PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA

Volume 35 Number 2 Sept.– Oct.– Nov. 2009 PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT

THE MYSTERY GORDON CAMERA – REVEALED

THE PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA

JOURNAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA Volume 35, Number 2 ISSN 0704-0024 Sept. – Oct. – Nov. 2009 Date of Issue – September 2009 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40050299 Postage Paid at Toronto

Photographic Canadiana is published four times a year (except July and August) by The Photographic Historical Society of Canada, 6021 Yonge Street, Box 239, Toronto, Ontario, M2M IN THIS ISSUE 3W2 Photographic Canadiana does not pay 2 PC Index 17 Yes Virginia there is a for articles or photographs; all functions Our Cover Gordon Camera of the PHSC are based on voluntary 3 President’s Message –Robert Lansdale and participation. Manuscripts or articles The Society, Executive and Clint Hryhorijiw should be sent to the Editor and will be PC Editorial Board returned if requested. 4 Toronto Notes: April, May and PC Supplement Sheet Views expressed in this publication June 2009 meetings 1 Schedule for September solely reflect the opinions of the au- –Robert Carter thors, and do not necessarily reflect the 2009 views of the PHSC. 6 Browsing through our Exchanges 2 Coming Events & Want Ads –George Dunbar For Back Issues 8 The Melodrama Continues For back issues and single copies: or- as the Vitascope Travels to der directly from the Librarian, whose Toronto and Halifax name and address appear on page 3. –Robert Gutteridge Current copies are $5.00 each. A sub- scription is included in membership fee which is $35.00 a year. Toronto area fee includes meetings. Back issues of Vols. I & II are available at $2.00 per copy, Vols. III to VIII (inclusive) at $3.00 per OUR COVER copy. The Vol. 25 #2 Special Anniver- sary issue costs $12.00. Other back is- Starting on page 17 we unveil the sues are $4.00 per copy. story surrounding the search for the Writing for the PC Journal mystery GORDON camera. It has To publicize events, notices, adver- been quite a thrilling quest with a tising, writing articles or if requesting number of participants across the information already published in Pho- country adding their knowledge or tographic Canadiana, please write directly to the Editor at 18 Ashfield digging into library and archive Drive, Etobicoke, Ont., M9C 4T6 or e- sources for pertinent data. mail: [email protected] The initial big finds came to light right here in Toronto; then as we ACCESS THE PHSC spread the word, more material, via e-mail slumbering in its silence, has come [email protected] to the fore. CHECK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC Both camera and its inventor are NEWS & PROGRAM UPDATES LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT worthy of taking their place in pho- http://www.phsc.ca tographic history. We now have Robert A. Carter – Webmaster enough material left over to aug- ment the story with Part Two in our December 2009 issue. ❧

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39, 48-1984. Printed in Canada by The Aries Group.

2 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY President’s Message OF CANADA 6021 Yonge Street, Box 239, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 3W2 Telephone (416) 691-1555 Clint Hryhorijiw http://www.phsc.ca e-mail: [email protected]

PORTRAIT PORTRAIT BY ROBERT LANSDALE The PHSC was founded in Toronto in 1974 for people interested in photo- graphic history. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Canada four years later. All activities are undertaken by unpaid volunteers. We help camera and image collectors and those interested in the diverse aspects of The sleeping lion comes to life again! photographic history, sharing in their enthu- siasm and knowledge. At the PHSC, many of the executive have been busy with their tasks, as in this case the issue of Photographic Canadiana which has taken much time to prepare on We promote public interest in photograph- desktop publishing and, of course, months of research by the authors of the articles. ic history through talks, awards, publica- tions, fairs and auctions. On September 16th, we begin another series of educational programmes that will The majority of our 260 members are take us through to June 2010. How time flies! camera or image collectors, photographic researchers & writers, and professional We are fortunate to have new blood on the executive – John Kantymir and Doug photographers in Canada. Included are Napier are recent additions as vice-presidents. Their untrammeled enthusiasm will many libraries, archives, museums and bring new life to special projects and resurrected events. Stay tuned for special events other photographic societies. that are being readied in the wings to supplement projects for this, the 35th anniver- sary of the PHSC. Board of Directors 2009–2011 We still need support assistance for two of our project managers. Bob Carter who President Clint Hryhorijiw has been servicing our all-important web site as Web Master AND, in addition, taking Past President Ed Warner on the Treasurer’s job, has relinquished that position to (new addition) Judy Rauliuk. 1st Vice President John Kantymir 2nd Vice President Douglas Napier Our Web Master attends meetings to take notes and photograph, then prepare Secretary John Morden reports of the speaker presentations for the PC journal and for the web site. He has Treasurer Judy Rauliuk no back-up assistant which makes our internet communications to the world most Membership Sect’y Wayne Gilbert vulnerable. We are not asking for someone to take over the project but to support Bob Programme Felix Russo by possibly updating sections that are in the deep depths of the web pages. By osmo- Curator Mark Singer sis, you are sure to learn much from Bob.  Our editor Bob Lansdale is also a solo artist who takes photographs of our meet- Librarian Gerald Loban 64 Fonthill Blvd., Unionville, ON., L3R 1V7 ings and events, researches, writes, prepares layouts via desktop publishing and car- C. Stereo Coll’n Coordinator Stan White ries the journal through its many steps to the printer. Luckily he has several “colum- Chairman Spring/Fall Fair Mark Singer nists” who submit prepared articles. Should (heaven forbid) Bob be incapacitated, we Ass’t Fair Chairman Clint Hryhorijiw would be in dire straits to resurrect the many facets of publishing the journal and the Financial Controller John Linsky E-mail newsletter. An assistant could lift away some small portion of the work and Publ’n & Research Awards Mike Robinson learn from Bob’s experience. Webmaster Robert A. Carter Please step forward and help us help you – it’s a chance to learn and grow.  PC Editor Robert E. Lansdale 18 Ashfield Dr., Etobicoke, Ont., M9C 4T6 e-mail: [email protected] Contributing Editors John Kantymir – Everett Roseborough George Dunbar – Robert G. Wilson CLINT HRYHORIJIW, PRESIDENT telephone 416-622-9494 M. Lindsay Lambert – Stan J. White e-mail [email protected] Robert Carter, Robert Gutteridge PC Distribution Robert G. Wilson

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 3 The April, May and June Meetings

MAY MEETING Toronto Notes May speaker, Tony Makepeace is a Toronto based photographer, writer, and teacher with numerous solo and group reported by Robert Carter exhibitions. His work is displayed in a number of private and corporate collec- April speaker, Michael Torosian – a of type). The slugs are then assembled in tions. Tony has contributed portfolios very accomplished Toronto photogra- line sequence to create a galley for the and essays to magazines like View pher, added new perspective to the whole page. Camera, PhotoLife, PhotoEd, and impact of digital technology on tradi- LensWork. He holds a B.A.A. degree in tional processes. In the 1970s, recogniz- Torosian’s first few titles were printed Photographic Arts from Ryerson ing the problems of getting his work on a hand-cranked press that eventually University and has recently completed a published, Torosian took the opportunity sent him to hospital with shoulder inju- Master’s degree in Education at Central of buying obsolete (and affordable) ries. Through a cousin, he learned of two Michigan University. equipment to establish a new business as old Vandercook Universal 3 presses which were destined for the scrap yard. He took Tony saw promise in Quick Time publisher producing hand-made limited- Virtual Reality in the 1990s when it was edition art books on photography. both of them and managed, from the best parts, to make one working press. a complex command line program Like the printing, his early books were all hand stitched. He eventually found an old Brehmer Stitching machine, but had no idea how to oper- ate it. He puzzled over this strange machine for over a year - even calling the factory in Germany, but the data had been lost in the war. Perseverance paid off and he now has the stitching machine working. PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT To say the least, each book is a labour of love with the topics chosen by TONY MAKEPEACE Torosian. A book can PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT take up to a full year to create. The print runs are short - a few offered by Apple. A friendlier version hundred copies - and mostly pre-sold came out a few years later but Apple lost MICHAEL TOROSIAN with remaining copies snapped up within interest and when they moved to their weeks of publication. He uses only the modern OS X operating system in 2000, His years of experience in the dark- very best materials, choosing the fonts, QTVR was left behind. The concept was room gave him sound basics for tone paper, ink, fabrics, and design to com- then embraced by Ipix who developed control and product uniformity that plement the content. proprietary software. At this stage, transferred to press work. For his first As a result of his devotion to perfec- QTVR movie makers needed to license book, he decided to feature Edward very expensive software and buy pricy Weston. It happened that Weston’s tion, his company, Lumiére Press has won awards for the quality and design special equipment. As a result, the prod- youngest son, Cole had written an essay uct failed and QTVR would have disap- for the old Camera 35 magazine and was of its books. One title was short listed for the 2006 “Best Book Design” at peared into the history of novel technol- delighted to give permission for it to be ogies except for Helmut Dercsh. re-published. Leipzig. Dercsh developed the algorithms for Torosian purchased a circa 1950 His talk was illustrated with slides stitching images in 360 degrees horizon- Intertype C-3 machine (once the main- of the steps (taken in 2003) to print stay of newspapers and book publish- “Korea,” a 50th anniversary celebra- tally and vertically to make huge panora- ers). This massive machine assembled tion of Dave Heath’s famous photo- mas and used these algorithms to make lines of type – one character at a time, graphs of the Korean war in 1953 and his very popular Pano Tools program. with brass matrices lined up in a com- 54. A small selection of the copies He generously made the code open posing stick. The composing stick moves included a print from one of Heath’s source which led to others creating inex- to a mold where hot lead is poured into original negatives, printed by Torosian pensive programs for Windows and the the matrices to produce a “slug” (a line and signed by Heath. Mac. These programs created QTVR

