Evening star., 1928-11-04
SILVER In THE MOVIES
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

does note every other least gradation in
shading and that makes the picture. AS
every one knows nowadays, the motion
picture merely is a series of still pic
lures, shown in rapid succession.
The output of silver in the United
States in 1927 was 100000 ounces.
Only 1000 900 ounces of the metal were
required by the director Of the mint
for the minting of coins. Four million
ounces has been the average annual
rate for several years Relatively few
silver dollars are coined and the 4,000.-
900 ounces goes largely into subsidiary
coinage.
Silver Recovered From Waste Film.
The amount of silver used in the arts
in 1927 was 27,407, 600 ounces and OF
this total practically 100000 ounces
were required for motion picture films
or more than half. There is hidden
from sight in the form of a coating for
movie films more silver each year than
all the chests of silver, silver services,
silver cups for golf championships and
such trophies, silver wedding anniver-
thousand other articles which make
such a jolly showing and, alas, require
polishing quite frequently!
The amount Of silver used IN the
movies would be much greater were 1t
not for the fact that processes are en-
ployed for recovery of waste film. Any
one who knows the first thing about
movies realizes the tremendous mileage
of film wasted. Scenes have to be shot
time and again before the desired effect
is achieved. The megaphoned movie
director says "As you were" more fire.
quently than a drill sergeant training
an awkward squad. In making the
usual motion picture play several times
the amount of film actually unwound
for projection on the screen before an
audience is used. Then, too. even when
all the scenes are satisfactory, the
length of time required for showing may
prove too long and the film must be
cut.
All this exposed film. useless as 1t
has become, is gathered up and put
through a process which RECEIVERS the
silver and the metal Is used over again
in making a fresh solution of silver
chloride for coating new film.
Many Duplicate Films.
But it must be remembered that the
final film, passed by the movie direc-
tor and by the censor, is by no means
the only one. 1t Is copied and copied
again until there are many duplicate
reels to be sent out on the various
circuits to the movie houses all over
the country.
Finally, at least one and usually sew
eral copies are permanently filed away
This practice is increasing, especially In
connection with news pictures. Motion
pictures of notable events are carefully
stored away so that future generations
may see just exactly how the Lind
berghs and Tunneys, the Smiths and
Hoovers, the flappers and their boy
!; friends Of our day looked and acted
This is being done because we know
how keenly we would appreciate see
ing motion pictures Of the Battle of
, Gettysburg, the surrender at York
! town, the sinking of the Spanish
Armada, or the siege of Troy had
J movie men been on hand in those days.
; But it must be remembered that this
constantly increasing store Of films is
putting away vast quantity of silver,
Every film put in storage for future use
; ties up so many ounces Of the precious
metal 1t is conceivable that time
/ may come in the future when the
silver will be gone from the mines and
rediscovered in movie film storage
places.