Title
“Pomeroy Presents Musical Tableau of Merit" [article]
Date
1923
Description
This Motion Picture News article describes the Strand's creative multi-media musical tableau alongside The Woman Thou Gavest Me in 1923.
Inscription: Pomeroy Presents Musical Tableau of Merit. | PRESENTING a musical tableau in actual conjunction with a moving picture feature was the stunt that Manager Harry Pomeroy of the Strand theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, carried out in the screening of "The Women Thou Gavest Me" during the first half of the week of April 5. | Pomeroy practically threw all precedent to the winds in carrying out this prologue but the effect of a picture on the screen simultaneously with a "living picture" proved to be a harmonious combination, judging by the plaudits of the crowd and the congratulations of assembled moving picture men who had gathered to witness the experiment. | For the prologue a former organ loft just to one side of the screen proper was used. The lattice work in front of this "box" was replaced by a transparent curtain on which was painted a large church window. During the introductory scenes of the film feature a crowd is seen gathering at a church for the wedding and during the screening of these scenes a sort blue spotlight was used to illuminate the curtain. In the meantime an organ is used to provide the appropriate music, namely the Wedding March. | When the church interior is shown on the screen, soft lights behind the transparent drop reveal a chancel setting in which the central figure is a surpliced soloist and, as the action develops, he sings an appropriate selection. With the finish of the wedding ceremony in the picture proper, the lights fade out, leaving the church exterior as before. On the screen the outside of the church is shown once more, too, which the people leaving the edifice. The blue spot on the special setting gradually faded out; the voice also passes out and the main picture proceeds. | The tableau is carried out practically as an extended portion of the picture on the screen and the combination effect is heightened by reason of the fact that the setting is on a level with the screen. There is no stage at the Strand and the tableau gave the appearance of a picture in the wall and almost in conjunction with the moving picture. There was not enough action on the part of the soloist to divert all attention from the moving picture and the two could be seen in practically one glance. | The wedding atmosphere was further heightened by the use of chimes, which continued as the people were seen leaving the church. The soloist was William Nixon of Ottawa, a talented local vocalist. | In spite of the fact that the film feature was proceeding, the theatre audience broke into applause at the finish of the tableau.
Source
“Pomeroy Presents Musical Tableau of Merit.” Motion Picture News 12 no. 1 (June 26, 1923): 66. Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/motionpicturenew221unse.
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