4 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 See complete program reviews with more illustrations at WWW.PHSC.CA movies which were viewed using the JUNE MEETING by-standers to his interpretation of the readily available Quicktime, Java, and Our June speaker Reg Holloway painting and two weeks after the fire a Flash browser plugins. Today, QTVR has whose varied career began as a reporter/ detailed report appeared in the London a much larger following in Europe than photographer in Britain, described how news complete with a line drawing America. Tony teaches QTVR technique photography and the press have mutually depicting the famous city in flames. and makes QTVR movies as a hobby. benefitted over the years. He noted that in Up to the end of the 1860s, pictures in After a look at the new “Content- spite of our current interest in the “race the press were line drawing illustrations Aware Scale” tool in Photoshop CS4, into or perhaps through digital,” we must printed with wood cuts engraved from Tony took us through the brief history of remember photography is still relatively the work of a traditional artist or photog- QTVR, the basics of the technology, the new - its roots go back only four or five rapher. In 1869 Montrealer William hardware and software tools, and then a generations (for example my grandpar- Leggo succeeded in applying Fox live demonstration of how to make a ents were born in the 1870s and their Talbot’s idea of using a fine screen to QTVR movie. parents in the 1840s). convert the continuous tones of a photograph such that Tony placed his tripod, with a Nikon they could be recreated with DSLR and wide angle lens mounted on a the simple black ink/white special bracket and rotating head, in the paper of the press. His “gran- centre of the audience. He checked that ulated photograph” process the head was level, then took a series of was used to publish a Notman images in sequence around a full 360 portrait of Queen Victoria’s degrees of the room. The seven shots he son, Prince Arthur in the took had a generous overlap of about 25% weekly Canadian Illustrated to aid in stitching. He then took a single News. The world’s first pub- shot straight up, skipping the optional lication of a halftone image. straight down shot. An image editor can “fill in the hole” with a blank circle or a Leggo and his publisher, special effect like a mirror ball. Desbarats, took the process to New York City where they The images in raw format were import- improved it and in 1873 ed into Adobe Bridge for colour balance founded the New York Daily and exposure adjustment. If necessary, Graphic. “In 1880 the the images can be sent to Photoshop for Graphic became the first further correction. The adjusted images daily paper to use the half- were saved out of Bridge in jpeg format tone process to reproduce a to be imported into the stitching program. photograph on the same page Tony used PTGui to accurately stitch the as text.” Later in the same images together. This program and decade the combination of PTMac allow both automatic and manual halftone technology and the placement of stitching points to correct speed of the new dry plate for lens distortion. LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT photography marked the After the images were stitched into a start of press photography. linear panorama, Tony imported the file The rest of Reg’s talk into another program called addressed a number of mile- CubicConverter. This program or Pano2VR REG HOLLOWAY stone press cameras and their “wraps” the linear panorama around a features as the preferred cube and adds top and bottom images. Once the photographic print had been achieved it was inevitable that a way models moved from glass plates to cut We are all familiar with the “linear” would be found to make that image more film to film packs and finally roll film in panorama image, now picture that pan- widely available. Only a limited number ever shrinking negative sizes. He brought orama made to record 360 degrees and of people could be reached by a single with him a selection of these epic cam- wrapped around a cube with the image image even in an album or an exhibition. eras from his collection. I was attracted facing to the inside of the cube. Add a top Reg emphasized that the medium for most to the small technically precise and bottom image and a way to view the wide distribution was the press. c1930s Plaubel Makina which spanned result - that’s Quicktime Virtual Reality. nearly a half century of press use begin- You can move any direction including Artists provided the illustrations and ning just before the great war. zooming in and out. impressions in the mass media of the day in spite of the technical limitations. Reg To learn more about press photogra- We will provide further information gave an example of the great fire of 1842 phy pick up a copy of Reg Holloway’s on our web site. Meantime visit Tony’s in Hamburg, Germany. The news took 10 book The Evolution and Demise of the site (www.tonymakepeace.net) to see days to arrive in London. An artist bor- Larger Format Press Camera published examples of the astounding capabilities rowed a painting of the city to guide his in 2008 by Epic Press of Belleville, of QTVR movies. illustration. He added fire, smoke and Ontario. ❧ / R.C.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 5 reproductions of Popovitch’s images As Reported by George Dunbar.... have also been published in the current issue of The Daguerreian Society Newsletter (April-June, 2009) although the images are exclusively in colour in this Photogram. Browsing President of MIPHS, Cindy Motzenbecker, writes of her “Grand Adventure” at “the Mecca of flea mar- through our Exchanges kets” in Brimfield, Ma. Along with friends and a visitor from Canada (Bob • publications from photographic societies are received and Lansdale) she describes the treasures to reviewed for your interest. To borrow single items or collections, be found and liberated. Stereo World (National Stereoscopic contact Librarian Gerry Loban - phone (905) 477-3382. Association) – March/April, 2009. An auction in the English countryside revealed the stereo views by Robert Back Focus (Journal of the Australian Western Canada Photographic William Coperman (c.1861-1928) and Photographic Collectors Society) - Historical Association Newsletter - prompted research into his life and times March-June, 2009. Lyle Curr writes lov- April-June-July, 2009, News about the by Ray Norman (with contributions by ingly of his Kodak Brownie Starflash purchase of a Univex AF-2 (1936) for Paula Fleming). This article, as well as collection. He claims six distinctive $5.00 and the sale of a Super Kodak 620 displaying the exceptional quality of models, including a “Coca-Cola” version at $1184.00. Also a report on “disappear- Coperman’s images, explains that he was and a unique Australian product. His ing photographic retailers” during the an auctioneer’s clerk, Master of a knowledge of the product line is fascinat- continuing digital revolution. Workhouse and one-time President of the ing and will certainly interest all who (British) Stereoscopic Society. The biog- have memories of this popular 127 film raphy along with evidence of his hobby camera. makes for an interesting history. The history of a one-of-a-kind, rocket A commemorative article by Mary borne, panorama camera will please mil- Ann Sell reminds us of the 70th anniver- itary historians. This article with photos sary of Sawyer’s View-Master reels. of the prototype describes the camera However the story is bittersweet since assembly that was designed to be carried Fisher-Price (the current owner) recently by rockets during tests in the 1970s at the ceased production of “scenic and custom Woomera, SA testing range. Surprisingly, reels.” The View-Master was introduced the camera contained only a single-shot at the 1939 New York World’s fair. mechanism. This appears to be “a landmark year” The circular Photake camera of 1896 for 3-D feature films. Described in this (made by the Chicago Camera Co.) was issue are: Coraline, My Blood Valentine designed to hold five 2-inch square dry 3-D, The Dark Country, Grand Canyon plates. The description and photos indi- Adventure, Monsters vs. Aliens and Battle cate a neat little camera. Also featured in for Terra. The Grand Canyon film, shot the March issue of Back Focus, the in Imax 3-D, has integrated some historic Beaulieu 4008 ZM II; Noris cameras and stereo-card images for a timely compari- projectors; the Almaz reflex 35 mm. son. The June Back Focus issue describes “a rare Australian made camera,” the Photographica World (Journal of the Dalka Candid Model A-20. Although Photographic Collectors Club of Great The Photogram (Newsletter of the the camera indicates “120 or 620 film” Britain) – No. 128, 2009/2. This beauti- Michigan Photographic Historical there’s obviously a flaw in such an fully produced, glossy journal delivers Society) - April-May, July, 2009. The instruction. Certainly a fine, plastic col- some fine articles, the first of which is an colourful and spectacularly designed lectable! eleven-page review of the post war Beau Brownie cameras are pictured in A major article by Stefan Sztromajer German products manufactured under this article by Ralph London. Kodak presents descriptions and images of many the name Iloca. Author Ian Baxter tells sold these cameras only between 1930 different models of the Zorki cameras how political decisions allowed for a and 1933. They were available in two that were first manufactured as Leica camera industry to flourish and how sizes, each in five colours. The unique look-alikes in 1948. competition, design and manufacturing front-plate graphic for the camera and expertise led to many different models The Bulletin (Chicago Photographic packaging was created by industrial including some stereo versions. Collectors Society) -March, April, 2009, designer Walter Dorwin Teague. The fourth and final part of The Tesina includes some interesting notes about the In the article, Making Daguerreotypes, Story covers accessories such as: finders, Kodak No. 3A folder from its introduc- Gregory Popovitch tells of his introduc- exposure meters, filters, cases, films and tion in 1903 to the demise in 1943. The tion to the earliest photographic process slide mounts. The four installments have 122 size film was sold continuously for and his decision to learn the technique given us a comprehensive overview of 68 years (until 1971)! for himself. This article and the fine

