Hearst-Selig Pictures
15 min. The pictures shown this week proved more interesting than usual, the subjects being well selected. The new golden frame in use for the first time added a clearance which greatly improved the pictures.
Biograph
4 shows, 14 min. in one—just a medium lot of pictures, one or two of them being interesting enough to redeem the balance. Personally, it is always attractive for me, and I cannot see why it does not interest others. However, it is the strongest feature we can put at the end of our show. Comment: the show is a very strong one, and if I had been able to retain it as I first made it up, it would have gone much better than it did, but Johnson & Dean absolutely refuse to do any work in one, and I had to make a quick shift of acts, with the result that the show was weakened. It also run over 15 minutes. Owing to the fact that the time was incorrectly given. The show will pan out very strong went it get[s] arranged right.
Marcels Art Studies
Really wonderful act and one that had me puzzled for a while to figure out just what the audience thought of it. They seemed to like the pictures but do not make any particular demonstration over them. Whether they were too surprised to make themselves heard or whether they did not care so much for the act was a question until near the end when they warmed up and seemed to catch the spirit of the offering. This is certainly a beautiful act and it should create lots of comment and draw.
‘A Visit From Santa Claus’
On at 4.30. This is our special for the children, taking the place of the Christmas trees that we had in the lobbies in former years. It starts with about 7 min. of ‘The Night Before Christmas’ film, showing that picture up to the time Santa goes down the chimney. Then the curtain goes up on a special set, with Santa in the act of coming in the fireplace. The scene is an interior, with a flight of stairs of the right, and a beautifully decorated tree on the left. As Santa makes his entrance the door at the head of the stairs opens and two little kids in pajamas come down the stairs, followed by the rest of the family. They group themselves about the stage, and then ‘Little Hip’ makes his entrance, to act as assistant to Santa Claus. During the showing of the picture all children in the audience under the age of 12 who desire presents are formed in line, and when everything is in readiness they are marched down the aisle and onto the stage, where their presents are delivered to them. A prettier sight than the little folks cannot be imagined. This feature is said to excel anything we have ever had at Christmas time.
Kemp’s Tales of the Wild
19 min. in 1. 2 shows. On at 8:51. This is a unique and pretty feature for any house. The pictures are beautiful, giving various dioramic and panoramic effects. Kemp works the pictures, while his wife does the talking, with a fairly good delivery. Different from anything ever shown here, and got applause throughout, with a good closing hand.
Marcel’s Pictures
Living art-studies. 20 min, FS, 2 shows. On at 9:15. These act studies are very beautiful, and think that the revival will take well with the public. The lighting and artistic effects are stunning, and each one of them get a good hand, two or three of them a very strong hand, particularly the Angelus, Sicily, and Washington at Valley Forge. Think it will draw well with our crowds. Press particularly favorable toward them this morning.
Marcel’s Living Pictures
I was a little disappointed in these pictures, although Mr. Mr. [sic] Marcel’s pictures were good. There are to many pictures of men in bronze and marble statues and not enough pictures of women. I didn’t care so much for Mr. Marcel’s models, and I think he can do much better. These pictures are not like the old pictures we had a few years ago. 14 minutes, full stage.
Kinetograph
On at 4.33, 25 min. Showing a special set of pictures illustrating shoe-making of today. These pictures were made by the Edison Company for the George E. Keith Co., of Campello, Mass. It might be said in passing that Mr. George E. Keith is not related to Mr. B. F. Keith, but is almost as well known in the shoe world as is Mr. B. F. in vaudeville. The Keith Company make the Walk-Over Shoes, and while the trademark appears in several of the pictures it is not used in a way to which there can be any objections. The pictures are interesting and are good specimens of motion photography, particularly the last one, which shows the operatives leaving the factories, as good a picture of a moving crowd as I have ever seen. The Walk-Over people are ready and willing to do extra advertising in every city in which these pictures are shown and do not ask to use their names in connection with the advertising. They will simply advertise motion pictures of the art of modern shoe-making are on view at such-and-such a theatre.
Diamond & Smith
Songs illustrated with stereopticon and moving pictures. This act was one of the hits of the bill. It is a mighty good presentation and from a three a day standpoint, excellent. Should by all means be grabbed up at once by the 3 a day houses and is thoroughly all right in any house. 19 min. in one, and the people wanted more. 3 shows.
Spook Minstrels
2 shows, 22 min, open in 2, close in 1. Well-known vocal novelty. This afternoon there were some trouble with the carbons, at times the pictures flickering out altogether. I don’t think the picture part of it has any value in this house, or but very little, but the quintette of men are excellent as vocalists. The song ‘My Rosary’ went very big and they were compelled to respond to an encore, ‘In My Oldsmobile,’ which I promptly cut. The can advettise [sic] their autos on billboards or change to ‘automobile.’