The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-12-03

There is more to the story, but this
shows the trick.
When the girl sits down on the
bench the film is stopped while the real
box is removed and piece Of scenery
painted to look like 1t Is uncovered
This IS opened from within in such
way that it seems to be opened by the
fairies. The apparently diminutive
size Of the fairies is produced by plac-
ing them 80 or 40 feet farther away
from the camera than is the girl, and
as they are seen through the opening
which the spectators regard as the lid
Of the box the Illusion is complete.
Most of these tricks are accomplish
ed much as similar illusions on the real
stage are produced except that the H.
fusion is the more perfect in the mov-
ing picture because Of the possibilities
Of change of properties which the
"arret" provides. but the ability to set
the scene and produce the effect is
based upon the same sort of knowledge
and skill that Is required in properly
staging any theatrical performance
Mechanical Marvels.
Mechanically, the kaleidoscope is be-
coming rather well known The pic
lures are taken on a sensitized film,
rs inches wide, and varying in length
from 100 to 1000 feet The film pass
es in front Of an aperture l inch by
three-quarters Of an inch in size, stops
dead still for the fractional part of
second, and passes on, the process be-
ing so rapid that at the normal rate OF
speed Of operating the machine sixteen
exposures are made every second of
time.
When these pictures are reproduced
and passed through the machine which
projects then upon the screen, they are
usually shown at exactly the same rate
of speed at which they were taken, and
thus the natural effect Is produced.
In showing the pictures the film,
which for reproduction has been
changed from a negative to q positive
and probably cOlored in the same way
that ordinary lantern slides are color
ed Is passed from one reel to another
over an aperture of the same size and
shape as that through which the pic
ture was originally taken, and the en-
largement Of the projected picture is
accomplished by means of lenses In
front of the picture. Light is furnish
ed by electricity and. as in all stereop-
ticons, passes through the picture into
the lens, where 1t is refracted to form
the great spot Of light upon the screen.
1t is the manipulation Of this light
that is the dangerous feature of mov-
ing pictures. The film is celluloid and
highly explosive, and the point of light
that falls upon It Is so intense that If
permitted TO rest for single instant
upon the film. the heat produced will
cause an explosion. While the film IA
moving there is no danger, but it can
not be stopped without danger, unless
the machine is fitted with an auto
matte shutter, which falls over the
aperture as soon as the crank stops
turning.
Artistically the cinematograph IS de-
veloping with amazing rapidity. When
moving picture shows were first open
ed IN the cities OF this country they
were regarded as a rather low order of
amusement resorts. Already they have
climbed several classes, and the char
acter of pictures the best ones are
showing now brings them almost on a
plane with the tirst-class playhouses