6 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 this exceptional 35 mm Swiss camera. er?; are there 967 parts in the F?; can you annual Canadian horse race and attempt Three diverse articles look at under- name any movies in which a Nikon to connect the photograph to the event. water cameras, underground photogra- appears or celebrities seen with a Nikon Certainly a fine example of the persever- phy during the 19th century and the Zeiss camera in any media? ance required by photographic histori- Biogon 21 mm f/4.5 lens. Many know the story of photojournal- ans. Martin Magid surprises readers with a ist David Douglas Duncan’s “discovery “ In celebration of the 170th anniversa- story of his conversion of a somewhat- of the Nikon in 1950 (which was subse- ry of the Daguerreotype, an exhibition of deteriorated Kodak No. 1 Panorama f/13 quently used during the Korean War), but 300 contemporary images by 50 swing-lens camera to an excellent pin- here is an addendum which reveals Daguerreotypists will be held in Bry-sur- hole camera (f/270) - resulting photos details of another journalist who accom- Marne, France from September 12 to included. panied Duncan on his original visit to the October 18, 2009. Also, for your calen- Nikon factory. John Rich acquired a dars, please note the time and place of Tailboard (Newsletter of the camera from Nikon and used it to pro- the next Daguerreian Society Symposium: Photographic Collectors Club of Great duce more than a thousand Kodachromes Nov. 12-15, 2009, Philadelphia, PA. Britain) – April, May, 2009. ‘Around the of Korea which have only recently been Regions’ columns are always a great way published. * see The Smithsonian PhotoResearcher (European Society to learn of members acquisitions and Magazine, November, 2008 for more on for the History of Photography) - No activities. Particularly notable are a this subject. 12/2009. Many contributors provide guest speaker’s anecdotes on The Art of The June issue contains a study of A analyses of the photographic arts with the Seaside Smudger - apparently a nick- Very Historical Pair of Nikon F Cameras dissertations on pictorialism, cubism, name for the street photographers who (body numbers 6400019 & 6400141) scientific and historic archives and pho- once worked piers, promenades, beaches mentioning the fascinating similarities tography magazines. and swimming pools with their “instant” and differences. Also Memories of Mr. Of particular interest to Canadians cameras. Unfortunately, most of those Nikon, by Peter Lownds will certainly be will be Suzanne Paquet’s article, Smudgers are now replaced by camera- of value to those who study the Nikon Transcontinental Lines: Migrating phones! Company history. Images and the Production of Space. She Some members like to “try out” their has studied the involvement and contri- cameras and show the resulting images - butions of the Montreal studio of William often amusing and/or amazing. Would Notman & Sons that accompanied rail- the “Shoot & Show” idea be a useful road expansions across the country. An project for our own society? agreement between Notman and William It’s reported that the historic archive Van Horne, director of the Canadian of Kodak Ltd. (established in Britain in Pacific Railway, gave the studio free 1885) will be donated to the British transportation in exchange for photo- Library and De Montfort University. graphs. Starting in 1887 Notman’s son The bulk of the archive appears to con- had his own private railcar. The author sist of business documentation. traces CPR’s profitable association with Notman and reflects on the historic value 0bjektiv (Danish Photo Historical of this amazing project which document- Society) - Nos. 123, 124, April, 2009. ed an expanding frontier. Although the Danish language is incom- prehensible to this reader, the images in snap shots (Photographic Historical these magazines are a delight to behold. Society of New England Inc.) - May, We have historic scenes and photographs June, 2009. Lew Regelman shows his of rare and unique cameras that are worth Kodak “dime bank” for children that was perusing. Some photographs depict early issued c.1916-19 when the dimes could be camera manufacturing facilities and exchanged for the No 2 Brownie ($2), No darkrooms. There’s a beautiful article on 2A Brownie ($3), No 3 Premo Jr or No 3 postage stamps displaying photo equip- Brownie ($4), No 2 Folding Cartridge ment and the article about the Minox The Daguerreian Society Newsletter Premo ($5) or finally the Vest Pocket camera is illustrated with some of the - April-June, 2009. A couple of interest- Kodak No 2 Folding Brownie ($6). patent drawings. I thoroughly enjoy look- ing mysteries are explored in this issue. Apropos the announced death of ing at the visuals in this magazine since The first involves the 1853 Dag of Kodachrome, we have a brief biography most are informative and many, amus- Miles Holmes and the surprising dis- of the two musicians who invented the ing. covery of an almost identical image in a process for Kodak. Leopold Godowsky II and Leopold Mannes were both from Nikon Journal (The Nikon Historical Texas museum with the title, California exceptionally brilliant musical families. Society) - March, June, 2009. Two arti- Forty-Niner. Laddy Kite’s exploration The PHSNE has published a cles feature The Nikon F at 50! One dis- into the background of these images is Membership Directory 2009 which will plays many advertisements from the fascinating. certainly be useful for those who wish to years 1959-2009 and another gives The second mystery has been investi- make contacts. The PHSNE’s web page details of the ‘F’ system. gated by Bob Lansdale in his article, The is: www.phsne.org. ❧ A few questions based on Peter Queen’s Plate of 1861. A Dag image Lownds’s column, Did You Know? Lore depicting the winning horse (Wild & Anecdotes About the F: does ‘F’ stand Irishman) of the 1861 race prompted for Masahiko Fuketa, the Nikon design- Lansdale to research the history of this

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 7 The Melodrama Continues as the Vitascope Travels to

Toronto and Halifax (Part Four) by Robert Gutteridge Mr. Gutteridge provides further details on the introduction of cinematography to Canada. This fourth serial installment is from his unpublished book. It continues from the previous Part Three in Photographic Canadiana Vol 34-3, Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009. Our thanks to Mr. Gutteridge for this exclusive privilege.

TORONTO—Robinson’s Musee he makes several errors: 1) he does not arranged through a circuit, such as B. F. even recall the machine’s correct identity; Keith Amusement Enterprises. The Theatre 2) he claims that Robinson “took it over” Vitascope, the star attraction, is to close to Toronto—not physically, of course, for the program on a high note. As this chapter focuses on the it is contracted through the Holland Bros., Holland Brothers, space is not from Buffalo; 3) he asserts that he allotted to a detailed account of the installed—“to put it in”—but, as quoted engagement at Robinson’s Musee above, according to Andrew, who is present during the installation, William Theatre, 91-93 Yonge St., Toronto. John Holland, “Willie,” is in charge. For such an account, the reader is Houghton, who may well have been directed to Chapter 3 in my book working at one of Robinson’s Buffalo Magic Moments: First 20 Years of houses, could easily be “sent over” to Moving Pictures in Toronto (1894- assist the installation. Despite this, he is 1914). As cited earlier in more accurate when telling the Toronto reporter that: “You paid a dime to get into Andrew’s letter of August 24, 1896 the musee…then you paid another dime to Toronto’s Vitascope debut begins go downstairs and see the pictures.”3 But on Monday, August 31, 1896. The Evening News reports differently in that having entered the place of EVENING NEWS, AUGUST 29, 1896 On September 3, Andrew writes to amusement on the ground floor, paid the Raff: “I have just returned from Toronto admission fee, the patron immediately having successfully installed the Vitascope ascends a set of stairs to the second floor in the Musee theatre, leaving Willie [his from where he or she can descend a nephew] to run it, with an assistant.”1 In special staircase to the little theatre on the Magic Moments, I discuss an entertainer, ground floor, whose balcony seats are free Edward Houghton, the “assistant,” to and lower seats reserved for ten and Just a word about the item billed with whom Andrew may be referring. Yet, in fifteen cents; also that, in August 1895, the Vitascope in the above newspaper ad, an interview printed in the Toronto Mail the then manager, S. S. Young, a and to which Andrew refers in his letter of and Empire, July 22, 1933 (pp 1 and 4), Canadian, has a special staircase August 18 — Prof. Roentgen’s X-rays. Houghton claims a more substantial role: constructed leading from the ladies’ This invention is not part of the theatre “…but M. S. Robinson of Buffalo, took it observatory parlour on the third floor program, as has been suggested by some 4 [the Vitascope] over and sent me over to down to the theatre on the ground floor. authors, but rather gives demonstrations in put in [the] kinetoscope [sic-Vitascope]…”2 This musee consists, as with most the Musee Hall, or old Lecture Room, on Being in show business, and accustomed amusement places of its type, of various the third floor, as evidenced by the to exaggeration, within these few words, ‘departments,’ one being an auditorium in following: which vaudeville is offered, usually

8 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 “In the Music Hall, the Hearon Ladies’ most realistic scenes…is a reproduction of empty store.… We opened the same day Orchestra play in excellent style selections the serpentine dance, ‘La Loie Fuller’ [sic, and I think we beat him by a few minutes of popular music and Prof. O’Reilly gives Annabelle]. The representation of the with our first pictures.”13 Good drama, an illustrated exhibition of the Rontgen dance seems as perfect as if the dance yes, but not accurate, since he confuses [sic] ray phenomena.”5 were actually before the audience. The two events—the Cinématographe’s The Mail and Empire reports: changing lights [meaning a change in opening at the Fair with that at 96 Yonge “Upstairs is the X-rays apparatus,”6 colour tint] in the draperies [of her Street, nearly opposite Robinson’s, on costume] are reproduced in all their September 23, the same day Andrew meaning, of course, up in the Music Hall 9 on the third floor. vividness and variety.” informs Raff of Robinson’s worry over It is during this week, that Andrew the second Cinématographe opening: “I According to Andrew: “We exhibited notes his nephew’s request from Toronto: am this morning in receipt of a letter from four times a day, six films each time.”7 “Willie telegraphs that a complete change Robinson …asking upon what terms I will This is achievable because neither the of films is needed immediately. I am continue the exhibition there indefinitely, weather nor time of day being concerns. sending the stock I took to Halifax (to be the contract terminable on a week’s notice Although he establishes the number of discussed next) and will get what he has from either party. He explains that the films given per show, film titles are in return. Several of them are absolutely Cinematograph is being installed in another matter. If Houghton is to be worn out and worthless.”10 Eaton’s big Dry Goods House on the same believed, THE KISS WITH MAY IRWIN During the fourth week, September 21 street [Wrong, in a vacant store at 96 AND JOHN RICE, is among the six to 26, inclusive, evidence of the first Yonge—this Eaton’s store is several doors exhibited during the opening week. Canadian scenes is revealed— north of #96, on southwest corner of Houghton informs his interviewer that “… CATARACTS OF NIAGARA FALLS and Yonge and Temperance streets and the first film we [sic (?)] screened was the WHIRLPOOL RAPIDS,11 the latter being destroyed by fire on May 20, 1897] as the ‘Kissing Scene,’ with Mae [sic] Irwin and the only one retained for the following Musee, where free exhibitions of the John Cohn [sic, Rice]. Yes, sir, that was week’s set of pictures.12 machine are to be given to every the first picture, the very first motion purchaser at the store.”14 Again he is

Robinson’s Musee Theatre, April 4, 1897. Entrance East side of Yonge Street looking north of King Street, c.1894. Arrow indicates at extreme right (behind pole) through the arches. 91 Yonge, entrance to Moore’s Musee (Robinson’s Musee in 1896). – City Engineers Coll’n, City of Toronto Archives (RG 8-14-1-93A) – Micklethwaite photograph courtesy of Mike Filey picture ever presented in Toronto. It was As the Lumière Cinématographe wrong, as the price of admission for an a 120-footer [sic, 50ft]….”8 This is quite begins exhibiting at the 1896 Toronto adult is 25 cents; however, such an plausible, since Andrew on September 3 Industrial Fair on Tuesday, September 1, arrangement does happen, but not until writes that this film “has been running the Vitascope wins the honour as the first January 1900 offered by Eaton’s rival, the ever since we started [meaning for seven machine to present projected moving Robert Simpson Company, and not using weeks].” Another film may be pictures in Toronto; remember that the the Cinématographe.15 “Of course, this is SHOOTING THE CHUTES AT CONEY citizens of Ontario’s capital, as in the case a knock-down blow to Robinson’s ISLAND (taken before June 22, 1896, of those in the Dominion, have exhibition,” Andrew argues, “and I have 43ft). Projected during the third week experienced them by means of Edison’s lowered the price for him to $200 per (September 14 to 19) BUTTERFLY peepshow Kinetoscope, only four years week on an extension of contract. [Is DANCE, is not the one as reported to earlier. Here again Houghton errors in his Robinson using the event and his error have been taken of La Loie Fuller, but 1933 interview, by saying that “…it was a about it in order to strike a better deal rather that of ANNABELLE, the hand- race from the first, because a Frenchman, with Holland? If so, it seems to be tinted version: “One of the prettiest and I think, Loumiere [sic], was opening the working.] I have concluded it is wise to cinematograph across the street in an

