Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-11-18
History Of Motion
Picture Industry
by BEATRZ NuCHELENA
Chapter V.


in motion picture history was usher
ed in, when the investigators began
their search for pliable film. Here
they had hit upon track that was
to eventually lead to those tremen-
dous possibilities, in both the amuse-
ment and educational fields. which
are, in their greater immensity. still
in the future and far beyond present
estimation.
TO appreciate fully the difficulties
that surrounded and hampered this
search on every hand. one would
need considerable knowledge of the
chemistry OF photography This
very fact that their labors and ex-
periments were highly technical, pre-
cluded them from any extensive con-
temporary notice or encouragement.
People generally were oblivious of
their heroic struggles and patience
They, even more than their predeces-
sOrs in motion picture experiments
worked in the dark and always
against odds that threatened to over
whelm them
This search for IA pliable film did
not turn directly toward celluloid. As
a matter Of fact the experiments with
celluloid came as an alterthought
and only when seemingly everything
else had failed and the quest appear
ed hopeless Gelatine was tried, but
ITS Unstable texture soon argued its
impracticability. Then a paper, very
painstakingly refined and prepared
until ii had the transparency of the
oiled paper now used in drafting
rooms, was called into court and at
first gave rise to some hopes. 1t later
developed, however, that the fiber OF
The paper, no matter to what degree
il was refined, irreparably marred
the Photographic results. a prepara-
tion of rubber and other substances
beyond number were also tried TO no
avail; then celluloid.
However, there was lot more TO
the problem than merely thinking OF
celluloid When the experiments
first turned in this direction, the OBJ
jections that arrayed themselves
agains, the new substance were a
great deal more numerous and OBJ
vious IA many respects, than those
that had convicted the other med
iums, already discarded.
Again the majority of these objec-
tions partake of chemical technical
tiles, and viii consequently be dis
missed with passing notice. They
found their accumulative result in
the fact that the preparation then
used TO sensitize the glass plates,
would dissolve celluloid BY the ma
iority OF investigators this was ac-
cepted as fatal-but not so by Mr..
Walker and a Mr.. Eastman, two
names that were already looming
large in the Photographic world.
These two young Americans had al
ready formed partnership and es-
tablished a markedly successful dry
plate business in Rochester, New
York. Working in collaboration,
they were among the first to attempt
a solution of the pliable film problem
and likewise among the first to direct
theri attention to experiments with
celluloid
First oI all a new sensitizing pre-
paration was deyised--one that was
highly satisfactory and, at the same
time did not dissolve celluloid.
But this was only half the battle.
one other great difficulty stood in
the way OF any adequate or extensive
experiments. Celluloid was not then
manufactured in thin transparent
sheets. There was none OF the large
nor finely adjusted machinery now
employed for the purpose. The manu-
facturers of celluloid could see small
promise to a motion picture film busi-
ness. They regarded the whole mat
ter as scientific plaything They
laughed outright at the proposition
of installing the expensive machin-
cry necessary to an output such as
Eastman and the other experimenters
specified.
Consequently the experimentefs
most OF them with but little money
in purse. had TO shift for themselves.
They had recourse to many devices.
Some of them reduced the celulold TO
It's liouid and then poured il, in q
thin film on plate glass to solidity
Others took il in its thicker and more
uneven form and endeavored 10
scrape and sandpaper II down to a
sufficient thinness. often when the
labor was just reaching its last stages
some mishap would ruin the whole
thing and the hours of painstaking
work II represented. 1t was ter
riflcally tedious and discouraging un-
dertakinp Small wonder that the
ranks of investigators thined and
thined. until only Eastman. Walker
and a few others were left.
But perseverance had its reward
Today the Eastman factories turn out