Edward Burton McDowell: lecturer, traveler, correspondent

              Dr. Edward Burton McDowell Lecturer Traveler Correspondent


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Stories of Travel Illustrated by Original Motion Pictures and Lantern Slides in Colors




Management Slayton Lyceum Bureau, Steinway Hall, Chicago





Panama in Picture and Prose


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A Story of the Isthmian Canal and the Republic of Panama, Illustrated by Original Motion Pictures and Copyrighted Lantern Pictures Painted in Nature's Colors





Atlantic Entrance Panama Canal

Copyright 1905 By E. B. McDowell



The story of the Isthmian Canal, from the commencement of the work by the French engineers down to the present time, is a romance of squandered millions, incompetency and corruption, which tells like fiction, but a fiction which the American nation is today turning into fact.




Dr. McDowell has recently returned from the Isthmus where he went purposely to study and photograph canal work now in progress.




His interesting story of travel will be illustrated by lantern slides which were developed by his own hands, while the motion pictures were also made by Dr. McDowell with his own motion picture camera; and these motion pictures of the canal work are the first and only ones yet made.




The picture story is preceded by a brief historical sketch of the Isthmus.





Right—Pres. Amador, Republic of Panama Left—American Minister Barrett Middle—E. B. McDowell

Copyright 1905 by E.B.McDowell



We are first brought back to the time of Spanish exploration and discovery.




We stand with Balboa upon the summit of the mountain


American Steam Shovel in Culebra Cut

Copyright 1905 By E. B, McDowelladmiring the vast blue of the Pacific ocean.



Then we are with the treasure-seeking Pizzaro and later we see the French squandering their millions trying to sever the two continents.




Finally we are with McDowell on his journey from New Orleans across the Gulf of Mexico to tropical Panama.




Our banana steamer plunges and rolls in the heavy sea; the waves dash into foam and spray against her prow.




At Colon we see the sunken barges of the French and
 their abandoned machinery over grown with tropical vines.




Cathedral—City of Panama

Copyright 1905 By E. B. McDowell



We travel by rail to the middle of the Isthmus and see the great Culebra Cut gashing the top of the mountains.




We see the busy workmen and the wonderful steam shovels—the giant workmen which 
may go broke, but never on a strike.




The Panama Canal already seems a reality when in some motion pictures we see a French troopship steaming through the Suez Canal, and again a fleet of torpedo boats rushing along England's great artificial waterway from Manchester to the sea.




In the cities of Colon and Panama we get a glimpse of how the people live.




In the heart of the tropical forest, eight miles from the modern city of Panama, the ruins of the original city of Panama furnish an opportunity for meditation; here we are brought back to the days of Spanish and English piracy and we almost expect to see the cruel old Morgan himself, again sailing down the bay, flying his pirate flag, in readiness to destroy the fated city.




In fact, after listening to Dr. McDowell's interesting story and after marveling at the beauty of his realistic pictures, one almost feels that he has been


Young Panamans

Copyright 1905 By E. B. McDowellon a journey to Panama.




Original Panama Motion Pictures By Edward Burton McDowell



Heavy Seas Breaking Over Bow of the Ship — Panorama of About Fifty Wrecked French Tugs, Dredges and Scows in the Atlantic Mouth of the Canal — Panorama of Culebra Cut Taken from Front of a Special Train — Group of Jamaica Negro Laborers Shoveling Dirt in Culebra Cut — Repaired French Excavator Loading Dump Train in Culebra Cut — Modern American Steam Shovel Loading Dump Train in Culebra Cut — Train of Old French Dump Cars Discharging Load into a Neighboring Valley — French Troopship Passing through the Suez Canal — Fleet of Torpedo Boats Passing through Manchester Ship Canal of England — Glimpses of Street Life in Panama; Donkey Water Carts, Horsemen, Boys with Hoops, Boys in Footraces, etc. — Surf Dashing upon Rocks near Ruined City of Panama — Panorama of Bocas Del Toro, a Banana Port on the Atlantic Side of the Republic of Panama — Loading Bananas from a Lighter Boat in Lagoon — Loading Bananas from Cars on Dock — Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico — Unloading Bananas at New Orleans — Negroes Coaling Ship.





OPINIONS



Philadelphia Central Y. M. C. A.—Chas. H. Wevill, Manager
—
The possibilities of the illustrated lecture can scarcely be realized till the methods of this new man have been investigated.  Dr. McDowell's finished and unique work is as different from the the average illustrated lecture as is the Boston Symphony Orchestra from a little German band.  Lecture, delivery, personality, slides and original moving pictures, were all most delightful.  One year ago Dr. McDowell came to us a stranger.  Last night he finished a very successful return engagement, and today I have asked him to return next season, for two nights.




