The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-05-01
Seeing America First
by FIRED c. KELLY.


From Diary:
There are twu distinct schools OF
thought In the motion picture In.
duStry, 50 far rs publicity Is con.
cerhel one class VI men In the
business believe that the more the
public knows about the ways and
means Of producing the pictures, the
more interest the public will take In
going 10 see them On this theory.
one If the big Los Angeles movie
concerns IL planning to have a studio
with big plate glass windows that
will permit anybody 10 walk up and
see the actors at work.
The other notion IL that knowing
too much about the thing Is done
will spoil the public's zest for the
film drama. Many producers fear to
take a chance on blasting the Illusion.
They feel that while the public may
be well aware that the storming " II
big stone fort is not a real, sure
enough battle, It would he going too
far To show the public that the fort
Is nothing but painted canvas.
But YOU contend. doesn't the
regular human being dramn consist
mostly " Illusions. aud doesn't the
audience know that what It sees Is
not realY"
Yes back the movie pro.
ducer, "aud when you 20 Ia see a
magician YOU know that the things
he does are Just tricks. but II you
knew how he did them YOU would
oon lose interest"
At that juncture the movie man
seems to have the better " the argu.
ment For many NJ the more sensn
tlonal films are made In n way that
amounts almost to sleight NJ hand.
AZ II " the biggest studios IN
Los Angeles, ! saw them photograph.
Ing a lion entering the tent NJ a
beautiful young girl who was camp
Ing In the wllds NJ Africa. In the
picture ~ II win be- shown In the
theaters the girl Is ASLEEP on n cot
and Mr. Lion comes romplng In with
an expression " h0mlcidal glee un
his features II opens It's mouth for
Il roar that awakeus the girl. who
gives several carefully planned
screams " terror.
Those who see the picture will
say that the lion must In reality be-
n toothless old drone who never does
anything more serious than carry on a
well simulated bluff. Hut that 4.
not the idea at AL The answer Is
that when the lion Is roaming about
the tent roaring aud seeking a tooth
some girl Ia eat mp the girl IL moi
there. Just half the lens IL exposer
while the lion Is In the scene IN
place " the girl is just a pillow
stuffed under the bed clothes. tn,
head ~ the bed does not show In IN,
picture Neither do the runwsyi
that fence In the lion aud proven.
him from roaming beyond the rang,
Of the exposed half ~ the lens.
II took u lot ot patience aud u lonl
strip " film 10 get the lion IN I'M
savage attitudes desired out ~ ner
hnps 200 or 400 feet Of film. IN this IN
stance. not than about 10 fee
viii be- used.
After the Hon had shown his rea
nature Tor a while. they shoned hin
hack to his cage. Then the operate
shifted the cover to the other half o
the lens. turned lack his film 10 tn
starting point and photographed
charming y0udg woman named Mari
who lay on her cot. McRae. who pro
duces the animal pictures, had ken
track NJ the number Of turns OF tn
crank on the amcra. Each turn o
the crank was a picture. From nj
note hook McRae could tell Mt Jus
what turn the lion had been nj hi
host or worst When they reached
the hits NJ good stufr' ON the secOnt
half NJ the cNnosure. the directo
babe Marie ~ look esneclallv terror
lied. Thus are the snlne-chilling AMI
NAL pictures On ordained Ia give m
movie fans their flgurative pound o
flesh.
Director NcRae offered 10 nrprnr
mo y neat little souvenir NJ nv visit
Ue anld he would have Ms men tnk
- r'cirre ~ ",c with q tame lnNnnrI
In my lap. Tho leopard he exnlalned
wNs tho only tame Wild animal tho.
nod In nroof that n was nertectl
teme and harmless no showed No
n%hotocrnnh ~ Marie. oucen NJ IN
movies. with the leopard In her arms
III would have posed for Che souveni