Masonry andMasonry andThe MoviesThe Movies Barrie J MellarsBarrie J Mellars

PPJGDPPJGDWineslai/Wineslai/

Dejeung LodgeDejeung LodgeOne Brother’s

journeythrough

Hollywood

History of Film

• Pre-1890– Magic lanterns

• 1924 Thaumatrope Dr John Ayris• 1831 Faraday ‘discovers’ electricity• 1832 Fantascope• 1834 Zoetrope• 1839 Daguerreotype• 1869 Invention of celluloid• 1870 Phasmatrope• 1877 Praxinoscope • 1879 Edison invents the light bulb• 1890 Dickson invents the Kinetograph, the first real movie camera• Lead to the first movie studio Edison Studios

Early Movie History• 1893 First film production studio ‘Black

Maria’• 1894 The Edison Kinetoscopic ‘Record of

a Sneeze’• 1895 Kinetophone non-sync sound• 1895 ‘Young Griffo v. Battling Charles

Barnett’ 1st movie for a paying audience• 1895 Lumiere Bros patented the

‘Cinematographe’ hence the word ‘Cinema’

• 1906 1st full-length movies Story of the Kelly Gang – made in Australia

• One of the earliest still extant films was Le Voyage Dans la Lune - A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Just Plain WEIRD1916 Movie called Bobby Bumps Starts a Lodge

Inter titles tell the story: "This is the apron you wear. All regular lodges wear aprons." "You wait here while I get the third degree."

Masonic symbols

Early Movies

• Are You a Mason? (1915)– Based on the play Die Logenbrüder in which two

non-masons attempt to convince others that they are freemasons.

• Once a Mason (1919) – A comedy starring Sidney Drew and written by Mrs

Sidney Drew

• Are You a Mason? (1934) – Reworking of the 1915 film

Famous FM Actors

•Oliver Hardy•Harold Lloyd•W C Fields•Douglas Fairbanks Snr•Clark Gable•Will Hay•Roy Rogers•Audie Murphy•Ernest Borgnine

Horror Stars

Theme - Death

Earliest in 1956 movieThe Searchers with the Duke John Wayne(Marian Morrison)A Member of Glendale DeMolay Chapter And Marion McDaniel Lodge No. 56

American Gangster 2007A Ridley Scott movie

The Ant Bully 2006The character fears Alien Abduction

Theme FEAR

Hollywood Homicide

S & C Welcome?

Overboard (1987)Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell

Arachnophobia (1990)Jeff Daniels et al

Mysticism Hollywood Style

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Concealment

The Affair of the Diamond Necklace (2001)

National Treasure (2004)

All Seeing Eye(from a dollar bill)

The Man who would be King

• Based on the book by the well-known Mason Rudyard Kipling.

Quote left on the IMDb website for the film:“I love this movie. This was my first exposure to Freemasonry back in 1996, and because of it I pursued membership. I've never regretted my decision. Masonry has been a very positive experience for me. The brothers are so generous and sincere in their desire to assist the community. The time they commit out of their personal lives to the various charities and events is astounding.”

The Man who would be KingIn 1954 Sir Sidney White UGLE Grand Secretary received a letter from Irish FM Michael Beaumont expressing concern about John Huston, the movie director, and his intention to film The man who would be King asking for advice.Sir Sydney’s response:

“I am inclined to think that the most prudent course for Grand Lodge to adopt would be one of aloofness and dignified silence”

The Man who would be King

From Hell (2001)

From Hell

From Hell

From Hell

From Hell

From Hell

Conclusions

• Don’t believe everything you see in films• Don’t believe everything you hear on the media• REMEMBER:

–Calm down dear–IT’S ONLY A MOVIE!!