News of the Week October 30, 1915 -- October 30, 2015

The 30-October-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

 "'Smoke eaters' of Philadelphia give demonstration of fire equipment.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  I enjoy going to watch firemen demonstrate their equipment. 

"U. S. Submarine F-4 raised from the waters of the bay of Honolulu.  Copyright 1915, by Mutual Weekly."  SS-23, US submarine F-4, sank near Honolulu on 25-March-1915.  Her entire crew of 21 died.

"Four K-type submarines leave for Honolulu.  Copyright 1915, International Film Service Incorporated."  Four K-class submarines sailed from San Francisco for Hawaii on 03-October-1915.  K-3, 7 and 8 were built by San Francisco's Union Iron Works.  K-4 was built in Seattle. 

"The first meeting of the Naval Advisory Board held at Washington, D. C.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Thomas Alva Edison was President of the The Naval Consulting Board. 

 "Terrible hurricane strikes New Orleans, causing great damage.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  1915 was a bad hurricane season.

"President Wilson and his fiancee, Mrs Norman Galt, at a world's series ball game.  Copyright 1915, International Film Service Incorporated."  Wilson became the first president throw out the first ball at a World Series game, when the Boston Red Sox played the Philadelphia Phillies at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia.  Wilson was a big baseball fan. 

News of the Week October 23, 1915 -- October 23, 2015

The 23-October-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Vernon Castle, the famous dancer, takes a lesson in hydro-aeroplaning.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Vernon Castle and his wife Irene were pioneers in popularizing ballroom dancing.  He was raised in England and emigrated to America when he was about 13.  Vernon wanted to do his part in the war and took flight lessons.  After a farewell performance in early 1916, he went to Britain and joined the Royal Flying Corps.  After making over 300 combat missions and shooting down two enemy aircraft, he was sent to Canada to train new pilots.  After the US entered the war, he came to America to train pilots.  He died after crashing while trying to avoid another airplane.  Irene carried on as an actress.

"A scene from the Rookies encampment at Ft. Sheridan, Chicago, Ill.  Copyright 1915, by Mutual Weekly."  Fort Sheridan, which closed in 1993, was a mobilization and officers' training center.

"Ex-President Taft visits $2,000,000 Columbia highway at Portland, Ore.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Construction of the Columbia River Highway started in 1913 and was finished in 1922. 

"Members of the G.A.R. march in gand review at Washington, D.C.  Copyright 1915, International Film Service Incorporated."  The Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union Army veterans, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Civil War with an encampment in Washington, DC on 27-September-1915.  This is the first item we have seen from the International Film Service Incorporated.  I think it was Hearst's project to replace the Hearst-Selig News Pictorial. 

"Bandmaster of popular recruiting band presented with status at London, England.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  The British used many methods to encourage enlistments. 

"Two victims of submarine F-4 disaster arrive at San Francisco, Calif.  Copyright 1915, by Mutual Weekly."  SS-23, US submarine F-4, sank near Honolulu on 25-March-1915.  Her entire crew of 21 died. 

The Ill-Fated Cunard Liner Lusitania -- May 7, 2015

Moving Picture World, 22-May-1915

After a year of war, Germany was not in a good position.  The British had established a fairly tight blockade of imports, and the army had failed to take Paris and had settled into static positions on the Western Front.  In order to disrupt vital shipping to Britain, Germany had decided to adopt a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.  U-Boats would no longer warn civilian vessels before sinking them.  On 07-May-1915, U-20 torpedoed and sank RMS Lusitania near the coast of Ireland.  A number of Americans died and this nearly drove the country into the war on the side of the Allies, Britain, France and Russia.  Germany promised to stop unrestricted submarine warfare and America stayed out until they resumed it again. 

Lusitania carried 1,962 passengers.  1,191 died.  128 of the dead were Americans. 

The ads on this page were an early reaction to the sinking.  No movies or still photographs were taken of the sinking, so slides were probably hand-drawn.  The posters may have been used to promote newsreels that showed the ship sailing. 

Moving Picture World, 22-May-1915



My other blog has a contemporary newspaper article about the sinking:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2015/05/great-liner-lusitania-torpedoed-and.html

News of the Week April 24, 1915 -- April 24, 2015

The 24-April -1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"The fruit liner Heredia after her collision near New Orleans.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  On 30-March-1915, the United Fruit Company liner Heredia rammed liner Parisian near the mouth of the Mississippi, then swerved off and sank steamer Weems. 

"Vice-president Marshall speaking at University of California.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Thomas R Marshall of Indiana was Woodrow Wilson's Vice President.  Here he spoke at Cal Berkeley. 

"U. S. divers leave Washington for Honolulu to raise submarine.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  USS F-4 sank on 25-March-1915 off of Honolulu.  All hands were lost. 

"General Von Morger and his stall leaving their headquarters near Bolimov, Russian Poland.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  I can't find anything about Von Morger.

"Easter parade on boardwalk at Atlantic City, N. J. Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Easter fell on 04-April-1915. 

"Wm. Hale Thompson, Chicago's new mayor, with Mrs. Thompson.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Big Bill Thompson (no relation, thank Heaven) was the last Republican mayor of Chicago.  He served from 1915 to 1923, then 1927-1931.  He was known for being profoundly corrupt.