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Show Dramatic I Comment I The presentation to Mutual motion picture theater patrons of actual scenes taken by Mutual camera men on tho vory firing lino of Mexican battlefields has brought to light ono of the most interesting personalities that has over appeared outsido of thc covers of fiction. fic-tion. Known to the inner circle of the motion picture art as a "camera-man" and respected as an eipert of moving picture photography who has shown ex-ceptional ex-ceptional daring in obtaining rare sub-iocts sub-iocts for Hcroon exploitation, Carl Von Hoffman is 'a man who, if ho had lived in a provious age, would hnve been classed with thc romantic figures of history. A review of hiB abort but surprisingly surpris-ingly eventful career roads like a chapter chap-ter from one of Scott's novels, with tho horo taking full advantage of the marvelous inventions that make tho life of tho twentioth century advent-uror advent-uror so much more active than his predecessors; As a lieutenant in the Imperial Horso Guards, Carl von If off man first saw active sorvico fighting for Kus-sia Kus-sia in tho Itussia-Japan war. His experiences during the rapidlv moving events of that struggle, so disastrous for Russia, put him fn thc class of a grizzled old veteran whilo ho was still a more stripliug. At tho dawn of peace ho found himself him-self the proud possessor of tho CrosB of the Legion of Honor of St. George, third class, with which he had been decorated in appreciation of hia service. serv-ice. Wc next find hnn leading thc exciting excit-ing life of a New York newspaper man. Bus' days spent in tho photographic department of tho Now York Globe, in which lie was given ample opportunity oppor-tunity to satisfy his lovo of excito-ment excito-ment and adventure, were followed by achievements in the service of tho New York World, which gave him tho nickname of "the nerviest newspaper photographer in America." Being possossod of a thorough knowledge knowl-edge of the technique of photography, it was not long before von Hoffman had mastered tbo more complicated urt of taking moving pictures. But tho scope of ordinary work in a motion picture studio was far too limited for a man of his tastes. ..11c looked for broader fields of conquest and soon succeeded in making moving pictures of interesting ovents in almost every corner cor-ner of the inhabited globe In line with his usual desiro to accomplish ac-complish the extraordinary he soon changed his baso of operations from tho earth to tho air, and many valuable films taken from an aeroplane were tho result. Carl von Hoffman had scarcely set foot again upon North Amorican soil 'before ho saw a new opportunity for adventuro 5n tho novel arrangement made by President H. E. Aitkon of tho Mutual Film corporation with Gonoral Villa, wheroby Mntunl camera men wore to accompany Villa's army and secure scones of stnfo on tho firing lino for the benefit of Mutual theater patrons. For tho first time iu the history of nations motion pictures of actual battlo scenes arc being faithfully recorded by I camera men and shown broadcast to the theater-going public of the world. And I foremost in thc thick of tlio fight whore I tho hullets rain the most deadly is Been the twentieth century soldier of fortune, for-tune, Carl von Hoffman, with his wea-pons wea-pons discarded, and his hands guiding a moving picture camera instead of a rifle. Ono of thc English actors appearing with C3T1I Mnudc nt 'Wallacks theater, wont into a restaurant the other day and got in conversation with a Scotch waiter. Ho confided to tho" actor that he had lost trace of his relatives, whom he believed wore living in London. Ho said that he would like to have them know where ho was. and requested tho actor to advise him how to do this. He was told to advertise in ono of thc London newspapers. "Thank you, sir," said tho waiter gratefully, "I. haven't seen my relatives rela-tives for twenty 3ears, and I nm getting get-ting a lectio anxous." |