FATE’S BLOW TO FIRST OF ALL FILM “KINGS.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 15 (Supplement)

FATE’S BLOW TO FIRST OF ALL FILM “KINGS.”

GEORGE MELIES SELLS MAGAZINES AND SWEETS “<”est la vic” —that’s just life. These words, accompanied by a eheerful and philosophic smile, form the invariable reply to who go to Paris to visit George Melies, the pioneer uf the moving picture industry

As he sits placidly in his little newspaper kiosk selling his magazines, sweets and cheap toys near Montparnasse railway station, this little baldheaded and grey-bearded Frenchman talks about his early adventures, and seems to bear little grudges against the fat\es that have reduced him to an obscure and humble livelihood. World’s First Studio. Thirty-four years ago he started work at Montreuil, near Paris, in the first studio in the world for making films, and now a serious appeal is being made to the authorities and to the general public in order that this modest little building may be preserved as a monument to a now vast and flourishing jndustry. If it is successful the building will be turned into a museum of the cinematograph art. At the tine when he started work at. Montreuil. Melies knew nothing of the elaborate machinery and lighting apparatus which is now considered essential to the making of films.

There was a little narrow stage on which thousands of naive and amusing little comedies were enacted. Two bridges were built above so that “entrances” from the air, which were so dear to the heart of this little Frenchman. could be macle. There were ont, or two trap doors, and that was all.

Later, when his short films began to enjoy great popularity in France. M. Melies installed a battery of arc

lights, which was considered a wonder ful innovation at the time.

When the war came all work was held up, and Melies was ruined financially.

He sold most of his own films for anything that they would fetch, and eventually gave up a life’s work to sell his newspapers on the edge of a Paris pavement.