New-York tribune., 1909-10-31
SHOOT At FILM ENEMIES.
Neac Uses and Possibilities for the
MOUing Picture.


its adaptation 10 target practice. The moving
picture as arranged for the marksmans use
has a psychological attribute which the plain
bulrs-eye and the bounding metal deer of the
shooting gallery and the clay pigeon Of the
field never viii possess. Canterng iron deer
and harmless clay pigeons will never excite
the sensations which the hunter soldier or
householder experiences when he finds himself
within range of a live deer facing the Inuz-
gle OF a rife in the hands of a soldier or a
pistol in the hands OF burglar who has sud-
denly and Unexpectedly popped up from behind
a bed. The true test OF craftsmanship is
ability TO hit when face to face with the real
thing" The moving picture supplies for
mans gun practice what the moving target, rep
resenting the yitals OF ship does for naval
target practice, with the addition of an ex-
eellent imitation OF an active and threatening
enemy.
The marksman takes his place before a
screen. upon which suddenly appears figure
approaching with a gun From time to time
the in the picture lifts his gun TO his
shoulder and fires point blank at the marks
man in this fashion, he approaches yard
by yard, until he is almost on top Of the marks |
man In most realistic fashion the gun flashes
and the cloud of smoke floats away. From
time time the marksman if this realistic
repr. .sentation has not feazed him, will be blaZ
Ing away at the image of his human enemy. !
Each hit is recorded automatically and in !
simultaneously on an indicator At the firing point,
and At the close Of the practice the total value
Of the hits is registered. Ii revolver practice
is desired, the picture may be changed for
one representing burglar rummaging around
ones Office lodging around the fur
niture watching for a chance TO shoot
II has been suggested that platoon target
practice could be furnished in this way, troops
being portrayed approaching. forming and fir
ing. Ii has even been further suggested that
real wars could be fought out in this fashion,
pictures Of the forces of the enemy being set
before the soldiers each side targets.
The targets records would indicate the imag
mary mortality either side. These could
be- exchanged and the results of the battles
determined in this way, rather than by the
exchange of shots between the living forces.
Tie operation Of the target may be made au-
tomato. BY means of button the current
may be thrown into the Illuminating lamp and
the motor driving the reels upon which the film
IS wound. The pictures illustrating this new
use Of the moving picture are from The Illus
trated London News"
1t is estimated that s50000,00O has been in
vested in the moving picture business in this
country. With such an investment this at
stake il bekooves those interested in the bus
iness to study how maintain the interest
OF those who pay the nickels and dimes to see
the pictures. 1t is asserted by members of the
Nov York volunteer moving picture censor
ship committee that SO per cent Of the per-
sons Who enter the doors Of amusement place
fn America go to moving pictures. The
result is that subjects and ways Of
using pictures are constantly being developed
Objectionable pictures have practically been
eliminated. The educational possibilities are
being worked out.
Films lireproOfed. The machines
by which they projected also equipped
with littlo doors, which automatically close
down over the apertures through which the
light is thrown upon the pictures when the ma
chine stops for any reason. This shuts out the
heat which, in the Of the old type If
film might set il on fire.
1t is reported that a method of taking NOV
ing pictures in the natural c5lors has been
evolved in Europe, and that in the course Of
a short time these will be exhibited in public
I'm this country The cost it is said Will be
only one-quarter more than that Of the
binary films. In England moving pictures OF
occurrences of new interest are taken and dis
played on the same evening In this way the
picture man gets ahead Of many Of the news
papers, thus serving somewhat the same pur-
pose as the bulletin editions Of afternoon
paper
The moving picture has been made the vehicle