The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-02-12
FORGING TO THE FRONT.
Felix Fortier Earns Honors as Mu-
sicsan in New Orleans.

sicsan in New Orleans.
Since the introduction of full or
ichestra music as an accompaniment
I to the photodramatic performances In
two of the leading theatres here, an
adequate recognition of the very great
/ Improvement which this feature
makes in the entertainment has been
accorded by the public. It is an es.
tablished scientific fact that light
1 travels in waves and thus registers
| impressions in the human eye Just as
sound waves travel and register vibra-
tions on the ear. Harmonious sounds
are soothing and it may be that there
are instances wherein they have pre-
vented murder, just as discordant
sounds have times without number
suggested the deplogable, but occa-
sionally justifable act. Harmonious
sounds are conducive to pleasant men
tai pictures. Harmonious light waves
produce pleasant ocular pictures.
This fact contributes to the success
| full projection of motion pictures. It
! Is apparent therefore that a conlbina-
ton Of sympathetic light and sound
waves will accentuate the delightful
Qualities of each other. That is why
appropriate music adds SO much to the
enjoyment of high class photoplays.
| Artistry in the one compliments the
artistry in the other and the specta-
tor is correspondingly pleased. FIRE.
quently a simple snatch of music
\ from some popular song will convey a
clearer understanding Of a pffotoplay
situation than a laborious subtitle
would be able to do, and at all times
the suggestive influence of music is a
4 most valuable adjunct to the enter
tainment Everybody knows this with
| out the necessity of an explanation
here, and the only excuse for the at
tempt to make an explanation is that
everything that is delightful and beau
tiful in the world, except a woman,
is easy to understand and is subject
to simple but none the less inviolate
natural laws.
That is why musical program in
connection with motion picture
adds so much to the spectators en-
tertainment. That Is why audiences
4 in the theatres where orchestras play
a carefully selected program, sit
through tWo-hour performance with
out becoming weary and express Won
der that the time has apparently pass
ed SO quickly, and that is one Of the
reasons why these audiences seek out
/ the same houses again when they
want to see a photodrama. Well Sc
|leeted music lifts the motion picture
| from a show to an entertainment and
the people are rapidly recognizing the
fact.
/ There are few limitations to the
i musical possibilitie IN connection
\ with d screen prodnc ction 4. One mem
i Der Of the orchestra at the Triangle
i Theatre has demonstrated this. He
lis Felix Fortier, and he plays the
traps. He is an observing musician
and is gifted with great adaptability.
Nothing on the screen escapes him
and it is very difficult situation for
which he cannot produce an entirely
| distinctive sound without for an in
slant breaking the rythm OF the or
4 chestral selection. II an actor knocks
at door in the picture, the traps ac-
company the action with the sound.
| If the door blows open, the traps make
the wind whistle into the room. In
animal pictures the roosters crow, the
pigs grunt and the geese honk. Not
the slightest detail of the action es-
capes him, and for every little move
ment on the screen Felix gives a
whistle Of its own. He has put more
l. I r. i - Jr+ Of
stone comedies that have been shown
at the Triangle than the man who di-
reeted them did, and he has made
work on the traps a feature Of every
entertainment Whatever may be the
profession, the man who is an artist
| in it is worthy Of distinction, and
Fortier has surely won distinction as
a motion picture musician and that,
| too, among a company of musicians
who play delightful music. Times
Picayune. Feb. s.
| The talented young musician re-
| ferred to in the foregoing is an As
cension boy, the son OF Mr. and Mrs.
Felix Fortier, Sr., of Faubourg Ia
Pipe. He has been a member of the
orchestra of the Louisiana Theatre in
Baton Rouge for some time past, and
his playing there made such a hit
that his employer, Ernst Roehringer,
upon assuming the management OF
the Triangle Theatre in New Orleans,
transferred Mr.. Fortier to the latter
playhouse, where his work has al
| ready hegun to attract attention and
earn for him such complimentary
! comments as that reproduced here
with. Accompanying the article,
which appeared on the page of the
/ Times -Picayune devoted to news Of
photoplays and players, was an ex.
Icellent picture of Mr.. Fortier.
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