Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-11-25
MAKING CINEMATOGRAPH PICTURES

1t is only Just over dozen years
since Edison first introduced his
kinetograph, by means CT which the
first moving pictures were produced.
A few experts prophesied great flu
ture for the invention, but the ma
jority, while conceding that the
motion pictures were novel and in
tereStihg, were convinced that there
was not much in the idea. Even
those who had faith in the invention
could scarcely have imagined that,
in the course of Il dozen years, peo-
pie would be paying tens Of thou
sands of dollars every day to see
moving pictures at the thousand-and
one picture palaces which have
sprung up all over the world. or
that couple of prize-fghters would
share between them close upon Sl25,-
000-as Johnson and Jeffries did re-
Gently - for allowing moving pic
lures of themselves to be taken dur
Ing the contest for the championship
of the world.
No fewer than ten cinematograph
cameras were perched round the
ring while the fight lasted. During
the fifteen rounds expert operators
worked on relays, and secured 3O,-
900 feet of films for the moving pic
ture shows. The first exhibition of
these pictures was given in New
York, full theater prices being
charged-that is, from dollar to
two dollars q seat. 1t is said that
Mr.. Oscar Hammerstein made an
offer of $4,000 for the first use oil
the films in New York, and some
bids for State rights reached S50,,
600. No wonder Johnson and JEFF.
fries got such huge sum for their
share in the business.
or course these pictures are oil
exceptional interest, in view of the
worldwide interest created by the
fight; but as an illustration of the
enormous popularity of moving pic.
lures, it might be mentioned thai
many big companies have built spe
cial theaters and keep big stock com
panies Of actors and actresses, in or.
der to prepare what are called story
pictures. Enormous sums are spent
in their preparation.
Some time ago, for instance, ;
certain company issued a series o
pictures depicting the history O
Nero. The photographs were taker
in Italy, and six months were oc
cupied in preparing for them. Ovel
four hundred people were employed
in acting the parts, and in the scene
of the burning of Rome model house:
were built up exactly to scale, ant
then set alight. Altogether. thu
production of the complete films cos
nearly 1000.
Another company purchased con
demned house for the price of th,
building material. and then arranged
for the fire brigade to come and put
it out while thrilling rescues were
performed by the trained acrobats
of the stock company. In another
case the branch line of a certain rail
way was hired in order that heaG
on" collision might be arranged, ano
striking series of pictures was the
result.
There is a constant demand fol
new ideas for moving pictures on the
part of cinematograph companies
$40 or $40 being paid for plot OF
even for an idea for series of pic
lures. The actual taking of the pic
lures occupies but few minutes. II
is the rehearsing and arrangement
of the various scenes which occupies
9he most time, for everything has
to be done just as though it were an
actual play before an audience.