Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-01
EDWARD EARLE
Appearing in Edison photoplays.
BY the Photoplay Editor


Experts interested in the development
of the film have been, for the last few
weeks, working on a device to combine
the phonograph with the projecting ma
chine in order to reproduce the voice in
conjunction with the action of the pic
ture.
In this country, Edison. the wizard of
the age, presented such device for
public approval. 1t was on the market for
a short time and then withdrawn on ac-
count of its incompleteness. The Renfax
people have such machine, but like the
Edison, the use of the film for short
time destroys perfect syncronism, that
is, either the word does not suit the action
or the action the word. due to breaks and
patches in the film. Furthermore, the
machines on the market at present are
not well suited for multiple reel subjects.
Before the war, French engineers,
mechanics and inventors gave this parti-
cular subject much time and attention,
but the results have proved no better than
American products.
Shall Philadelphia once more provo to
be the home of another genius? There
lives In this city n man whose name for
the present cannot be disclosed who is a
mechanical engineer and who worked on
all the models Europe has produced and
has n working knowledge of the American
inventions. In his mind was born the
idea for just a device that will overcome
the difficulties which made perfect Gym
cronism impossible and multiple reel work
impractical. The plans are now drawn
and the details gone over carefully The
inventor in going over the blue prints
with the writer explained every detaii
showing how tho difficulties are sur
mounted. This device does not add ad-
ditional expense to the theatre owner ex-
cept the cost of installation. which Is
reasonable. The operators booth does not
become laboratory. The device can be
attached to any standard projecting ma
chine and is worked by the same handle
that works the film.
The inventor is working on models and
will demonstrate his machine by break
ing films, patching them and yet having
the voice and action reproduced in per-
feet harmony.
'It Is the man in the garret who adds
to the progress of the world" some one
said If the models prove perfect this
addition to the movie" business will
come from such a man, and Philadelphia
will have just cause to be proud of him.
Accompanied by her mother, her direc-
tor, Allan Dwan, and a supporting COM
pany, Mary Pickford has left the Los
Angeles studios of the Famous Players
on her way to the New York headquar-
ters of this company. Miss Pickford has
been in California since last November
during which time many of the recent
films in which she has been starred by
the Famous Players. as we'll as a number
of the subjects in which She will shortly
be presented. were produced
Miss Pickford and her company will
enact a feature film story en- route from
California to New York. "A special story
was devised for this purpose, so con-
structed that the plot begins in the West
and terminates in New York, where the
subsequent scenes will be produced.
The subject will be produced under the
direction of Allan Dwan, who has pro-
duced in California two of the most re-
cent Pckford subjects not yet scheduled
for release.
Upon the arrival OF Miss Pickford and
Allan Dwan in New York. preparations
will be made for a production starring
Mary Pickford. This will be an elabor-
ate photo-production entitled Miss
jimmy" a tenement story from the pen of
Edith Barnard Delano, the author OF an
other forthcoming Pickford production,
Rags" to be released August q
AZ the conclusion of the subject Mr.
Dwan will direct Miss Pickford in a series
of important screen vehicles, notable
among which win be THE Heart of Sally
Temple" the famous novel and play by
Rupert Sargent Holland, and Audrey"
adapted from the famous novel by Mary
Johnston and the play by Harriet Ford.