Edisonia Hall/Vitascope Theater 125 Years -- October 19, 2021

Moving Picture World, 18-April-1914

Mitchel and Moe Mark (the Mark Brothers, not Marx) operated Edisonia Hall, an amusement arcade in Buffalo, New York. On 19-April-1896, they moved to a larger location in the new Ellicott Square Building, which still stands. In the basement they opened Vitascope Hall, which may have been the first purpose-built movie theater in the United States. Vitascope Hall lasted only two years, but the Mark Brothers went on to build and operate many movie theaters, including the opulent Strand on Broadway, which they opened in 1914.

from Terry Ramsaye, A Million and One Nights/A History of the Motion Picture, 1926:

THE Strand theater opened on Broadway, April 11, 1914 and the nickelodeon age of the screen was ended.

The motion picture had risen from the peep show novelty lo the status of a vehicle of pretentious drama, and now stepped forward to contest the supremacy of the speaking stage on "The Great White Way.''

In the history of the Strand theatre we may trace the lineage of the films, complete in every step. The Strand was the project of the the late Mitchell (should be "Mitchel") Mark, who began at the beginning. When the first Edison kinetoscopes appeared in 1894 Mark was conducting a phonograph parlor in Buffalo. N. Y., under the name of "Edisonia Hall." It presented scientific and electrical novelties, and was a dime museum of curiosities of the dawning era of electricity. Mark was really engaged in starring "The Wizard of Orange."

The daybook of the Kinetoscope Company records the shipment of a battery of peepshow machines early in 1895 to Estelle B. Mark, Buffalo. And when, next year, the Armat-Edison Vitascope projector appeared Mark hastened to negotiate for "a screen machine." Then after a time the firm of Mark & Wagner opened a picture show arcade in New York's Fourteenth street, an avenue to fame for many of the motion picture's illustrious names.

The opening of the Strand by Mark completed, in his single career, the entire evolutionary progression from the Edison laboratory machine of 1889 to the grandiose modern screen period. Moe Mark, a brother, and the Mark-Strand theatres, carry on the tradition today.

New York Sun, 25-October-1914

Chaplin -- And How He Does It -- Septermber 15, 2017

Photoplay, September, 1917

100 years ago this month, in the September, 1917 Photoplay, Terry Ramsaye (spelled Ramsay here) published an article about Chaplin.  He was a journalist who worked with Chaplin at Mutual  Ramsaye went on to write two early books about the movies, A Million and One Nights and A History of the Motion Picture (Through 1925).

In September, 1917,. Chaplin had already signed his contract to produce for First National and was finishing his last productions for Mutual.   Essanay was still trying to make a buck from his movies.

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

Chaplin is reported to have rescued a child from the sea at Santa Monica.  Two items down, Eric Campbell, whose wife had just died, remarried.

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

Some people asked why Chaplin had not enlisted in the British Army or the US Army, but many agreed that his films were an important contribution to morale.

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

This article talks about some famous movie fights.  It mentions Eric Campbell and Charlie Chaplin on the escalator in "The Floorwalker."

Moving Picture World, 08-September-1917

"The Adventurer" was Chaplin's last film for Mutual.

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

The release date for "The Adventurer" was yet to be determined, probably because it was Mutual's last Chaplin film.

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

"The Adventurer" was nearly complete...

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

...but was held up by Edna Purviance's illness. 

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

Essanay "bows to public demand" and issues new prints of the Essanay-Chaplin films.

Moving Picture World, 22-September-1917

Essanay would reissue one film a month.

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

The first reissue would be "The Champion." 

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

 A boxing match between Charlie Chaplin and Eric Campbell, refereed by Mary Pickford?  To benefit the French Emergency Hospital Fund?  I'd buy a ticket.