Outline of a Program, c. 1914

The outline for a "routine" program below comes from the delightfully titled Motion Picture Making and Exhibiting: A comprehensive volume treating the principles of motography; the making of motion pictures; the scenario; the motion picture theater; the projector; the conduct of film exhibiting; methods of coloring films; talking pictures, etc. The book is by John C. Rathbun, an editor of Motography, one of the principal trade papers of the time.

These guidelines date from 1914, a time when the multireel feature was beginning to take hold; but the program outlined still presumed that films would be principally exhibited by the reel. At this point, the reel rather than the film remained the basic unit of the commodity—the exchanges that supplied the films to the exhibitors were still renting and charging by the reel rather than by the title, and there was as yet no certainty that multireel features would be exhibited continuously (that is, without an "intermission" between reels, since the lack of a break required the theater to own multiple projectors)—or even exhibited on the same evening.

This situation would quickly change over the next couple of years, and the multireel feature (of variable length), rather than the reel, would become the basis of the program. The illustrated song largely disappeared along with the change to feature-based programming, although we should add that singers continued to appear regularly on programs throughout the silent era (and indeed into the early sound era), albeit most often without slides.

The routine of the program followed by the average picture theater is as follows:

1. Announcements. After the lights in the audi-
   
   [116]torium have been dimmed, the stereopticon throws a few advertising or house announcements on the screen. These may be cards from the local merchants telling of a special line of good or a sale, or they may be slides telling of certain features of the house management such as “Pictures Changed Daily,” “Weekly Review every Tuesday Night,” or “Special Educational Release Tomorrow.”


2. Motion Picture. The first film follows the announcement immediately the last slide dissolving into the “leader” of the film, if the theater is equipped for this arrangement. In no case should a long intervening glare of light precede the picture nor should any perceptible time elapse between the slides and the film. At the end of the film it is preferable to dissolve the picture so that it gradually fades away, instead of having it come to an abrupt end with a shower of dancing spots and a glare of light.
   
   Should the film break or some other accident occur in the operating booth, a slide should be immediately projected, notifying the audience that the show will be continued in a few moments. Announcement slides such as “Just a Moment, Please,” or “Film Will Start in a Moment,” can be obtained at any exchange.
   
   While the film is being shown, the pianist or orchestra should play music that is appropriate to the picture, and not a miscellaneous medley of airs that may occur to the player as the show progresses, as it is possible to dispel the illusion entirely by the carelessness of the musician. Musical scores for nearly all of the films may be obtained from the exchanges.


3. Song. At the end of the film the singer enters, and the first song slide is projected upon the curtain, or in case the song slides are not used, the operator trains his spot light upon the singer at the moment of entrance, being careful to follow every movement with the light. When two operators are employed, as is usually the case when song slides are used, the first re-
   
   [117]winds the film, and the second operates the stereopticon. With one operator, the rewinding must be postponed until the intermission. The employment of two operators is a real economy on busy nights and holidays, or in shopping district shows, as with two men the intermissions are shorter and more shows may be given in the working hours.
   
   For the best effect, the first lantern slide should dissolve into the tail piece of the film without intermission, an effect that is only possible by the use of two operators. At the end of the song, the motion picture machine operator projects the “leader” of the film into the last song slide which is gradually dissolved out of the field before the end of the leader.
   
   When there is only one operator, and when a spotlight is used in place of the slides, the singer should be kept as nearly as possible in one position so that the operator will not have to be continually on the alert with the spot.


4. Second Film. Follows in the same way that the first follows the announcement slides.


5. Second Song.


6. Intermission or Third Reel. At the end of the second song, or the third reel, if one is used, the stereopticon operator projects an announcement slide, “End of the Show. Those Who Have Not Seen the Entire Performance May Keep Their Seats.” The auditorium lights are now turned on to full brilliancy and preparations are made for the next show.

Source: John C. Rathbun, Motion Picture Making and Exhibiting: A comprehensive volume treating the principles of motography; the making of motion pictures; the scenario; the motion picture theater; the projector; the conduct of film exhibiting; methods of coloring films; talking pictures, etc., (Chicago: Charles C. Thompson Company, 1914), pp. 115-17. This text is available through the Internet Archive.