Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-14

as. If in horseplay, into the line of march
OF course his sign would be read; of course
the police would throw him out of the line
and of course the attention of the audience
would be drawn to the incident. Every
time that sign went on the screen thousand
dollars had been placed in the movie man
pocket. Some ten thousand dollars or more
was thus expended.
Moving picture advertising was sought
by the directors of the Panama Pacific Ex-
position last winter. They received bids
from number of American manufacturers,
and some foreign, for the exclusive privilege
OF taking news movies on the exposition
grounds. A foreign company, the largest
in the world, got the privilege for nothing,
although some Of the American companies
had bid many thousands of dollars. ,Thebig
company was in position to circulate the
tors thought, was preferable to thousands
of dollars and no advertising.
Later on this big company had a change of
heart. 1t gave up the contract Although
the pictures were popular, it thought it
should have received money for advertis-
ing the exposition. This was not assigned
as the reason for permitting the contract
to lapse without giving a paltry ive-thou-
sand-dollar bond within the time limit
for that was the loophole the manufacturers
took in their exit from the contract,-but
it was the true reason, according to what
have been told by those who ought to know
IKE everyone else, the movie man has
- his limitations. When the aeroplane
first came into use he thought he would make
excellent pictures from the sky. AS mat
ter of fact, it is almost impossible to get
good pictures from an aeroplare. The con-
slant shifting of the plane rocks the cam
era, and the incessant vibration of the en-
CINE makes the picture unsteady even when
taken on an even keel. From dirigible the
results are much better; from balloon they
are excellent. An effort was made in 1911 to
get an aeroplane picture of the international
polo game at Westbury 1t was unsuccess-
full In addition to other obstacles, the
presence of the aircraft so terrified the
horses that the game was nearly broken up.
One of the most unusual pictures ever
made was taken from balloon two thou
sand feet above Portland, Oregon. The
city, shown on the screen, looks like Toy
town. The same daredevil movie man who
leaned out over the edge of the swaying
basket to point his lens below had arranged
to go up in balloon in the international
balloon race that was to have started last
October from Kansas City. The race was
called off because of the European war.
Think of moving picture of a two-thousand-
mile flight across North America!
THE most wonderful news movies ever
made, according to my mind, showed a
battle, at close range, between Mexican
Federals and rebels. 1t was minor battle
as battles go nowadays, but one that was
exceedingly full of thrills.
The rebels charged chapel on the brow
of a hill. From the building puffs Of white
smoke told of the presence of Federal field
pieces. Up the long hill the besiegers
charged on the double quick, stopping now
and then to throw themselves on their bel
lies and answer the fire. To the left to the
right, in front, men fell like corn before hail.
Fresh hundreds rushed from behind to take
their place. Up to the very summit of the
hill they ran; over a low stone wall; into
the muzzles of machine guns; into the cold
steel Of the bayonet They fought hand to
hand; men fell, dead and dying, every sec
ond. The rebels took the chapel; the Fed
erals turned and fled in utter rout, and were
cut down like hunted beasts Never was
there more real and tragic action crowded
on the screen before.
The camera man toiled painfully in the
face Of hot fire up that HILL Juggling his
heavy machine. He planted his tripod in
the pathway of death outside the chapel.
He risked his life as gambler would risk a
small stake on a big hand, and he got Won
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