St. Louis Central Y. M.C.A.—E. C. Brownell, Secretary
—
Our committee and members experienced great satisfaction in listening to Dr. McDowell's lecture on Panama.  The views were of the best and the delivery of the lecture could hardly be improved upon.  I trust that we may have the pleasure of having him again on some other subject.




Boston Central Y. M. C. A.—J. P. Roberts, Secretary
—
I want to express our great satisfaction with Dr. McDowell's lecture on the Panama Canal.  It was illuminating as well as entertaining, and the pictures were certainly splendid.  We were agreeably surprised by one of the largest audiences of the season.




Logansport (Ind.) Journal


—Last night's appearance on the Y. M. C. A. course marked the third visit of Dr. McDowell to Logansport in as many years, which in itself tells of the public's appreciation of his work.




Pittsburg (Pa.) Times


—A lecture on Panama was given last evening by Dr. Edward Burton McDowell before the Pittsburg Teachers' Association.  The lecture was very interesting and was beautifully illustrated.




Baltimore Central Y. M. C. A.—B. A. Barlow, Jr., Secretary
—
Dr. McDowell's work takes its place in the fore rank of presentations of this character.  We shall not forget him in arranging next season's course.  (
Returned three successive seasons.
)




Leominster (Mass.) Gazette


—Dr. McDowell has a graceful way of talking, at times waxing eloquent, and is ever the genial American tourist who allows nothing to escape his observation.




Perth Amboy (N. J.) News


—The lecture cannot be too highly commended, and those fortunate enough to have attended it are congratulating themselves today.




Brooklyn Central Y. M. C. A.—C. W. Deitrich, Secretary
—
Dr. McDowell's first appearance in our Entertainment Course was a decided success, for I have heard nothing but praise of his work.  I would certainly place him in the very front rank of the illustrated lecturers of the day, and predict for him a brilliant career in his chosen profession.  (
Return Date.
)




Chicago Camera Club
 (
Department of Photography, the Art Institute
)—
The lecture is far beyond criticism.  The slides, in technical quality, cannot be improved upon and the coloring is perfect.  We were not only gratified with a demonstration of excellent negative and slide making, but also edified with the literary value of a story most delightfully told.  (
Third date given.
)




Gardner (Mass.) Daily


—Dr. McDowell is a lecturer of exceptional ability, with an easy and direct style of delivery and with the power of clear and accurate description, which won for him universal favor with the audience. * * *  A return date next season is the only thing which will satisfy our people.




Indianapolis (Ind.) Journal


—A delightful illustrated lecture was given last night in the Columbia Club ball room. * * *  The members of the Club were greatly pleased with the lecture and it is understood that Dr. McDowell will return next season.  
Columbia Club.




Cincinnati (O.) Commercial-Tribune


—Dr. Edward Burton McDowell, for many years a world rover, lectured on Panama at the Grand Opera House before the Unity Club.  The lecture won prolonged applause from the great audience which filled every seat.




London (Canada) Free Press


—The development of the great Panama canal was brought home to a London audience with intense realism last night through Dr. Edward Burton McDowell's most instructive and beautiful lecture.




Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel


—The lecture was so much enjoyed by the members and their friends that arrangements will be made with Dr. McDowell to return again next season.  (
Three engagements given, booked for fourth.
)




The Gazette, York, Pa. — Y. M. C. A. Star Course


—Rarely, if ever, have the people of this city had an opportunity to hear such an able lecture as Dr. Edward Burton McDowell gave last evening. * * *  His graphic descriptions of the far west were not only interesting but thrilling as well.  (
Return date.
)






Through Arizona Canyon and Yosemite to the Glaciers of Alaska



A Lecture of Great Interest and Merit, Illustrated by Motion Pictures and Superb Hand Painted Lantern Slides





Overhanging Rock, Yosemite Valley

Copyright 1902 By E. B. McDowell



The story of this journey is a condensation of three separate lectures, and, consequently, the slides represent the selected gems from three collections, which were made very largely from Dr. McDowell's own copyrighted negatives.  The motion pictures reproduce such animated subjects as:  Feeding Time on Pigeon and Ostrich Ranches in California — Surf Lashing a Rocky Coast — Parades during the Carnival of Roses — Waterfalls of the Enchanted Yosemite Valley — Panorama of the Yosemite Mountains — Yosemite Stage Coach passing through the 
Tunnel Tree
 in Mariposa Grove of Big Trees — Bathers Diving and Tobogganning — Locomotives Laboring Up Steep Mountain Grades — Ocean Steamer in a Storm, Tossing and Plunging through a Heavy Sea — Railway Panorama of the White Pass, Alaska — Klondike Miners Shooting the Perilous White Horse Rapids, etc.  These Moving Pictures are projected by the latest devised animated-picture apparatus, in the hands of a skilled assistant.




