Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-26
THESE PICTURES
TALK and MOVE
Edison KinetOphOne at the
Crane the Theatrical
Sensation Of the Day

The talking pictures actually talk
and move. and they talk and move in
perfect unison For so many years
this accomplishment has been so
frequently attempted with invari-
able failure that nearly everyone was
skeptical when John p. Harris threw
the first moving pictures that are
vocal on the screen in the Grand
Opera House on last Monday after
noon Now there is not a doubling
Thomas 10 say him nay When the
announcement went on the screen
Monday afternoon that the Klneto-
phone. which is the name Edison has
given his invention. would be ex-
hibited next. there was a faint, scat
tering applause. Everybody in that
packed house had read of the inven-
ton. but everybody was anxious 10 be
shown before applauding. II was an
audience altogether and entirely
from Missouri" but. like most will
mington audiences. IL went TO the
theatre with an open mind-a mind
ready 90 believe If Il could be shown
and just as quick to deride if there
should have been any slip-up m the
]
THAT paid its way and expected its
moneys WORKMAN audience that had
been used 10 getting more than its
moneys worth for Harry Davis has
reputation of doing things on
| prodigal scale and Of heapinE the
measure until H. fairly runs over.
/ So they sat back and waited
The dutter Of the ordinary motion
picture shutter sounded In the
balcony and an interior scene was
thrown on the screen. A gentleman
in evening dress advanced and bowed.
Ladies and gentlemen he said
There was a gasp Of establishment
from the audience. u seemed UNI
canny. phantom-like The voice was a
trihe hollow Whereas, the gentle
man on the screen, with gesture and
word. suiting the word to the action
and the action TO the word. explained
the use Of Edlson's new invention
The feeling Of uncanniness was dis.
sipated The voice, too under th'
continued illusion. now seemed TO Is
sue directly from the mans lips al
he moved about.
See. said the man.. raising q
saucer. II will break thisl"
He threw II on the floor and as II
struck there was a crash. BY way
Of still further illustrating the posi-
bilities OF the Kinetophone and the
perfection OF the synchronlsm OF
sound and action. the lecturer called
a man TO the plano. The man played
A few runs and trills and II was no
ticed that the piano gave forth a good
round tone. He waited for a wisp
Of a girl with sweet voice who walked
down to the piano and sang The Last
Rose of Summer" The singers voice
came naturally and beautifully clear
Some singers voices are better adapt.
ed to photographic or graphophoniC
reproduction than others. and this one
seemed Just the quality desired. There
was rather amazed coupled with
amusement when two dogs came
bounding across the screen, barking
loudly
This was perhaps the most striking
eXemplification Of Mr. Edieon's
achievement II was life. throbbng
pulsating life-life that was vocal
The lecturer declared the audience
was witnessing the most marvellous
invention of the day-one that would
record for all history the actions and
voices of the most famous men.
J Think II you could only have
George Washington step upon the
! screen before you and speak to you
as ! am doing now he said
and from the deep silence which fol
lowed one could see the audience was
thinking Of that very possibility.
The Kinetophone is certainly the
sensation of the hour in Wilmington
II has been the most talked about
thing in the theatrical calendar Of
the week. and so many people have
been turned away from the Grand I'M
able to gain admittance. that Mr.
Harris announced today he has re
engaged the talking motion pictures
for next week. when he will present
an entirely new repertoire Of subjects
and new demonstrating lecture
pointing out the possibilities of tho
Kinetophone in every way.