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 9 do so, more particularly when we are face to face with the fact that we cannot get a week’s engagement in any other town where we can get direct current without THE VITASCOPE AND ITS COMPETITORS heavy expense to electricians for reducing the 500 volt current.” This presents Cinematography was in its infancy with inventors Andrew with a challenge: “To enable us and entrepreneurs vying to capture the developing mar- to make money we have to so remodel ket. Audiences were already accustomed to Magic the machine that it can be worked with Lantern shows by travelling lecturers or participating in hand power [meaning, hand cranked, as sing-alongs as part of a vaudeville show. The allure of in the case of the Cinématographe] when adding motion made images believable and alive. we cannot get electricity, and construct Installations often combined the cine projector with the new travelling cases so that the breakable magic lantern to provide introductory titles for movies parts can be safely and rapidly packed for as well as to entertain the audience while the projec- shipment.” Despite this, he still exudes tionist was frantically changing the short reels of film. hope: “I believe there is plenty of business to be obtained in the country As noted in the accompanying article cine projec- once we are prepared to work it, but it is tionists had to contend with variations of electric worse than folly undertaking it in our power, still relatively new in its applications. Electricity small towns until we are ready to meet a was finding its way into larger communities but kero- three night’s business and then pack up sene and coal gas were the dominant illuminants for and get out to the next place.” He relates buildings and homes, particularly in small towns and anxiety over films: “It is only by the city suburbs. superior character of our pictures that we A new installation necessitated the construction of a can hope to compete with …the box that shrouded the projector to stifle the clattering Cinematograph in Toronto.” machine. Indeed it was also to hide the machines from Andrew had expressed his snooping inventors who hoped to learn its secrets. displeasure over films in an earlier letter, Henry J. Hill of the CNE, turned this to his advantage September 3, to Raff: “I am completely by extracting an additional 10 cents from patrons who disheartened about the Vitascope wished to view the modern wonder up close. business in consequence of the wretched films we have been receiving of late. If Making movies was a whole new industry wherein there is no improvement, it is simply out producers learned quickly to attract customers with of the question altogether doing business VITASCOPE (inventor, Thomas Armat) • for projection only variety in short thrilling “topicals” then towards lon- under present conditions, and I do not • large, heavy and cumbersome • uses a Colt arc lamp ger “photo plays.” • must be run by both Direct (DC) and Alternating (AC) wonder at the statements I hear from electrical currents • resistance coil to modify current, at exhibitors in the United States, that they base of stand • can not be hand cranked • no shutter are not making money to warrant paying • intermittent by “beater movement”; in 1897, Armat large bonuses for territory.”16 changes to “star wheel” (‘Geneva Cross’) movement • film take-up system • Edison standard gauge 35mm film Raff and Gammon are well aware of • accommodates a spool bank attachment for repetition of this concern being expressed by Andrew, one Edison 50-ft film loop – SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, OCTOBER 31, 1896 as there are extant many letters to them in the Baker Library Collection asserting exhibitor frustration. A fine example is written on September 26, by G. C. Rasch of San Francisco, expostulating: “We also beg to say that we have one or two films in the first lot that are so very light and thin that they will not stand enough tension to steady them while in operation, and it is almost impossible to use them with any success whatever.”17 The questionable quality of the newer lot of films being released by the Edison Laboratory is supported by Andrew: “I enclose you a sample of film ‘Herald Square,’ that has been run through just seven times. We have at least six films PHANTASCOPE (inventors, C. Francis Jenkins & Thomas Armat, U.S.A.) (amongst them ‘Annabelle’ ) in as bad a • “beater movement” version used in October 1895; later modified condition. It simply means that we are by Armat to become the Vitascope • for projection only working for the Laboratory—paying our • operation totally dependent upon electric current • carbon-arc lamp own expenses and doing the chores for • used into the fall of 1896, independent of Armat • has take-up system nothing. For my part, I would rather pitch • uses Edison standard gauge 35mm film • shutter located behind lens the business to the dogs than continue it – SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, OCTOBER 31, 1896 under such circumstances…. I need not

10 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 assure you that such a condition does not arise from want of care on our part. ‘The Widow’s Kiss,’ which is a thin stock as THE VITASCOPE AND ITS COMPETITORS the enclosed sample, has been running ever since we started and is today in as Cinematography was in its infancy with inventors good a condition almost, as when we got and entrepreneurs vying to capture the developing mar- it from New York. ‘The Cake Walk’ is ket. Audiences were already accustomed to Magic also perfect. ‘The Swimming Match’ that Lantern shows by travelling lecturers or participating in you ran for three weeks shows more signs sing-alongs as part of a vaudeville show. The allure of of wear than our ‘Cake Walk.’ ‘White adding motion made images believable and alive. Wings’ which you sold me at $30, as a Installations often combined the cine projector with the second hand film, will probably last magic lantern to provide introductory titles for movies another week.”18 as well as to entertain the audience while the projec- In a letter dated October 1 to The tionist was frantically changing the short reels of film. Vitascope Company, 43 West 28th, N.Y.— As noted in the accompanying article cine projec- offices of Raff and Gammon—it appears tionists had to contend with variations of electric that Andrew extends his arrangement with power, still relatively new in its applications. Electricity Robinson, who also has film concerns: was finding its way into larger communities but kero- “Robinson writes me complaining of the sene and coal gas were the dominant illuminants for films in Toronto. He says that unless he buildings and homes, particularly in small towns and gets better films and better subjects there city suburbs. is no use in trying to compete with the Cinematograph [still exhibiting at 96 A new installation necessitated the construction of a Yonge Street].”19 Furthermore, a new box that shrouded the projector to stifle the clattering competitor arrives on the Toronto scene: machine. Indeed it was also to hide the machines from “Another European machine has come snooping inventors who hoped to learn its secrets. LUMIERE-CINEMATOGRAPHE (inventors, Lumiere Bro’s, France) into the field, and is to be exhibited in Henry J. Hill of the CNE, turned this to his advantage • combination camera/projector/printer • hand cranked Toronto this week by the Trans-Oceanic by extracting an additional 10 cents from patrons who • very light in weight; very compact • carbon-arc lamp or Coy [Company] in a theatre.” A full wished to view the modern wonder up close. limelight system; can be made to operate free of electricity account of this engagement is in Chapter • adheres close to Edison film gauge but stronger due to 6 of Magic Moments, in which I argue Making movies was a whole new industry wherein each frame having one pair of round sprocket holes instead producers learned quickly to attract customers with of four rectangular pairs per Edison frame • greater rest pe- that this machine, advertised as the variety in short thrilling “topicals” then towards lon- riod for film, producing brighter screen image • intermittent Kinematographe, appearing at the Toronto ger “photo plays.” cam and claw movement • takes max. 50-foot roll Opera, 25 Adelaide Street West, on • half circle shutter behind lens produces a flickery screen im- October 5, 6, 8 and 10, respectively, is age • no take-up system-film drops into cabinet stand not, as others suggest, John Henry Rigg’s – PHOTO COURTESY NARODNI TECHNISCHE MUZEUM, PRAGUE Kinematograph, but is none other than Edison’s truly first ‘screen machine,’ the Edison Projecting Kinetoscope, announced under another name. If I am correct, this means that Edison’s people are working in secret while under contract with Raff and Gammon, breaching their agreement. A hint that Edison may be undertaking such a covert action is given in a September 9, 1896, article in the Halifax Herald, which reads, in part, as follows: “…The great inventor does not regard the vitascope in its present form as being the end he aims at. He has now turned his attention to perfecting its details; and marvellous as the vitascope is now, reproducing life and motion in every detail, it is only an indication of what is to come. Mr. Edison has announced that it is only a matter of a few months until EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPE (owned by Vernon Flaherty, Beaverton, Ont.) he [my Italics] or some other inventor [Is • for projection only • only projector to be sold outright in America • handcranked this added as a cover to his own work?] •can operate entirely fee of electric current with a limelight system achieves greater success.”20 • intermittent by a star (‘Geneva’) and two-pin cam movement • has take-up system • has spoolbank attachment allowing repetitions of one 50-ft Edison gauge film loop Film historian Terry Ramsaye writes • with a special ‘reel’ can take up to six 50-foot joined Edison standard gauge 35mm that “in November of ’96 [just two films • shutter behind lens – PHOTO COURTESY OF VERNON FLAHERTY, BEAVERTON, ONT. months after the above Halifax Herald article] the break between Edison and

