Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-08-02
HOW ST AGE EFFECTS
AID THE SCREEN
Interesting Description of the OPP
Grafton of Movie Mechanism"
in Connection With an
Animated Picture.

When n great magician finishes his
performance and his audience is non
pulsed mvstified and utterly in the dark
rs 10 how he confounds them 10y seemingly
simple passes and gestures, 1t sometimes Is
customary for the artist, If he be IN obilg-
ing mood. to explain one or two OF his
tricks. This is purely psychological act
ON his part, for ii sends his audience away
with some knowledge of how thoy have
been fooled Naturally they know little
more than their neighbOr and To know
little more than someone else Is Just
cause for pride.
And so il Is gong to he with Hearts
OF the World now IN ITS second success
full week ut The Playhouse and nearing
= the close of an extraordinary engagement
Having kept his bag of tricks we'll under
cover up to this time. the magician, IN
charge Of the effects used in Hearts of the
World To produce the harmony OF sound
necessary for realistic presentation oil
the photoplav. has consented to explain
to the nlvstiticd public not few, but all
of his tricks. The magician Is Harry
Knight and on him, as well as on the
orchestra. rests largely, the responsibility
for the success of every performance
In the advertisements OF Hearts OF the
World" has appeared Inc reading "A
Carload of effects. SccptIcs may turn up
their noses and remark that this is merely
The imagination of the press agent. In
this case, however, there Is really carload
of various appliances.
Doubters are cordially invited 10 see
for themselves.
\ tribute should be paid TO Mr.. Knight.
lie not only has to follow every foot OF the
$4,000 feet of film. but he also has To con
troll a switchboard at which he sits con-
tanning 50 different switches. And each
switch or combination Of switches means
q different effect thunder, ram, cS-
Gaping gas. shells bursting near and lar,
or the rumble OF heavy artillery. Thus IN
Hearts IF the World exactly 70 different
kinds Of noises are reproduced INTO order
To give every scene its proper signtlcence:
To operate that switchboard IS small
lob in itself. but that Is not all ct Mr.
knights task lie must anticipate The
action If the film in order that the men
who operate the various appliances Will
have time to receive his signal, flashed
tx the means Of red. blue and amber
lights. and perform the mechanical part
Of the effect If his orders arc earned
out and the noise Of bursting shell will
he exactly coincidont with the rising cloud
al dust in the street and the falling OF
pole. such rs occurs IN the FIRST part OF
Hearts Of the World Immediately fol
loving the scene Of the atoms OF hui
manltv in the ancient crypt. Notice
this. when you see this wonderful photo
play.
MIR. Knight sits At his switchboard to
the right of the screen and he views the
film through 4 perlScope. Around all
SIDES of the screen IN the rear ana hllng
every inch OF the immense playhouse stage
Il al rsv,f
monsters. They are Of unusual size and
odd construction. They look harmless
vet bv the turn Of wheel they let loose
an inferno Of noise Before each group Of
monsters is q set Of lights. The operat-
orS. four in number, keep their eyes glued
on those lights To miss slgnal would
make the action OF the film ludicrous.
They never miss one. They have JOB IN
which a mistake Is not permitted. For
instance. 4 red light means q medium
rumble like the sound Of battle from q
nearby hill: blue light means heavy
rumble as the battle draws nearer, an
amber light means that heavy explosion
shakes the earth rs a giant shell bursts
and three amber lights call for lar away
explosion. And 50 it goes throughout the
entire performance.
How about the tremendous crashes
i
field This effect IS produced very simply.
\ square frame, about seven feet high,
has folding shutters on the top Large
cannon balls are placed on top OF the
shutters The latter are released when
the proper lights fash-by 8 lever and
down come the cannon balls. The result
Is terrifying Ii brings the war right into
The Playhouse.
Il Is easy 70 produce the sound OF rain
and nest realistic 4 large number OF
dried peas are contained IN q circular
mesh wire cage. which Is revolved by =
handle \ skilled operator can 50 grade
this ram that he can produce the sound
OF gentle shower OF 3 driving rain. such
as Is needed when the boy disguised a. a
German. crawlS into the enemy trenches
TO gain information Pour thunder drums
provide the general NOISE Of battle They
are five feet square and covered by steer
hide. stretched over frame Two sticks.
similar 10 those used by q bass drummer,
are used and the effects produced are
marvellous From the most distant
rumble Of battle to the loud explosion Of a
cannon IS their range With their assist
ance the battle Gibbs and flows. rises and
falls away into nothing. Another machine,
constructed of a number Of small pieces
of wood. arranged like a xvlophone. can
be made to reproduce the sound of 100
galloping horses at a turn Of the handle.
The rumble Of advancing artillery is
taken care Of by great box about six
feet square. 4 handle IN the centre is
turned and the audience can imagine al
most that they are eyewitness Of a ire
rnendous artillery duel A series Of c0gs
travelling over the corrugated bottom Of
the box turns the trick cleverly. When
the film shows the battlefield being deluged
BY liquid fire, the drums are touched.