The Washington times., 1926-12-18

:. My reason for writing along
unexpectedly can dreams come t
The other night, at the opening
of James Cruces epic Of the
early United States Navy, "Old
1ronsides," the theater filed with
distinguished group, was thrown
into what might amount to tur.
mol by the unfolding of a sud-
den, awe-inspiring specacle. Just
before the intermission, as Old
1ronsides." with sails set full, got
under way for its battle against
the Tripolitan pirates, the screen
suddenly was enlarged to the fun
size of the stage, and the picture
enlarged to fit this new screen.
It was a chilling sensation, For
the mighty size Of the screen
gave closeup proportions to what
ordinarily would have been lust
q beautiful scene. 1t seemed 20
me to give the picture depth. 1t
: brought out features which would
have been too small otherwise to
catch.
% This new ''magniscope" is des-
lin d to spread everywhere that
movies are shown. You will soon
( be watching one in action and
you will agree taht q forward step
has been taken in projection OF
motion pictures.
This invention was not COM
peted the night before the open
ing of "Od Irosnsides." Its in.
ventor had it finished some time
prior to that. But the reason
he did not find the picture people
responsive Immediately was be-
cause producers OF motion pic"
lures are unwilling any more to
adapt and ney-fangled thing
which might cheaper their prod.
uct. 1t was only after --Adolph
Zukor himself was thoroughly
convinced that the use OF this
new device would inmeasura bic
increase the pictures effectiveness
and would be lasting invention
that he consented to its use.
The ''magniscope'' certainly is a
step in the right direction. 1t 10
as revolutionary as the use OF the
closeup. In fact it is a closeup OF
n long shot! This is getting too
technical for me so well stop right
here with the warning that the
first time you see the "magniscope"
working you had better strap your
self in your seat. for your be
tempted to stand up and cheer.
In "Old Ironsides," Cruze has
picture that will live a long long
time. It's Photographic compost
ton Ia matchless And 1t will do
more to impress the growing youth
with the Importance Of this phase
of our Nays development than
four years of schooling ever can.
Cruze undoubtedly places great
faith in having not one. but two
characters in picture that can
give 1t a comic relief. You viii
recall the scenes in 1.-THE Covered
Wagon" in which Tully Marshall
and Ernest Terrence made merry
and also the comedy injected in
"The Pony Express" by Wallace
Berry and George Bancroft. In
''Old fronsides," Cruze has Berry
and Bancroft provide the fun and
they come through in big way.
It is said that $2.000,00O is a
conservative estimate OF the
amount annually extracted from
the pockets of those connected
with motion pictures by sharp
shooters whose practices would
not stand too much questioning.
The stars ard executives OF big
companies are the most fertile
fields, especially a player who is
Just beginning to feel the spot
light of public favor turn in her
or his direction.
One Of the most common forms
OF this graft is through the me-
dunn Of unofficial motion picture
directories. Someone gets the
idea of publishing a directory Of
some kind. Then he sits down
and sends letters to all the play"
ers and executives.
1--WE are only putting in the
best names Of the industry" is
about the way the letter reads.
name. We will gladly include
Your name IL you'll fill out the
enclosed card for an advertise
merit in the publication and en-
close your check for such-and-
such amount"
Many players have told these
people they aren't interested in
such publications, and strangely
enough, these players have con-
tinued to prosper and win public
favor.
One young woman was impress
sively told that a certain auto
mobile device WAS goiDr IN ha