WONDERFUL MOVINg PICTURES
(Continued from page one.)
the production. Charles E. Nixon, au
thor and playwright, was selected to
write the scejnario, and his complete
work was, the result of three years'
study and research. The head of
the Sclig production staff was se
lected by Mr. Selig to stage the
mammoth production and he was as
sisted by the combined strength of
the producing department. Some dif
ficulty was anticipated at the outlet
in securing an actor who resembled
Columbus to portray him with any
thing like historic fidelity, even with
the aid of make-up. After a long
search an actor was found who bore
a striking resemblance to the great
navigator. He was engaged as a
Selig leading man, and to him fell
the honor of portraying Columbus.
There are a number of portraits
of Columbus extant. Two of these
are best known, but bear little re
semblance to each other. One is
that of a smooth faced man with
-igh.brow, hair falling almost upon
his shoulders and dressed in simple
garb. This portrait was selected as
the most authentic by the committee
of scholars who visited Spain for
the Selig company. This is the Col
umbus portrayed in the pictures.
Of interest to all Catholics and to
the world at large is the fact that
the films already have been present
ed before Pope Pius X., who enjoy
ed the pictures hugely and sent his
bless'ng and a medal to Mr. Selig
by Father Tonello. It is the first
time the Pope ever gave his official
approval to a commercial enterprise.
First Reel.
