Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
HENRY R. HEYL,
INVENTOR, KILLED
First Motion Pictures Pro-
iected Here by Aged Me-
chanical Engineer
FELL FROM STREET CAR
Original Machine Was Ex-
hibitcd at Academy Here
i'm 1870

Henry r. Heyl, who died after falling
from a trolley car at Broad and Wal
nut streets last night. projected the first
motion pictures thrown on a screen.
They we're shown originally at an eX-
hibition in the Academy OF Music IN
1870. The machine which projected the
pictures, known then as the 'phasma-
trope," was invented by Mr.. HeN. Later
it was shown at the Franklin institute
Mr.. Heyl fell to the street after he
had alighted from the car lie never
regained consciousness. Physicians at
Jefferson Hospital said he sustained a
fractured skull. They believe faint
ing spell caused him to fall.
Mr., Heyl. who was nationally known
as an inventor and mechanical engineer
was the father of Prof. Charles {. HeNL
principal of the West PhiIadeiphia
High School.
Other Inventions
Mr. IIeyI was seveuty-seven years oid
and lived at 1241 South Fifty-sccond
street He built and designed the first
machinery for the manufacture of wire
stitched paper boxes and invented the
folding paper box of the knockdoWn
type.
In recent years he had confined his
efforts to Il paper Container for the ue-
livery of milk. which invention he be
lieyed would eradicate disease by the
elimination of insanitary and unclean
milk bottles.
The following paragraph appeared III
the program at the show at the Academy
of Music:
This is a recent scientific invention,
designed to give to various objects ana
figures upon the screen the most grace
rul and llfelike movements The effects
ere similar to those produced in the
familiar ZoetrOre, where men are seen
walking, running and performing Nar!-
GUS feats in most perfect imitation OF
real life. This instrument is destined
to become most valuable auxiliary to
the appliances for illustration, and we
/ have the pleasure of having the first
opportunity of presenting its merits TO
an audience"
! At that time the flexible ribbon films
and instantaneous exposures were un-
known and 1t was necessary TO limit
/ the views to those that could be taken
! by time exposure upon wet plates, which
/ plates were afterward reproduced as
/ posltives on very thin glass plates. The
! device for holding them consisted Of q
/ skeleton wheel divided into eighteen
| parts. into which the plates were fas'
tened and the wheel then revolved be-
| fore lanterns rays. causing each pic
ture to register exactly with the position
! just left by the preceding one. The
| wheel was revolved by hand and con
trolled by ratchet and paul mechanism
! enabling the operator to control the
movements of the waltzng figure. so as
| to synchroniZe with the music played By
the orchestra. and when showing those
of an acrobat he would come to n full
stop. when the acrobat would complete
a somersault.
Was Also First Actor
Mr. Heyl could also lay claim to being
| the first motion picture actor, for It /:
his picture and that Of a relative, nov
dead, that was used in making the first
plates. And that also adds another
first" for this city, for the photographs
were made in the galleries of o. Fl
Willard. 1906 Chestnut street, whcl
makes that the original movie studio.
Had Mr.. Heyl placed his claim before
@ n