Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-10
Some Things You Want to Know
Moving Pictures.

photographed again and so on until It has
been made to go through the required
In the productions Of these plays many
feet OF films are required. one story covering
anywhere from a few hundred to 1900 feet,
each foot having sixteen exposures about
the size Of a postage stamp. TIL appa-
ratus needed for taking these motion pic
lures. the cineometograph. is so constructed
that the film does not move past the lens
continuously, but stops sixteen times to
every foot Of film, or once before each ex-
posture. AS the film goes forward, pre-
paratory to another shot being recorded,
a revolving black shutter intervenes to
protect the moving film from light. This
film is developed like any other negative.
and when dry a contact print is made on
another piece OF transparent film of cor
responding length, after which process IL is
ready to be shown. Such progress has been
made in this process that today a film
can be developed and ready for use twenty
minutes after having been exposed.
First shown for the purpose of amuse-
ment, the moving picture has grown into
an educational and advertising medium, as
well as being used for scientific and com
mercial purposes. Churches are adopting
the idea for purposes of Bible teaching.
One Chicago film maker is introducing
films in which are shown the evils wrought
by the fly in carrying germs. To offset
the unpleasantness of this he concludes by
showing the fly as an acrobat in which he
performs various feats with dumbbells and
balls. Another film shows the caterpillar
in the act Of destroying trees. For adver-
Using purposes many companies have had
Htt--. - - Nl,.g, N-,d, IAvFty Vh,
process of preparation from start to finish.
Among these are the wine industry, ostrich
raising, matchmaking and doll-making.
Travelling statesmen whose goods are too
large to carry from place to place can
show and explain their use with the aid Of
a moving picture machine,
Pictures of birds in their native haunts
are difficult to obtain, yet one mar has
secured a large number of these films. In
taking these pictures many devices have to
be resorted to. The home life of a robin
was obtained by a film-make: who secreted
himself behind a blind. Boats were used
in taking pictures Of pelicans in the water.
while the land pictures were taken from
behind an artificial blind. In this work
England is far in ADVANCE of America.
The rapid growth made by the motion
pictures has not been without results on
various other things. 1t is estimated that
the decrease in attendance of the gallery
of the regular theater has been 50 per cent.
This has in another way helped the actors.
1t gives them greater opportunities Of ems
ployment, as the business Of posing for
the silent play is gradually rising to the
level of a recognized profession. The CEN
sorship of the moving picture houses has
now become a regular thing, and in this
way the class OF films shown is to a GER
tain extent shaped in the same way as the
regular drama
With the beginning of the moving picture
craze the exhibitors bought their films out
light, and were forced to pay large prices,
usually about $40 per film. Today the
country abounds with exchanges which
furnish two films a day on the rental
basis. The price of this service varies
from $12O a week for the best class OF
films down to $50 a week for those which
have been running for a year or longer.
A school for operators recently has beer
opened where beginners are taught the
handling Of the machine and given q
knowledge Of electricity and the calcium
light which is used in the projection OF
the films upon the screen. Fires, due tc
carelessness on the part of the operator
have proved a Menace to the business, bu'
the danger from this source Is rapidly be
ing lessened by various improvements.
As the demand for novelty increased thu
makers of the moving picture films had L
be ever on the lookout for suitable ma
: terial for scenarios for their plays
/ Shakespeare, T%ennyson, Longfellow and
r host of writer's have had their work
dramatized, while even the Bible has beef
called upon to give it's share. 1.-THE Lif,
4 of Christi and The Life of Moses hav,
= been reproduced. A recent innovation
e which adds to the educational value of tn,
y films is flashing a synopsis of the forth
t coming scene upon the screen immedlatel!
/ before the projection of the play itself.
: By FREDEEIO j. HAsKIN.
TomorrOw-THE NATIONAL HEALTH