
probably the week OF Oct 18th. will run
something Ike 2ik or 4 minutes. quite
long picture, got Clarke's band. then
the local First Light Infantry, the Massa-
chusetts' Ancients and then the Lon
don Honorable Artillery"
Did you get that dear little English
drum major with the funny little walk
and peculiarly stylish carriage?" queried
anxiously, for he had MADE big hit with
me. Yes. indeed" answered Mr. Blitz-
or. hes one OF the big features Of the
parade" by this time Mr. Blitzer was
CLOSING up MS picture ratlne appara tus.
and, as !. too. was eolnE over 20 the
theatre 20 the matinee performance and
was anxious 90 continue my chat with
HIM | walked over with the two bio
graph operators
You must have some particularly in
teresting experiences" | suggested
Yes, indeed. Why. I haven't been
nome to New York In six weeks. I've
Just returned from a five weeks cruise on
board ship. getting pictures ~ naval
life When the picture taking machine
reached its present stage of perfection
and simplicity IL was thought that the
number of representative would be d.
minished. but on the contrary We have
even more today than FIVE years ago.
thus making the number Of films we
take larger and more varied than ever
before. Very few things happen IN ev.n
the remotest part ~ tho world that one
Of us is not there 10 take pictures OF II.
There's man IN vaudeville. a mighty
clever little chap named Wilfred Clarke
who has bright little sketch called I'm
the Biograph.' In that ne called the
Biograph an Internal machine hut the
public seems to like ms more than ever
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