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| PACE TWENY-TWO -* THE OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1929 HOW THE MOVIES, AND THEN TALKIES CAME INTO BEING Northern Electric Engineer Gives Interesting Facts on Inventions "A distracted parent. Two small boys. A wet afternoon. And today we have Talking Mov- jes! Such, in brief, is the record of half a century," said the North- ern Electric Engineer, who is in charge of the installation of the new equipment at the Regent Theatre in discussing Sound and Talking Pictures with this paper today. "But what an infinite amount of striving and research of experi- ment and failure was required to round out the story of, the produc- tion of the greatest box office at- traction in the history of publi entertainment." "Everything has had a npégine ning, and the moving picture is no exception." Began in Nursery A hundred years the inmates of the nursery whiled away the hours with toys which, to us seem.crude. One of these toys was called the "wheel of life." An instrument composed of a cardboard cylinder pierced with vertical oblong holes, though which, when revolved, might be seen a series of pictures pasted to the inside walls in var- ied positions which, according to the speed of the cylinder, when rotated, gave more or less the appearance of motion pictures. In 1845 this "wheel of life" was brought from Europe and imme- diately captured the hearts of the younger generation; and it would seem older ones too, since it be- came a custom for fathers (who were put to it for the amusement of their children during dull win- try days), to apply their inventive genius to the improvement of this. early moving picture machine. Dr. Coleman of Philadelphia, who had a bent for photography, was one of these. He invented the "Kinematoscope," a machine somewhat churn. One afternoon he thought he would try to use his hobby as an amusement for hs two boys, Junior and Horace. So he posed them in the nurgery -- one ham- mering a nail and the other rock- ing in a chair beside his brother ----and taking double exposures in rapid succession, achieved some- thing of a success, though the re- sults more closely resembled ster- eoscepic photographs than moving pictures. However, by pasting these pictures on paddles which were revolved inside a circular tin box, the appearance of motion was given to the succession of photographs when viewed through a stereoscopic hood placed above. This then may be considered as the first conscious attempt at moving pictures on this: Contin- ent; and it' is'interesting to note business, we appreciate plishing the same. We new venture. We Congratulate The Regent Theatre Management On its New Step Toward Progress Being always on the lookout for the newest in our own we see the other fellow accom- Regent theatre all success in their W. A. DEWLAND, LTD. Ladies' Ready-to-Wear Everything for Babies and Girls up to 14 Years of Age Dry Goods--House Furnishings 16 SIMCOE ST. NORTH line of \\1///, it when > A SOUND PICTURE wish the ous resembling a butter | that these two boys lived to see the realization of their father's dream, Through many stages and de- vious paths, inmumerable experi- menters have been contributing their quota to the perfecting of this idea; all of them, however, meeting with the same. obstacie-- the cumbersome glass plate--and it was not until a man by the 'name of Eastman (now world fam-. as the maker of the Kodak camera) first experimented with a flexible film whilst endeavoring to discover a means of increasing the popularity of snapshot photo- graphs, Eastman used various forms of gelatine which, how- ever, were not entirely satisfac- tory. ph Celluloid First Used That the solution to the whole problem was hit upon, however, and has remained with us to' this day, was due to ome, Reverend Hannibal Goodwin, who first us- ed celluloid as the foundation for the photographic film and thus solved the problem for all time, From that date the matter set- tled down to a race between inven- tors for the perfection of a ma- chine for the taking and projecting of moving pictures. Electricity had arrived, the materials were now all at hand; it required only to evolve a method of using them efficiently. Among these inventors were two giants -- Thomas Edison and Francis Jenkins, a young govern- ment clerk, who very speedily led the field, and who 'on June wu, 1894, actually staged the first ex- hibition of moving pictures as they are now known on this side of the world. * In his spare time Jenkins had been woking away on a ma- chine for projecting his moving pictures taken on a narrow strip of film. June 6th found him mn his home town with great price and some reserve carefully un- packing and setting up his inven- tion, in the jewelry store of one of his relations where a few friends were invited to form what | was to be the first moving picture audience on this continent. A no- table feature of this first exhibi- tion was that some of the pictures were 'hand colored to add reality; so that he not only was the orig- inator of an industry which has attained the position of fifth in importance on the American ¢on- tinent, but he was far ahead of his time in the technique of the indus- try to be. And Now the "Talkies" "Today we are not content with moving pictures only, but must have them accompanied by speech and music, and in our imperious manner we demand that these re- finements shall not be haphazard accompaniments produced at the whim of a local director, but shall be the actual words and music of the players. To supply this