EDITORIAL
Ourselves.
The first issue was in such great demand that there are only two copies left for our own file. We are very grateful for the flattering encomiums bestowed upon us, and for the many kind wishes for our success. To those of our readers, who sent their subscriptions before issue, and the advertisers who gave us their support, we tender our thanks. To those who flatter us, we would say they remind us of a story told by the late J. B. Gough, who had been engaged to speak in a town some distance from home. At the close of one of his most fervid orations the audience was so carried away with enthusiasm that they forgot the most essential part—the dollars. Next morning a committee of the town waited upon him with a vote of thanks, which was delivered by the chairman of the evening meeting in a neatly set speech. To all of this J. B. Gough replied: "Gentlemen, I thank you for your kindly thoughts and the words you have just spoken, eulogizing my weak efforts; but if you would kindly put that vote of thanks on paper, maybe the hotel-keeper, the railroad people, and my landlord, will accept it in lieu of current coin of the States." The committee took the hint and recompensed him far better than he anticipated.
Will our readers act likewise? Printer, paper merchant, Postoffice and other items have to be met, and your two dollars for a year's subscription will materially assist the publishers, and yours truly.
The Closing of Nickelodeons in New York City.
As briefly mentioned in our last issue, some forty of these places of resort were closed for not complying with the conditions demanded by the Board of Electricity.
It appears, on inquiry, that certain owners are in the habit of buying up old and wornout machines of types that existed in the early days of cinematography, and by tinkering them up, adding a little here and a little there, making them work (after a fashion), and to this were adding all the film (bought cheap) that lumbered up the dealers' shelves, placing same in the hands of a coterie of boys, and instead of using up-to-date appliances, made of iron, to receive the film, it was run into linen bags, for the sake of cheapness. The result has been disastrous fires, caused through this inefficiency and carelessness, and although cautioned time and again, little notice was taken, until it resulted in the closing of the places and dismissal of the inexperienced boys. Further than this, it has caused the manufacturers of machines no end of trouble and expense, and one on whom we called voiced his sentiments as follows:
"The last two weeks have been a busy time for the manufacturers of motion picture machines. The Electrical Bureau of the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity has deemed it necessary to restrict exhibitors and make necessary certain changes in the machines to guard against fire. Several fires have lately occurred on account of unscrupulous operators, who did not use the ordinary precautions for preventing accidents. Of course, most operators are mere boys, very poorly paid, and hence a decent operator cannot take any work at such places. All operators should be over twenty years old and licensed, and made responsible for any neglect on their part in leaving their films and machines unprotected.
"Film made of celluloid is naturally very inflammable and the rays of the electric or calcium light must not too long rest at one point, to avoid burning of the film. Various devices have been made by manufacturers as precautionary auxiliaries, but the operator usually leaves the fireproof magazines open, does not take proper care of the reels with film on them, and either forgets or deems it unnecessary to shut off the light if anything happens to the mechanism or there is a break in the film. Now, the manufacturers are perfectly willing to make further precautionary devices, but a proper time allowance should be granted and not the exhibition places shut up, as it injures greatly both parties in doing business. It would be advisable to pass each machine and put a license tag on it, but the manufacturer and showman should get at least one month's time to get their equipments in approved shape.
"Examine and license operators."
These sentiments fully accord with our own views, and we would like to see laws passed, similar to those in existence in Massachusetts (which will be found on another page), to cover the whole of the cities of the United States. A tall order, you may remark. Well, yes, it is; but nevertheless, no valid reason can be adduced why such laws are not in existence.
With a view of getting operators licensed, if possible, we paid a visit to Mr. Brown, of the Electric Bureau of New York, and in the course of an interesting conversation we learned that the requirements of this department are far more rigid than those of any other city in the world, so far as appliances go and the manner in which tests are made. On referring to the licensing of operators, Mr. Brown informed us that there was no provision made for such a procedure, and if we were willing to draft a bill for Albany, calling for such action, it would have his fullest sympathy and support, and that he would like to see a registration of electrical workers on similar lines to plumbers, fully believing it would be a boon to the worker and the city. In reply to our question about the reopening of the Nickelodeons, we were answered that permits for a period of thirty days had been granted, provided certain alterations and safeguards had been made, and that all the obsolete machines were made over with safety devices, where such was possible, or new machines substituted.
In relation to the machines, we learned that as a result of this action the principal makers were asked to submit their machines to the bureau for inspection, and some
