All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

332 All About Inventions Somewhat chagrined at this turn of events, an effort was made by the American interests to thwart Paul’s success by the refusal to supply any further films to anyone using aught but the American-built kinetoscope. Even this step was countered by the enterprising Englishman. If America would not supply films for the needs of his customers, then he would make his own films to avoid disappointment. What is more to the point, he put the threat into execution with little delay, and was soon rendering not only this country but other countries independent of the American product. The British films met with appre- ciation because Paul offered a wider variety of sub- jects than the American producers, with the result that the American trade was speedily reduced to negligible proportions. Mr. Robert Paul, who originally had taken up the manufacture of the kinetoscope as a side line in his business, now threw himself heart and soul into the subject. He realised the shortcomings of the kinetoscope from the very first. If only it could be rendered possible to throw the pictures upon the screen in such a manner that several hundred people might witness them simultaneously, then the animated photographs would be more likely to command popular approval. He laboured long and diligently to this end, and finally, after many exasperating diffi- culties had been surmounted, succeeded in his object. The first public performance of moving pictures before a large audience created far-reaching excitement. It was only too evident from the reception which was accorded that the cinema had now come to stay, although no one, not even the most enthusiastically