de- mand, electrical engineers have diligently labored to devise means whereby this may be acomplished. "The results," the Northern Electric engineer concluded, *"in a commercial form, dre to be seen and heard today in all the princi- pal cities of Canada and by the end of this. year disc and" film equipments will have been install- ed in one hundred and fifty houses of amusement throughout the Do- minion--two separate methods of achieving the result, both bye- W. H. TAIT SOUND PICTURE Congratulations Silence Should Be Observed whatever the public chooses to call Shem. invelve 3 yey impor tant or, t of silence during production. For this reason aisles and lobbies are heavily carpet- ed, and ushers and other house attendants are not allowed to talk, and for - this reason too, the Regent . theatre has been built with special acoustic properties. The public, for its own sake, is accordingly earnest-. ly asked to ¢o-operate, To those accustomed to inart- " iculate film, this may, at first, be difficult to under- stand, and the practise difficult to adopt, but time will bring familiarity. ' The Luke Furniture Company heartily joins all Oshawa in ex- tending congratulations to the enterprise of the Regent Man- agement in bringing to this city TALKING MOV The Beautiful Soft Carpets you will walk on when attending The opening Monday Night, were LUKE FURNITURE CO. IES supplied by PHONES 78 and 79 Jeddo Coal | Solvay Coli Cannel and Pocahontas And All Other Fuels That Are Carried to Serve the People of Oshawa Call to-day and experience the service and satis- faction this company gives to every customer Dixon Coal Co. Phone 262 FOUR DIRECT { architect when, products of the telephone which, itself, is' till quite young." MICHAEL STRANGE, NOTED AUTHOR, MARRIES AGAIN London, May. 24.~--~Michael Strange, the former. wife of John Barrymore, was married to Harri- son: Tweed, New York lawyer, here today. The former Mrs. Barrymore, 'who prefers her pen name, Michael Strange, obtained a divorce from the actor last summer, in New York State, several months after the di- vorce 'became permanent Barry- more married Dolores Costello, THO METHODS ARE USED IN MAKING TALKING PICTURES Film and Disc Methods Both Utilized at the Regent Theatre Behind the mass of technical phrases used to cxpress the progces- ses by which talking pictures are made are two methods that have come to be accepted by the picture producers making sound pictures: the film and the disc methods. Recording is done electrically with | both methods. With the film method the sound record consists of a band about one- eighth inch wide, called the sound track, which runs down one side of the film and consists of microscopic lines. The density of these lines de- pends on the loudness of the sound, so that the greater the contrast be- tween light and lark lines the louder will be the sound. In other respects the film resembles the ordinary kind. The disc method employs disc records that are similar to the best types of phonograph record except that they are much larger and run at about half the speed of a phono- graph record. In this way it is able to play throughout a whole reel. The fifi used with the disc recording re- sembles an ordinary film except that it has special marking at the begin- ning of a reel to give the starting point for the disc synchronization. Both methods for recording and re- producing are to be used in the Regent Theatre. HEARING, QUALITIES AT REGENT PERFECT Auditorium Tested For Ac- coustic Value Before In- stalling "Talkies" ticklish' moment for the after he. has com- pleted a theatre, he tests the acous- tics. He may have created a beau- It is a tiful monument to his art, and ex-| pended a vast sum of money in do- ing it--but sometimes he doesn't know until ~ after' he ° has finished Whether the accoustics are good or ad, But that trying period is over at the Regent. Theatre. The accoustics have been tested and been found per- fect. The slightest sound made on the stage is carried to the farther-|. most corner of the auditorium with- out the slightest distortion. Every sound is carried perfectly and fully. There is no smothering or echo, and the .sound comes naturally and 'in exactly the right volume. The excellent acoustics of the Re- gent theatre will ensure perfect hearing of the talking movies. There are no "dead" "spots, and cvery note from every instrument or voice will reach the car at the same time, | Advance of Sciences Has Changed Movies whep science age of progress, seems possible, In this everything i has advanced by leaps and bounds to such an extent that everyone is wondering what next is going to hap; pen, One of the latest discoveries is the synchronizing of sound and pic- tures using the two methods known as the film and disc methods, by which the screen becomes human, and such is their appeal that their grip on the entire world becomes firmgr as each day goes by. No longer does the average thea- tre-goer crave the silent drama. Audiénces now desire a more intim- ate knowledge of their favorite stars, who, formerly, were but mere -sha- "Sound film, talkies, or || Above: Behin A the screen 8 quartette of large horns from which the sound from sound pictures emerges, mounted on a movable tower. Regent Theatre ado gund Pictures Yrtiern Electric Company sacs €37 oRAIG STREET WERT oor aovias sasmn cove Ru \ vowTAEAL Owe ' May 220d, L900 wr. LB Ooler, Wi Regent Theatre, Oadess, Ont. Boar Mr. Oslepe=' eratulatiag you upon ® 0 take this opportunity of eon use being the first in Osheva t0 install the Gentury's( evelopment == Sound Pictures. inet