Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-19
AMUSING OURSELVES

~ ESPITE the increasing complexity OF
~ modern life, we amuse ourselves much
less pretentiously than did our ancestors. We
use simpler ingredients. but with greater in
genuity. Duellng, buffalo hunting and Louis
lana lotteries are things of the past Horse
racing has lost it's prestige. barbecue
would be distinctly bad form. Melodrama
and Handy-Andy comedies have given way
to subter humors. For these crude ele-
mental amusements we have substituted more
artful and cunning diversions
What, for instance, more inconceivably in
genious, more Yankee-clever, more incredibly
subtle than to borrow the dazzling magnih-
c"nce of the Papal throne for a movie show?
just the daily Vatican routine of pageantry
and pomp, but invested with the magic
glamour of the Popes personality. What
wonderful scenario for movie!
Only second to the ingenuity of the man
who conceived the idea is his infinite re-
sourcefulness In accomplishing the feat How
he did 1t is described in the American Mag
azlne, in an article by Cleveland Moffet ~:
Early in 1913 James Slevin a young Amer
ican arrived in Europe to get a series of mo-
tion pictures of the Pope and the intimate
life OF the Vatican, Many had tried and
failed. Slevin had letters and introductions
to Roman Catholic dignitarles but he chiefly
relied upon his ability to convince the Pope,
If he could gain hearing. that the progress
of the world made 1t right and necessary
that the Holy Father submit himself to the
motion picture ordeal, He must be able to
present these arguments in person. Slevin
decided to learn italian, and set about this
so diligently that within three months of his
arrival in Rome he was able to express him
self UNDERSTANDABLE.
Slevin also trusted to the inherent value of
the motion picture itself. which the Pope
did not realize since he had never seen a
frst-class motion picture exhibition. He
made special trip to Venice TO get the most
effective motion pictures of the Pontiff'5 for
mer home and of his old church. He visited
Malta and recorded the proceedings of the
Eucharistic Congress, an important Roman
Catholic gathering that the Pope would be
glad to have brought visually before him.
Finally. he journeyed to London and sue
ceeded in taking closeup motion picture of
King George, smiling pleasantly and lifting
his hat as he descended the steps of Buck
ingham Palace. Finally. His Holiness con-
sented to a private exhibition of these pic
lures, and for the place nothing less than
the Pontiff's private throne room.
When the entertainment was over the Pope
said to Slevin we have been greatly pleased
and entertained. You are fine type of
American" Then he smiled sweetly and ad-
ded: ''Of course we are good audience, be-
cause we never saw anything so eXtraordi-
nary before Slevin seized his opportunity,
and continuing his appeal, spoke of the 250,-
100000 Catholics scattered over the earth
whose hearts would be cheered, whose zeal
would be quckened, IL they could see the
IiOly dllel IiONluB DeLOle llelll hS III liiS'
The Pope smiled mysterously as before. Once
more they all knelt and kissed the fisher
mans ring on the Pontifs white hand, and
then the Holy Father withdrew. Slevin knew
in his heart that Plus X would not consent
to the plan.
Then followed months of waiting and of
fruitless effort, during which Sevin was
Obliged to return to New York and make new
arrangements to organize new company,
when the Knemacolor people lost heart.
Early in 1914 he walked out of the office of a
Wall street multi-millionaire with $25,000 to
his credit and the papers of incorporation of
the Sacred and Historic Film Society in his
pocket.
Meantime the news had spread among other
companies, Here was prize worth millions
for some one. When Sevin returned to
Rome he found five powerful rivals estab-
lished there, pulling frantic wires and making
strenuous efforts to gain favor with the Pope.
The situation more difficult than before.
Finally he was allowed to take a motion
in other ceremonies-in st. Peters, the Sis
tine Chapel the Pope addressing vast audi
ences from the balcony of the Vatican, etc.
"I don't know exactly how it came about"
explained Slevin. You might say that
never had formal permission to take those
pictures. I just went ahead and took them
and no one objected or paid any attention
to me. l was never obtrusive and never asked
for anything. Doors would open and pro-
cessons would come along, and the Pope
would appear just as / had my machine
ready. / think they that I was sincere
and felt the force OF my arguments, although
they could not say so officially"
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