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 11 Raff & Gammon occurred. Eighty Armat want you to post by the outgoing mail a puzzled: “George writes me that someone Vitascopes had been made [by Edison] catalogue and a price list of films in stock to is advertising a Vitascope for the fair at and delivered. The Edison Projecting John M. Lindsay, Windsor, N[ova] S[cotia]. London, Ont[ario]. If that is the case it Kinetoscope was announced [my I think it is altogether likely we shall close a must be a phantascope. Rockwell is Italics].”21 However, an announcement deal with him for the Maritime advertising them all over the country at does not confirm that an Edison machine Provinces.…”27 This deal does not come to $375. His last circular, before I went to is ready for market. For certain, Edison’s fruition as George C. Holland telegraphs his New York last [end of August], quoted ‘Improved’ ’97 Model Projecting brother in New York three days later them at $500.” Because of competition, Kinetoscope is ready for sale on the open during a visit to Raff and market (a suggestion expressed by Gammon: “Cunningham Andrew earlier regarding the future of the accepts your terms two Vitascope in Europe). John Barnes weeks engagement documents in The Rise of the Cinema in beginning Sept. 7th, rent to Great Britain that the first Edison model be allowed on price appears on the English market in late territory if he buys.”28 As 1896.22 Therefore, Edison’s first model, the letter and telegram are indeed, could be ready sooner in North sent on such close dates, America, possibly even by early October, the Hollands are Advance ad announcing the coming of the Phantoscope to be ‘tested’ under a pseudonym, in order probably negotiating (Jenkins’ Phantascope) to London, Ontario, 1896. to deflect any lawsuit from Raff and with several persons, – London Free Press, September 3, 1896 Gammon. The Vitascope closes October hoping to secure at least 10th at Robinson’s, never to return to one contract. this machine is being offered at a Toronto. “By the end of 1896, the Andrew sets out for Halifax reduction. In a letter just two days hence 23 Vitascope enterprise was no more.” immediately after returning from the (Sept. 8), George provides some 24 Edison is practically free to release his installation of the Ottawa Vitascope in clarification: “I wrote you yesterday, on ‘Improved’ Model in early 1897. It is all Robinson’s Musee, Toronto. Either receipt of information from Mr. Carling of too clear that this matter, as well as Gammon ships a second machine to London, asking you to notify A. E. Roote, troubles with the Armat machine, is a Ottawa for Andrew to use in Halifax or of London, Ont[ario], that he could only death blow to any future exploitation of expresses it directly from New York to exhibit the vitascope under arrangement the Vitascope. Of the latter, Andrew Halifax. I suspect the latter because of the with us. Afterwards, I looked up a file of becomes only too painfully aware of brief time period involved, for Raff a London newspaper, and I find that the during his attempt to exhibit the Vitascope receives a hand written letter, on Halifax machine is not the Vitascope, but the in the Maritime Provinces. Hotel stationery, dated Sunday, September Phantascope. Whether it is an exhibition 6th, from Andrew, ending with his of the Vitascope under another name or HALIFAX—Academy of Music characteristic signature—attachment of his not, I cannot say. I think my brother told On May 18, 1896, a letter addressed initial ‘A’ to the ‘H’ of his surname. me something of the Phantascope, that it 30 to I. S. McConnell Esq., Agent Edison Already frustration appears: “Here I am, is a very inferior machine.” Vitascope, c/o New York Dramatic Mirror, and I penn that I am in a box. It has cost In his letter of September 6, Andrew from Frank S. Cunningham, P.O. Box me $69 for railway fares (return ticket and presents another disappointment: “I wired 310, Halifax, Nova Scotia, reaches Raff sleeping car and back) to get here and find a man named Andrews in Montreal, who and Gammon, and reads: what I felt in my bones before I came, wanted that territory, that I would meet “As I am unable to locate you, I am that Cunningham is a pass affair. He has him at St. Lawrence Hall on my way to 29 forced to address you as above, which I nothing ready.” Yet, he begs Raff to Halifax. I met him. Up to that day he trust will reach you. Have you the rights provide him with an excuse to stay: “We was not for Vitascope. One of Rockwell’s of the Edison Vitascope, for Canada—and can only get a 104 volt alternating current (or Rockwood, I forgot the exact name, if you have would you kindly and a 500 volt direct current to work but he is a Columbia Phonograph man) communicate your terms for the use of the from. I am therefore telegraphing you for circulars [about the Phantascope] had Vitascope, throughout Canada. If you the alternating motor. For God’s sake been given to him, and although I offered have not the Canadian rights, would you express it at once and don’t keep me here Andrews the exclusive right to Montreal kindly give me the address of the party under expenses doing nothing.” His and a year’s lease of a machine with 12 who has so that I may put myself in return railway ticket may govern his time: films, set up and only to exhibit, for communication with him.”25 “I would be fit for a lunatic asylum here $1100 cash, he would not bite. Write to in a week if I had nothing to do. I doubt me here by return mail and let me know Raff and Gammon must direct Mr. if it is safe to do anything with what your best offer to Holland Bros. is. Cunningham to Holland Bros. for, some Cunningham. He has yet to make If it is reasonable, I would prefer to months later, in his letter dated August 18, arrangements for a hall, and if he sells chance it ourselves and sublet machines if 1896, Andrew informs Gammon that “I tickets and gets the cash, I have no possible for whatever we can get for have almost closed a deal with the Maritime guarantee that any of it will come to me. them.” This begs the question: Do the Provinces. I expect to conclude it this week, I can see that he is no business man.” He Hollands’ initial terms of Vitascope rights and on proportionately higher terms than relates a sound observation: “There is no include Montreal? Andew’s comments $5,000 for the Dominion.”26 However, he money in a Vitascope in the Maritime seem to suggest otherwise. Must he does not identify the client. He may not at Provinces. The towns are too small and arrange a subfranchise? However, upon this point in time become involved with too far apart. No man in his senses will his return to Ottawa, he concludes that his Cunningham for in his correspondence to pay a bonus for territory.” He comments Montreal idea is of little benefit to Gammon of August 24 appears a name: “I on a letter from his brother, who seems Holland Bros. In fact, Andrew sees a

12 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 better venture: “I see by Friday’s Boston the foot of Spring Garden Road] here to expenses. It is all very well to run the Herald…that Edison has completed his give three evenings on a 8% (?) [number vitascope in big cities where it can be set new phonograph and telephone…. If the difficult to decipher] basis. There is no up to stay for a month or two, but to go to phonograph is as described there’s more other attraction, and we must give sixteen all the expense of setting it up for a night good money in it than in the Vitascope— films to make a programmme [The or two, then pack up and off to a town if it is run by spring motor instead of newspaper ad also includes ‘Machines where an entirely different set of storage battery.” However, he finishes on leased, Territory sold’!].” a sour note: “I am sorry that I came here. Fully conscious of the risk taken I have left good territory to work a very earlier when using the Vitascope as the doubtful one, and may have to telegraph main attraction at West End Park upon the for money to take me home.” Lack of failure of the Japanese troupe’s arrival, money is to be the least of his worries in Andrew claims: “In order to fill in time, I Halifax! He scribbles across the back of must go on the stage myself and on some the letter: “Tomorrow [Mon., Sept. 7] will lecturing to help the orchestra to fill in the be Labour day [a Canadian holiday], and time between pictures.” But hastily I can do nothing but make myself inserts: “I have telegraphed for another unhappy. A.H.” hundred dollars to enable me to meet any The day after Labour Day, Andrew emergency. I have only $25 in my pocket has a glimmer of hope: “I have struck a out of $120 that I left home with, which snag here, but will come out all right if will not be sufficient to meet the you can send me White or Webster in advertising and printing bill. I think, reply to my telegram…. I must work this however, we can fill the Opera House [i.e. territory on short engagements. Academy of Music] at 10, 20 and 30 cents. Consignments must have an expert to run If not, I am in the soup. If you have the machine leaving me free to do anything great and on the new stock, send advance agent’s work and make two short films to Willie, care of engagements to keep the machine Robinson’s Musee Theatre, Toronto, in going.”31 (James H. White and Charles H. one box c.o.d. $10…. If I was up home Webster are the two men with whom I’d make several good contracts for Andrew became acquainted when exhibition [Is this merely wishful thinking establishing a Kinetoscope parlour on to raise his spirits?], but can’t leave the An advertisement announcing the en- Tremont Street, Boston. They now assist helm here without danger of severe loss,” gagement of the Vitascope at Halifax’s Raff and Gammon.) However, the and closing with an ominous P.S.: Academy of Music in 1896. Cunningham affair rears its ugly head “Cunningham, who is a litigious Irish – from the Halifax Herald, September, 1896 afresh: “Cunningham has turned out to be Catholic is threatening me with a suit for a first class stuper. He will give me no breach of contract.” conditions require new appliances —well it is simply working for nothing. I had to guarantee that he will pay me for two His letter of September 9, indeed week’s exhibition. He owns nothing, and wire home for more money for fear of reveals a captain at the “helm” weathering being stranded. Fortunately, in Canada I refused to sign a contract by which I will a storm: collect the cash every evening—in fact, I can scarcely strike a town where I cannot am told that he makes a living by “The man who undertakes to run the find someone to identify me. engaging companies whom he never pays vitascope in the Maritime Provinces has “George writes me that a man up in in full, and running them in a hall the no picnic. If the small towns of the London, Ont[ario] has bought a lease of which is in his wife’s name.” Continent are to be worked, a radical phantascope and will exhibit it there as change will have to be made in the con- Edison’s Vitascope. [This matter was Electrical matters add further stress: struction of the machine so that exhibitors “Your telegram ‘Give voltage and presented above.] If it hadn’t been for that can be utterly independent of electric infernal shyster Cunningham, I would frequency of Currents’ is a stumper. If I power companies. In any town where have to get a special motor for every town have been there [instead of here] for the there is a trolley line one can get current if fall fair, and would have raked in some I go into I may as well drop this country he can provide resistance to cut down a altogether, except in towns large enough good money.… Fifty per cent of the gross 500 volt to a 110 volt power—that is if he receipts for the next three nights will go to to support an electric railway system…. I can get the company to accommodate do not know the frequency, but I thought the owner of the Academy. He supplies him. After all my advertising was done, the carpenter work, the current and the you had overcome the difficulty of dodgers [fliers] distributed, hangers differences in frequency by the adoptions assistance in the house, and collects the posted and everything ready, had the money. I pay for the wiring and half the of cone pulleys [i.e. ‘step pulleys’].” He Railway Company failed me I would be voices that he will ascertain how to obtain salary of the orchestra, all the advertising, simply crowded out. The Academy of bill posting etc. and when I come to run an alternating motor that will work on any Music in which I am to exhibit tomorrow alternating system. through 16 or 18 films an evening in order night is now occupied with the ‘Trip to to satisfy a 10 cts, 20 cts and 30 cts house, Never one to concede failure, he Chinatown’ show. I have only tomorrow I doubt if the game is worth the candle. declares: “I have today pitched Mr. forenoon to build my cabinet [i.e. Cunningham overboard, and have projection booth], wire the house and set “If Webster or White does not turn up arranged with the Academy of Music up the machine. The expense for a three to assist me tomorrow night, I shall have a [opening in 1877 on the east side of nights’ show is simply appalling, and I heavenly time with only green hands Pleasant Street (now Barrington Street) at can hardly anticipate getting back my [trainees] to assist me. My second son