you re-opening under sound ori dnd . wo exceeding your most cherished anti~ ™ ave co-operation which both you ast TON SPIN have ER Ta facilitated the {ustallation THO Ly taken part in this work Join hee vou aaa Tit pistes "A qaseese vith Norters Elasirie . Sizsarely yours, Ih id "Vice-President. - oR t MO\, that might appropriately bear the namespedy, i) wi music and song are made use Othe in A of equip~ ment for theatres tioyide patrons with the latest form of enteéyment--sound pictures. Constituting integralys of the Northern Elec- tric Sound Projector Ss, which are installed in Canadian theatresy, Coast to Coast, are these wellsprings of diye and music mounted within a skelton steel jer that can be easily wheeled into position ae center of the stage and as quickly pushed 1 the wings when the sound picture presenta are replaced by a stage setting. Infrontos ower is the screen which is of a special fabriggwn as the Trans» vox," it is woven loosely, gh to permit the passage of sound through fabric, yet is suffi- ciently compact as to surfag hold and deflect the light coming from the fon picture projec tors. Thus, through theus¢he towerandthe special screen, the horns canjdeally located to give the illusion that the voigr music are com" ing from the persons seenon tkreen. dows flitting across the silver sheet. Today it is possible for one not only to see these samc shadows on the screen, but also to hear them sing, play or talk as the occasion demands In order, therefore, to keep abreast of the times, Manager Osicr announ- ces that his theatre has been equip- ped with Northern Electric disc and film installations and starting Mon- day, the Regent will open with Nor- thern Electric "Perfected Sound and Dialogue Pictures," and has selected for the opening attraction the musi- cal comedy film "Broadway Melody." THE STAGE MANAGER Time set us here upon the human stage, Where he is master; as he bids each one, : Be it a little child or bearded sage, Without gainsayimg, all his will is done. ° The little child may smile upon its sire once--and go, whence it came; The man of hcary eld at length re- Just returning tire And leave behind him a forgotten name, Even those whose actions famoused are--the great, Warriors, statesmen and kings-- must all depart; While by the gates of life others await To hear their names called and to take their part. So it has been, so it will ever be, Happy the man who, when his act is 'through-- Or great or small--marred not the symmetry, But tossed.a smile, and bade the stage adieu, ~--Alexander Louis Fraser. 'THE WATCHER She always learned to watch for us, Anxious if we were late; In winter by the window, In summer by the gate. And though we mocked her tenderly 'Who had such foolish care, The long way home would seem more safe Because she waited there. Her thoughts were all so-full of us, She never could forget! And so I think that where she is She must be watching yet-- Waiting till we come home to her, Anxious if we are late-- Watching from Heaven's window, Leaning from Heaven's gate. --Margaret Widdemer, ARTISTS OF OPERA AND THEATRE TO BE HEARD From vaudeville, grand opera and the legitimate stage the worra » greatest stars can now be heard at the Regent Theatre. With the m- stallation of a Northern Electric Sound System the theatre is ready to present to its patrons the finest talking pictures of the best motion picture stdulos: Ren, coast in Canada, while similar in- stallations have also been made in Engiand, Australia, France, Ger- many, Brazil, the West Indies, In- dia and New Zealand, besides some 2,500 in U.S.A. It will be the policy of the Reg- ent Theatre to present only the best talking picture features pro- duced, BRITISH MOVIES GAINING FAVOR IN AUSTRALI Refinement and Repose About British Actors Absent From American Sydney, Australia, May 25--Bri- tish movies are gaining in favor in Australia and will soon dominate the market, in the opinion of E. Turnbull, director for Australia of the British Dominions Films, Ltd., who has left to attend sessions of the British Empire Service League in London. "Despite the propaganda. of for- eign interests," said Mr. Turnbull, "British films are becoming in- creasingly popular. The very suc- cessful year for British films which we have just closed is doubtless the cause of the increasing activity of foreign interest®. There is a re- finement and repose in the acting of British film stars which is ap- pealing more, to Australian audi- ences than the ' foreign type, anailand," hejq, British productions are steadily improving in general quality." hind the Ued States claim th Mr. Turnbull said that the 'talk- talkies Wilsyolutionize the if ies' were giving British producers {dustry the } ig largely father fi a«further opportunity to claim the the thoughtng they are makin Australian market. "The talking !sure with tia] British thorough picture is developing slowly in Eng. ness. | | "The industry treading Wy, They feel that'd The Regentheatre is to be complinted on its great step ward in securing thegalking movies for Oswa. Its enterprise me: lead- ership for Osiya in another sphere! deavor, : en- MR. E. P, EVELEIGH Owner-Manager Oshawa Laundry and Dry Cleaning Co. Oshawa Laundry an Dry Cleaning Co. Phone 20 Oshawa GEO. C. ALCHIN President {The management of the Regent Theatre, in re- placing the silent art with the colorful innovation of the talking 'movies, has * shown a commendable ap- preciation of the desire of Oshawa's citizens for the best in entertainment as in everything else. Generator & Starter Co, Lid: 15 CHURCH ST. OSHAWA PHONE 1438.