Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-22
TRICKS OF BIoGRAPH.
How Some Remarkable Illusions Arc
Produced.

Produced.
The biograph, having depicted most
things in the world Of fact, has now
found new realms to conquer In fic-
ton. It has become juggler, or, as II
might prefer to call itself, an Illusion
ist. Thus, 1t may begin its perform
ance by showing two men seated at q
small table. They seem to be carrying
on an excited conversation, and after
some discussion agree to make wo-
ger on the cause Of the dispute:
Then each takes from his waistcoat
pocket a tiny doll, dressed like boxer
ready for a championship match. The
dolls are placed on the table, immedi-
ately come to life and begin sparrine
in a scientific manner.
The two Gullivers applaud the Lilli-
putian pugilists as they fight vigorous
ly in a space that might be covered by
dinner plate, and when at last
five-grain glove inflicts the knockout
blow on a head that is smaller than an
early green pea, the conqueror and the
conquered are picked up and ignomin-
iously replaced in the waist coat
pockets Of their owners.
This clever effect is obtained by su-
perposing two films which are exposed
separately. First the two men seated
at the table act their part OF the per-
formance in front Of the camera, and
then another biograph photograph Is
taken Of boxing match, and then the
two rolls of films are skillfully placed
together.
But even more startling illusions
than this can be produced. For In
stance, the biograph throws upon the
screen a picture of a headless man
standing by huge egg, from which
one might expect healthy young
roc to emerge. The decapitated man
cracks the egg with mallet and dis
closes his missing head inside.
The face smiles recognition and al
lows the hands to take a few hundred
ordinary sized eggs from its mouth, for
no particular reason except to show
that it is capable Of further miracles
Then 1t looks longingly 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 judicious use Of black velvet
curtains. Black velvet, in fact, Is the
material from which the modern bio
graph magician shapes his invisible
cloak.
1.-THE Prisoners Dream" Is the name
of another piece of biograph juggling
The prisoner Is shown in his cell asleep
On the stone wall mistily outlined fig
ures appear.
Gradually they become more and more
sharply defined, though the wall can
still be seen through the substanceless
forms. One Of the figures Is recognized
as that of the sleeping prisoner, the
other as 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 vic
tim. The vision fades away and in its
place the face of the girl floats across
the wall.
The subject is somewhat morbid, but
as an example of trick photography 1t
is a clever piece Of work. The result
is obtained, as in the case Of the box
ers, by the combination Of two films.
New York Sun.