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 13 [George Hibbard Holland, just turning 17] Clarke has offered to give the free use of Frank Gammon, he closes in a somewhat is with me, and had some training at West the academy for this purpose, if it is expected frame of mind: “I hope you have End Park, but to know the lightning decided upon, otherwise the show will be sent neither White nor Webster. I do not change act [meaning, speed of changing a discontinued.” Alas, with a tinge of want anyone at present: All I want to do is film] yours truly is doing his utmost to bitterness, Andrew’s letter reveals his to get home and hide my humiliated head convince himself that he will come decision: and prevent my grey hairs from falling out through the ordeal with satisfaction or the “Hearing nothing from you about the from too much thinking over this blasted audience—where I have to put on my motor, I decided to pack up and go home Cunningham business.… Yours down in glasses every time to set [up] a picture. If today, after sustaining a loss that will run the mouth, A. Holland.” I am successful tomorrow night, well only over $140 by the trip. The worst is Even after arriving in Ottawa on my sound temperate principles will coming: I was all ready to the noon train Monday, September 14, still fostering prevent me from getting drunk. I fear that when I was arrested on a capias [i.e. a anger, Andrew writes: “I have arrived I shall swear—swear easily and heavily, writ commanding an officer to take a home this morning at 1.40, tired out, and but as long as it’s deep and not loud person specified into custody] issued by came down to the office early, to find a enough for the audience to hear, I can [You guessed it!] Cunningham demanding telegram from Murphy from Halifax to stand it. Willie writes that the Toronto $200 damages. Fortunately I had friends say that he arrived and was subject to my exhibit is doing well. He has a soft snap, here who went on my bond, and I am free orders. I immediately telegraphed compared with what I have to face [responding, unlike Raff or here. Gammon] him back, ‘Arrived too “In thy visions be all my late, go back to New York, written tribulations be remembered.”32 Raff.’ ”36 As the pictures comprise the Now, he aims his displeasure at major part on the bill, no live acts Raff: “When I telegraphed you to appear as ‘fill,’ a fact that the send me White or Webster, it was Halifax Herald, on opening night, because the matter was urgent, and I makes known: “…In connection asked you to answer. To this with this exhibition it is explained telegram I received no reply [But that the change in pictures involves adding a cushion] and concluded a delay of a couple of minutes.…”33 you never got it; consequently, when In his letter of September 11, neither White nor Webster turned up the day after the first show, Andrew by Thursday, I felt there was no first brings up his efforts to work necessity in doing anything further out a deal with Cunningham, than write to you when I knew the possibly in order to provide Raff result of the first evening with a more satisfactory answer for exhibition.” He places the his actions: “I wrote you that responsibility for failure squarely In 1877, The Academy of Music opened on the east finding Cunningham to be utterly upon Raff: “Had you sent the side of Pleasant Street (now Barrington) at the foot of alternating motor and an operator without money or credit, I declined Spring Garden Road. In 1918 (seen here), it became to exhibit for him without a promptly [my Italics] in reply to my the Majestic Theatre until demolished in 1929. telegrams, the result of the Halifax guarantee for payment. This he – from Recorded Memory of Theatre Life in Nova Scotia refused to give. I then offered to exhibition would have been very much more satisfactory.” He exhibit and take $30 each night out of the again. I cannot express my humiliation receipts, leaving $20 per night to be settled deduces: “I do not propose now to leave and disgust in words at the circumstances Ottawa with a machine until I have the end of the week. This he refused to do, attending this trip. I shall exhibit no more and I simply declined to go on.”34 secured a motor that will give satisfaction until I go home and get appliances that on an alternating current.” His umbrage At this stage, hoping to recoup some will run the machine satisfactorily.” Once with Raff increases: “I saw an alternating of his losses, he devises the three-night more, he reaffirms his conclusion that it is motor with cone pulleys in your office run with the proprietor of the Academy of “useless trying to exhibit outside of three that Mr. Gammon said was satisfactory, Music. How does opening night go? “We or four cities in Canada unless one has a and it was for that one I telegraphed. It had to work on a 500 volt-motor circuit plant [i.e, moving-picture outfit] that is was two days after my telegram was sent and an alternating 52 volt current for the totally independent of electric companies. that I received the reply asking for the lamp. The electricians could not control The setting up of the machine, taking it voltage and frequency of the Halifax the current with the appliances that they down and repacking for safe transport current. I cannot charge myself with any had on hand and the exhibition was a involves too much labor and risk, and the want of foresight or business promptitude complete failure. Half crazy with the express charges and other expenses are in anything I did while there.” And yet defeat, I rushed down to the stage and simply out of all proportion to the earning tactfully he leaves Raff an opening: “I made an apology to the audience and power of the machine outside of a big city have no doubt you can give satisfactory explained the reason of my failure. I told on a ten cents basis; more than that one reasons why my telegrams were not them that my principal regret was that cannot get a store show and to join in a promptly attended to.” they might get an unfavorable impression variety company [i.e. a vaudeville circuit] of the machine.” The Halifax Herald and charge around from town to town Having discharged his feelings, verifies these actions,35 and concludes that every two or three days is not to be Andrew moves forward by noting other “there is a possibility that the vitascope thought of.” Having received, as yet, no concerns: “On my way home I stopped at will be shown free tonight. Manager personal reply from either Norman Raff or Montreal and went down to Sohmer Park

14 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 to see if I could not make an arrangement inventor of the Vitascope (Thomas Armat, closing: “George joins in kind regards to to exhibit there.” He is thinking in terms not Edison), who in fact is supposed to yourself and Mr. Gammon.” of a possible outdoor setup reflecting the help Raff and Gammon maintain a steady Andrew’s letter of Friday, September success of the Ottawa experience and supply of film product. 18, to Frank Gammon (not Norman Raff) avoiding another Halifax debacle, but soon In October, a letter is received by Raff in response to a letter of explanation for realizes that it cannot occur: “The and Gammon from the General Western the Company’s deficit in action, even cinematograph had taken all the novelty [a Agent for Edison Kinetoscope, G. W. though showing his reluctance to fully key factor for fulfilment] out of the Walters, another frustrated client: accept the reasons supplied by Gammon, business so far as Sohmer Park Company while still feeling the hurt of the Halifax are concerned.” Furthermore, he indicates “Gentlemen: I just received a circular from the W. S. Phonograph Co., offering experience, Andrew remains ever the a new problem, one troubling other rational businessman: “The explanation of exhibitors, namely, that when rights for for sale the Edison Vitascope. I have never known them to advertise anything your apparent [my Italics] delay in exhibiting the Vitascope were contracted a sending the operator and motor clearly monopoly to a purchased territory would for sale they could not furnish. If they can sell this machine, by what authority? shows one of my telegrams to you and be protected: “Martin of the Carleton Hotel 42 Are you able to control it? [my Italics] one of yours to me miscarried.” Some [Montreal]…told me that he had just coincidence, indeed! However, Andrew bought a phantoscope from Columbia “Please explain this matter at once. I fires back with details so that neither can Phonograph and twelve dozen films— want to know if our franchise is entirely escape lightly: “Immediately on receipt of which he named—the Columbia worthless. It is bad enough to have other your message asking voltage and Phonograph Company having sent over to machines in competition, but to have our frequency of current, I went to the electric Orange [home of the Edison Laboratory] own machine [my Italics] sold outright, is Light people, found out what they had and and ordered them for him.” In addition, he an outrageous affair.”39 wired it. I was astounded when, two days suggests that Edison is not restricting film I have a strong suspicion that the afterwards, I received another message sales to Vitascope exhibitors, offering concerns being expressed in the above from New York via Ottawa, asking the evidence of this practice: “Enclosed you letters may well be linked to Edison who same question [my Italics]. To my will find a circular issued by Maguire & is directing his laboratory people to telegram asking you to send White or Baucus which tells another story and develop a truly Edison ‘screen machine,’ Webster, I received no reply. As it shows how utterly absurd it is to ask any in secret, hinted at in that Halifax Herald demanded an answer, I presumed [my man to purchase territory which cannot article, alluded to earlier: “…The great Italics] you telegraphed, and the telegram possibly be protected.” inventor does not regard the vitascope in also [my Italics] went astray. I wrote Mr. As proof that Andrew is not alone in its present form as being the end he aims Raff by Thursday night’s mail that I was this situation, the following quote from a at…. Mr. Edison has announced that it is to open in the Academy of Music on letter to Raff and Gammon, dated only a matter of a few months until he or Thursday. I could not get possession of September 11, 1896, is evidence: some other inventor achieves greater the building until Thursday morning. I “…You sent us a letter stated that you success.”40 Robert C. Allen states that could not delay exhibiting until the man had new film, which you called The Edison “undercut Raff and Gammon by and the motor arrived, for the town had Garden Film [THE GARDEN SCENE] on selling his films for the Projecting Kineto- been billed and the exhibition was receipt of your letter, I telegraphed you, scope at a lower price than Raff & advertised in all the papers. I could only so as to be the first one in St. Louis to Gammon were offering to Vitascope get the place for three nights, for it was have it, but I see Mr. Hopkins showed it customers.”41 No wonder Raff and engaged for the following Monday by the before we did. Now if you continue to Gammon clients want to know who is in Sawtelle Company. Murphy only arrived sell him films to be used on his control and protecting their interests in the in Halifax Saturday night, so that we were Fantascope [sic. Phantascope] in this city, Vitascope! out on all our calculations. I only write you these facts to explain why it is there against one of your own machines, I In Andrew’s letter of September 14, will be no dividends for some time to hardly know what to think of the Edison after reaffirming his belief that the come.” The last sentence is significant for Company. Mr. Hopkins is my brother-in- Vitascope cannot be exhibited in small Andrew is warning Raff and Gammon law, and therefore I know he gets films towns without changes in the construction that the Vitascope experiment, in Canada, direct from your office. If this thing of the Vitascope, the sting of Halifax is doomed as a money-maker or at least, continues we will have to take steps to strikes back: “My Halifax trip has been a 37 on shaky ground! make some other arrangements.…” direct loss in cash of something over Another exhibitor writes: “…Further $200—” Then he twists the knife in the Not to terminate the letter on a acerbic all of the manufacturers of other machines wound: “…all which could have been note, he demonstrates his determination to claim they can buy any or all of your avoided by expressing the alternating salvage something from this shaky films. If such is the case it certainly gives motor and sending me an operator enterprise: “I have secured a vacant store very little protection to the people who promptly in reply to my telegrams.” And here [in Ottawa] and have set up the have paid your price for territory, and we to add insult to injury: “The loss will not machine to test the new motor when it also understand that there are lots of films stop there if a court of law construes my arrives from Halifax [my Italics]. If it now on the market made in Europe,… letters to Cunningham as being a contract works satisfactorily, on a 52 volt current [But are they in Edison format?]”38 between us, and it is hard to say how of 16,000 frequency, I will get a rheostat much I may be stuck for damages. I feel made to cut down to 104 or 110 Raff and Gammon are not in the dark mighty sore over the matter and alternating current to 52; also handy about this matter, for in a letter from their discouraged this morning.” Lacking in his packing cases, and with them be ready for legal advisor only three days after the closing is a pretext for Raff’s failure to the road.” Rasch letter just cited above, reveals that respond to his requests; despite his harsh To defend himself from a suggestion there are contract difficulties with the words, he gives his usual complimentary

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 15 from Gammon as to how he could have progress: “The motive power run by hand 21 Terry Ramsaye, A Million and One Nights overcome the fact that no motor arrived, proves to be a complete success so far as (Simon & Schuster, Inc., NY, 1926, reprinted Andrew comments that “the power wheel speed is concerned, but it does not give 1986) p 311 that you describe as being used in New the same even, steady power as an electric 22 John Barnes, The Rise of the Cinema in Great Britain (Bishopsgate Press Ltd., London, 1983) Hampshire is a scheme that occurred to motor. I have more difficulty with the p 152 me in Halifax, and had I supposed for a lamp of the new machine [i.e. the one he 23 Robert C. Allen’s essay “Vitascope/Cinémato- moment that the alternating motor would used in Halifax]. Do my best I cannot get graphe” in Film Before Griffith, ed. by John L. not arrive on time [my Italics], I would a good clear light from it the same as we Fell (University of California Press, Berkeley, have worked it in that way. It would have with the first machine [the one 1983) p 152 require another assistant, who for that operating in Toronto]. It may be the fault 24 I say “practically free” because a legal battle lasting some 20 years began. purpose, need not be an experienced one.” of the lens or the condenser. I have 25 R-G, Vol. 7, Folder 6, Letters May 1896 Nevertheless, Andrew closes in a placed them in every imaginable position, 26 Ibid., Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to F. Gammon conciliatory tone, after firming his point: but the results are not as good as we have from A. Holland, Ottawa, Aug. 18, 1896 “I accept your letter in the spirit in which been accustomed to.”44 A few days later, 27 Ibid., Letter to F. Gammon from A. Holland, it was written, and you will find that in having rejected a motor shipped from Ottawa, Aug. 24, 1896 my previous communication I suggested Boston because of its inability to start 28 Ibid., Telegram to A. Holland, c/o Raff & Gammon, New York, from G. Holland, Ot- that there was an explanation of the delay, with a load, Andrew comments: “I tawa, Aug, 27, 1896 for I feel that you do what you can to put decided to continue my experiment with 29 Ibid., Handwritten Letter to N. Raff from A. us ahead, not only because you are the bicycle gear motor. I am happy to say Holland, Halifax, Sept. 6, 1896 equally interested in our success with that it has proved a complete success. We 30 Ibid., Letter to N. Raff from G. Holland, ourselves, but because I am satisfied we can now run the machine without an Ottawa, Sept. 8, 1896.Ramsaye discusses prob- have the confidence and friendship of electric motor and have as good results as lems with the Phantoscope (or Phantascope) on pp 271-273.I found no further references both Mr. Raff and yourself. Hoping to be with one. I have overcome the difficulty in London newspapers to indicate that this able to send you a better report of affairs about the lamp. I found that by cutting machine ever exhibited in London, Ontario. next week, I am etc.” Others, as we have out more resistance in the rheostat, I had a 31 Ibid., Letter to N. Raff from A. Holland, Hali- seen, are not so generous. How long will more brilliant light, though it is hard on the fax, Sept. 7, 1896 Andrew continue such generosity? carbons and the rheostat gets very hot.”45 32 Ibid., Letter to N. Raff from A. Holland, Hali- As he employs carbon rods, he still uses fax, Sept. 9. 1896 As gleaned from his letter of 33 Halifax Herald, Thurs., Sept. 10, 1896, p 8 September 23, to Raff, Andrew discusses the arc lamp, requiring electricity, and 34 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from A. the following: Toronto matters, such as seems to have abandon the limelight idea. Holland, Halifax, Sept. 11, 1896 the extension of Robinson’s exhibition 35 Halifax Herald, Fri., Sept. 11, 1896, p 8.Part Where might the Hollands go next? of the article states: “The vitascope exhibi- and the Cinématographe opening on What problems will they confront? The tion…was not a success.The audience was not Yonge Street; his remodelling the story will be continued. satisfied, and the managers of the show were Vitascope with a hand crank; and the disappointed.This was not caused by anything importance of superior films to meet Endnotes: wrong with Edison’s vitascope or with the management…. A little time in experimenting competition. Three days later, in a letter 1 Raff & Gammon Collection, Baker Library, to Frank Gammon, who seems to be the would have accomplished this, but the time Harvard University (hereafter referred to as available was not sufficient.… Mr. Holland, technician in the partnership, Andrew is R-G) Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from who is managing the vitascope, made an expla- pleased to present his solution to free the A. Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 3, 1896 nation to this effect last night.…” Vitascope’s dependency upon electric 2 Toronto Mail and Empire, July 22, 1933, p 1 36 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from A. currents: “I received your letter containing 3 Ibid. Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 14, 1896 4 Toronto Evening News, Sept. 5, 1896, p 8 and 37 Ibid., Vol. 7, Folder 11, Letter to Raff and diagram of hand power for running the Aug. 30, 1895, p 4, respectively Vitascope. Prior to getting it, I struck a Gammon from Jannopulo & Gumpertz, St. 5 Toronto Globe, Tues., Sept. 1, 1896, p 3 Louis, Sept. 13, 1896 motive [i.e. mechanical power] myself 6 Toronto Mail and Empire, Sat., Sept. 5, 1896, p 8 38 Ibid., Vol. 7, Folder 10, Letter to Raff & Gam- that I think will be far ahead of the one 7 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from A. mon from G. C. Rasch, Pres. of Burlington the drawing of which you sent me. I Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 3, 1896 Blanket Co., San Francisco, Sept. 26, 1896 broke my bicycle and when in the repair 8 Toronto Mail and Empire, July 22, 1933, p 1 39 Ibid., Vol. 7, Folder 11, Letter to Raff & 9 Ibid., Sat., Sept. 19, 1896 Gammon from G. W. Walters, dealer in shop found it swung on a frame. I went 10 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from A. fooling with the pedal crank, and it struck Phonographs and Phonograph Supplies, Gen- Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 14, 1896 eral Western Agent for Edison Kinetoscope, me at once that that was the power to run 11 Toronto Evening Star, Sat., Sept. 19, 1896, p 2 Helena, Montana, Oct. 28, 1896 the Vitascope with. I am getting the gears 12 Toronto Evening News, Tues., Sept. 29, 1896, p 3 40 Halifax Herald, Wed., Sept. 9, 1896, p 8 fixed at a foundry and I think, when I 13 Toronto Mail and Empire, July 22, 1933, p 1 41 Allen, in Film Before Griffith, p 152 14 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from A. 42 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to F. Gammon have it completed I will have a perfect Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 23, 1896 motive power as can be obtained apart from A. Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 18, 1896 15 See Toronto World, Jan. 27, 1900, p 3. See, 43 Ibid., Letter to F. Gammon from A. Holland, from electricity. It will cost me about also Magic Moments: First 20 Years of Moving Ottawa, Sept. 26, 1896 $25. I telegraphed you this morning not Pictures in Toronto (1894-1914), by Robert W. 44 Ibid., Letter to The Vitascope Co. from A. Hol- to ship the alternating motor. If this Gutteridge (2000), Chapter 15, #3. land, Ottawa, Oct. 1, 1896. proves to be the success I expect it will, I 16 R-G, Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to N. Raff from A. 45 Ibid., Letter to Messrs. Raff & Gammon from Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 3, 1896 A. Holland, Ottawa, Oct. 3, 1896 ❧ will experiment with calcium light [i.e. 17 Ibid., Vol. 7, Folder 9, Letter to Raff & Gam- the limelight system], and I think I can mon from G. C. Rasch, Pres. of Burlington make myself entirely independent of Blanket Co., San Francisco, Sept. 26, 1896, p 1 electric light and power, and consequently 18 Ibid., Vol. 6, Folder 7, Letter to Raff & Gam- Bob Gutteridge has extra copies of his will be able to work the small towns mon from A. Holland, Ottawa, Sept. 3, 1896 book: Magic Moments – First 20 Years of through this country to advantage.”43 19 Ibid., Letter to The Vitascope Co. from A. Hol- Moving Pictures in Toronto (1894-1914) for land, Ottawa, Oct. 1, 1896 $2.00 plus shipping. Phone 905-430-2499. His letter of October 1 reports 20 Halifax Herald, Wed., Sept. 9, 1896, p 8

16 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 Yes Virginia there is a GORDON CAMERA by Robert Lansdale and Clint Hryhorijiw Our quest, described in the June 2009 PHSC E-Mail Newsletter, to find a mysterious Gordon camera has produced positive results. Initially, all we had was a citation in a 1913 publication “Art and Photography” describing its availability for $2.50. For Canadians, it would be shipped from the “factory” near Toronto. But that could have been a hoax. At our PHSC Spring Fair we found an envelope of sensitized positive cards for the Gordon Camera; it bore the address of the Gordon Camera Corporation, 98-100 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. With that validation the hunt was on!

McKeown's Cameras Price Guide offers nothing about the CLINT: “For fresh air and relaxation I tour southern Ontario Gordon camera, so it looked like our search might run on for- and visit a number of antique and flea markets. I have no set ever. Googling on the internet for the Gordon Corporation and regimen, I just go where it takes me. I don’t drive a van as I for Edmond F. Stratton, the inventor, produced scant informa- would end up filling it and would soon be bankrupt; I don’t try tion. Then at an executive meeting President Clint Hryhorijiw to be first in the door for the bargains as I’m certain whatever plunked down a big briefcase and said: “Take a look!” is destined for me can surely wait. Clint had alerted everyone so many gathered around with “About five o’clock, close to closing time, I happened to equal expectations. From the dark interior emerged a scruffy bump into a PHSC member who had a table with a mix of black box with an odd-looking appendage on the front. It had photographic goods. For the present time we’ll say his name is seen much wear having tattered corners and a long split up the ‘Jack.’ I’ve bought stuff from him before, so during our social- front. It wasn’t until Clint pointed to the leather handle that I izing he was pointing out items that might prove interesting to read with a thrill the imprint GORDON. Wow! After all these me. He said: ‘Take a look at that box camera at the end of the years, could it really be the missing camera? For a box camera table.’ Well I had seen a gazillion box cameras that day in all it was quite a chunky size: 5 1/2” x 9 1/4” x 10 1/4” Only upon their shapes and blackness, so I didn’t expect anything great examining the full cam- this time. era could we realize how it placed in photo- “I had to lift away a Rollei 126 which was still in its display graphic history. I could case. Underneath was this big box so it seemed it might be hardly wait to hear the something different. It had only been two weeks since reading story from Clint as to the story about the mystery GORDON camera in our E-Mail how he acquired it. newsletter so when I spotted the name gleaming from the leather handle, I was frozen with AHA! – then NO WAY! It surely could not be the same Gordon as the one described in the newsletter. I asked how much? – he asked a fair price and the prize was mine. Jack recalled that he had picked it up at a The envelope of sensi- yard sale recently in tized cards (above) with Toronto. Talk about Gordon Camera address, alerted Clint Hryhorijiw serendipity!” to the name and subse- PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT quently found this prize GORDON camera. The GORDON name imprinted in the leather handle atop the camera.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 17 With the camera in hand we quickly determined its techni- THE GORDON CAMERA cal structure. The rear of the camera is where you find the Gordon Camera Corporation, New York, N.Y. details; the back is one large hinged door with a cloth-covered orifice. Here we realized the purpose of the camera’s large size. This is what is termed a street photographer’s camera with a self-contained developing tank within to instantly process the pictures. The large opening has a sleeve of light-proof cloth attached, through which the operator inserted his hand to load the camera with a sensitized card or Ferrotype plate, and then processed the image in the premixed chemistry. On the inside base of the camera is a bellows box with a focussing screen of celluloid. The box can be moved forward and back to focus and to compose the scene. A small distance scale in feet and focal points is attached to the floor accompa- nied by a marker-arrow on the rear edge of the bellows. The focussing screen is in a hinged metal frame which pivots back to accept a 3” x 4 1/2” photo card, then closes to hold it firmly at the plane of focus. Another box and (presumed) a lid were loosely sitting atop the focussing box. The lid has a piece of black cloth along one edge that seemed to be used as a hinge. We were uncertain as

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT LANSDALE PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT to how these fitted within the camera but determined they formed a light-tight safety box for unexposed cards. A nickel-plated lens mount on the front was easily removed to inspect and remove an old spider’s nest. The housing reminds one of a converted door-bell cover; it has a block of wood jammed in from the rear with a hole bored through it into which the threaded lens-mount screws into the fiber of the wood. The shutter is a single flat blade that pivots away from

The GORDON camera with lens mounted on the front. Model H is a bulky 5 1/2” wide by 9 1/2” tall by 10” long. At right is seen the camera back and interior which ex- plains it as a “street cam- era” with instant processing. Black cloth sleeve affords access to interior for load- ing camera and processing of the image. At far right is the distance scale marked in focal points and feet; it is attached to the inside base of the camera.

The shutter and its nickle plated cover re- The lens, approx. 6 inches Wooden focussing box slides on the cam- moved from the camera front. Single flat in focal length is mounted in era floor. Metal braces on sides keep it in blade of the shutter pivots (swings) to un- a threaded tube that screws place. Metal frame has celluloid as ground cover the aperture. No springs or action. into a block of wood. glass. Card is clamped in place by frame.

18 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 the lens aperture and then is swung back librarian in Rochester, he located a legal – no timing, no springs, just finger con- notice in the New York Times of April 3, trol. The lens is approximately six inches 1913 indicating the Hoyt-Showers in focal length. Manufacturing Corporation would apply A curious second wall across the inte- to the New York State Supreme Court for rior of the front wall attracted our atten- a change of corporate name to Gordon tion for some time. It was trimmed at the Camera Corporation. Gordon E. Riggin bottom with some dark material and we is listed as Vice-President. (Hmm!) could not ascertain its purpose. Careful Riggin also shows up as General Manager to avoid damage to the camera, force was of the Madden Music Publishing Co. exerted until it finally moved and came Via the internet and Toronto Reference out revealing corduroy cloth extending Library, U.S. patent drawings were across the whole back side. A tell-tale accessed for June 9, 1914 (1,099,899), pattern on that wall revealed the gluing July 27, 1915 (1,148,197) and September location for the end of this wooden slab 18, 1923 (1,468,088). These were found (a light trap just above the bellows) and by tracing inventor Edmond F. Stratton for the end of the safety box. The glue mentioned in the Art & Photography cita- probably came undone pretty quickly tion. Stratton is also credited with a shoe- during blind-hand operations. polishing machine in 1909 (928,341) and 1,099,889 JUNE 9, 1914 U.S. PATENT The lid of the safety box bears a label a motorcycle patent in 1901. indicating Patents Pending and The first patent describes a camera Manufactured by Gordon Camera with fixed focus and an upright image. Corporation, 98–100 Fifth Avenue, New The safety storage box is affixed at the top York, N.Y. Located off-center it would of the camera interior. The door at the seem the lid had to be cut smaller in size, back is only half the height of the camera. late in production with the edges never The patent text describes it as “simple and being repainted. inexpensive in construction.” Nick Graver of Rochester, came to The second U.S. patent matches our aid introducing us to a number of Clint’s camera found in Toronto. It is a experts. Karl Kabelac volunteered to focussing instrument with image in hori- chase down information for us. A retired zontal format; more space is allowed between the back of the bellows and the processing tank; it shows the safety box attached on the front wall just above the bellows; the lid is on the opposite end of the safety box to what we had imagined – its angled slant keeps the lid closed; the corduroy-covered wooden panel sits atop the bellows to form a light trap; the door is full height of the camera. 27, 1915 1,148,127 JULY U.S. PATENT

Interior showing wooden slab that was extricated and found to be a light trap. Safety box, lid with cloth hinge. U.S. PATENT 1,468,088 SEPTEMBER 18, 1923 U.S. PATENT

Tank moved lower, half out bottom. Tank even lower, card pack held by friction.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009 19 POPULAR MECHANICS JUNE 1913 DESERET EVENING NEWS JULY 7, 1913 POPULAR MECHANICS SEPTEMBER 1913

Canada mentions the Gordon Camera Corporation in an appendix. The article is by Philippe Maurice, an old acquain- tance living in Calgary. The story is illustrated with a Gordon camera and Ferrotype cameras. He still has the Gordon camera and will send down pic- tures and a story to go with them. But it Room Made Unnecessary. For a limited must wait for our next PC journal as we time models A, B and C were offered at are out of space in this issue. The third U.S. patent shows a much half price ($2.50, $5.00 and $7.50 plus 90 Edmond F. Stratton left his name in altered design which we have yet to con- cents for shipping, sensitized cards and printed records but we are unsure the firm was ever manufactured. The pro- developing powders). They vied with details describe one and the same person. cessing tank has been lowered out of the street camera manufacturers in the want Was there more than one E.F. Stratton? A camera allowing the camera to be reduced ads of Popular Mechanics of June 1913. passport application for 1919 indicates he in size. The image is upright and is fixed Eaton Lothrop who unfortunately was born Edmond Gottschalk in Chicago focus. There is no storage box. passed away last year was the guru of on March 8, 1871. It notes he is “theatri- cally known as Edmond Stratton” and Three British patents were found for street cameras. My question about the “residence being at New York City… 1921 (179,451; 188,397 and 191,185) camera, put to him back in ‘97, produced where I follow the occupation of Movie which illustrate gradual improvements: no information. For expert opinions we Producer.” Six films have been noted as the tank, in stages, is moved lower talked with collector Joe Marlin in directed by Stratton in 1914 and 1915. through the base of the camera; the cam- Chicago who knew of no write-ups or Cultural Chronicle of the Weimar Republic era becomes reduced in size; the reten- data on the Gordon. He directed me to cites “directed by Edmond Gottschalk tion of a pack of cards at the film plane Nate Skipper in North Carolina, a former Stratton and starring Hedda Vernon and is attained by friction at the sides; there collector who has donated his collection Otto Flint, premieres in Berlin…” is no storage box; a spring wire adds ten- to the California Museum of Photography sion to the shutter, keeping it closed until in Riverside, California. Leigh Gleason, A notice in the Los Angeles Times, used. These improvements are seen in curator of photography at UCR/CMP, Sept. 16, 1904 mentions he and his wife the 1923 U.S. patent. informed us: “We certainly do have a arrived in L.A.. The writer is quick to Gordon street camera in our Skipper col- emphasize social status by noting “Mrs. Karl Kabelac has provided yeoman ser- lection… and an original catalogue too. Stratton was formerly Mrs. Edythe vice in finding citations and adding to our A stamp on the first page of text says: Grannis, daughter of Col. G. Green of total collection of ads in six publications– Special Offer To You. Any Of These Lake Hopatcond, N.J.” A news report all using the same general text and only for Cameras At Half Price.” In addition, out of Ottawa, Canada in the New York the spring/summer of 1913. It would seem Todd Gustavson of George Eastman Times of Oct. 25, 1910 describes the the company blew its budget in one big House, in Rochester, messaged: “After efforts of E.F. Stratton to head up a swoop. It caused the Chicago Ferrotype poking around a bit, I came across a search for missing balloonists Allan Company to counter Gordon’s efforts with photo copy of a catalogue from the Hawley and Augustus Post lost some- the new Mandel-ette, a $5.00 version of Gordon Camera Corporation of 98-100 where over Eastern Canada. The aero- their popular street camera. Fifth Ave., NYC, ca. 1915. The catalogue nauts, participating in a balloon race out The Gordon advertising plays up “Two lists several models – A for 2 1/2 x 3 1/3, of St. Louis, Mo., after 1355 miles were Minute Processing” yet others promise a B for 3 1/4 x 5 1/2, C for both 3 1/4 x 5 forced down in the wilderness 58 miles “Post Card in One Minute.” In prominent 1/2 and 2 1/2 x 3 1/2, H for 3 x 4 1/2, and north of Chicoutimi, Quebec. They spent newspaper ads they aimed NOT at the J for 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, 3 x 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 x a week travelling south to reach civiliza- street photographer but for general ama- 3 1/2 inch images.” Toronto and Hamilton tion. Stratton was a member of the Aero teur use – We want every man, woman, street directories show no trace of a Club of America, Hawley being President. boy and girl in the world to see this Gordon Camera “factory” to service Obviously Stratton was in high society, wonderful camera…. In an editorial Canadian customers – possibly a garage playing with rich men’s toys. ❧ advertisement the Salt Lake Telegram or basement operation. Thanks to all the contributors. resorted to Hollywood ballyhoo with: In Material History Review 41 (Spring (To be continued) Photography Revolutionized by New 1995), the article The Tintype and Prairie Invention – Films, Plates and Dark

20 PHOTOGRAPHIC CANADIANA 35-2 SEPT.- OCT.- NOV. 2009