The Fiji Islands



The Story of a Summer Cruise, Illustrated by Original Moving Pictures and Copyrighted Photographic Slides Colored by a Master Hand






PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT



Suva, Fiji Islands, 27th Aug, 1902




To the Rokos and Bulis (Chiefs and Sub-Chiefs) of Fiji:




I write you in reference to the white chief who takes this letter to you.  His name is Dr. McDowell (Doketa Makidowele).  He is a chief from America (Mereke) and he wishes to visit some of your lands to search for some reports to take back with him to tell the people in America.  He also makes photographs and he may desire to take pictures of you, men, women or children, and pictures of anything he may see in places he may go to among you.  I command you all, Rokos, Bulis and people of the Fiji Islands, where this chief may go to, to assist him in every way you can in his travels amongst you.  I am,




(Signed) C. R. SWAYNE, 
Native Commissioner
.






SAMOA: The Tropical Paradise of the South Pacific.



The Story of a Summer Cruise, Illustrated by Original Motion Pictures, and Copyrighted Photographic Slides Colored by a Master Hand




The management takes pleasure in announcing the completion of two new lectures on South Sea Island subjects.  As the result of his extended wanderings in the Samoan, Fijian and Hawaiian groups, Dr. McDowell, with an equipment of three cameras, secured 40 motion pictures and more than 1,000 negatives of still subjects.  This enterprising traveler has the undisputed right to say that 
his motion picture camera was the first to be operated in either the Samoan or Fiji Islands;
 and that his moving pictures of savage life and customs in these remote lands are 
today the only ones in existence
.  A sea voyage of 40 days; various inter-island cruises by war-ship, small sailing craft and native canoe; long days of foot travel through interior tropical jungle and over volcanic mountain; sleeping at night beneath the thatched roof of some hospitable native chief; as Samoan or Fijian guest, the recipient of odd gifts and the frequent favor of savage dance and song; the earth for a bed, and at times subsisting upon the cocoanut, breadfruit, banana and wild pig of the primeval forest, are amoug the pleasant memories of this thorough going traveler.  Since the dissolution of the joint protectorate held for ten years over the islands, by the United States, England and Germany, and the final division of the group in 1899, between the United States and Germany, Samoa has come to be of special interest to the American people.  In the southern hemisphere, on the other side of the world and well down toward Australia, is Samoa, the happy land of sunshine, palm and song.  Who has met this mild Polynesian and breathed the soft atmosphere of his island world and even wondered why the late Robert Louis Stevenson so dearly loved his Samoan home?  Or who has heard fall from native lips the gentle greeting, 
Talofa!
 (love to you) and doubted the sincerity of his welcomer?





APIA — Looking Toward Robert Louis Stevenson's Villa

Copyright 1903 By E. B. McDowell




Original Samoan Moving Pictures By Edward Burton McDowell
 (Copyrighted)




Cocanut Lunch — Interior Forest

Copyright 1903 By E. B. McDowell


Samoan Dance by Twenty Men and Women; Canoe Race; War Dance; Waterfall; Food Offering and Processional March; Samoan Youths Bearing the Roasted Pig; Running Dance of Taupou and Manaia; Depositing the Cocoanuts; Moonlight Dance; Diving Scene by Thirty-five Native Boys; Firing Gun on U.S. Man-of-War; Surf Dashing on a Lava Walled Shore; Remarkable Samoan Children's Dance; Ship at Sea.





Samoan Dance — Portion of Motion Picture

Copyright 1903 By E. B. McDowell



The above reproduction is exact width of a segment of motion picture film 150 feet long.  This picture, in its entirety, consists of a series of 2,400 miniature negatives, no two exactly alike, which were made in rapid succession at the rate of one seventy-fifth of a second for each little picture.





Devotees of the 
Banana Habit

Copyright 1903 By E. B. McDowell




MR. D. C. DENMARK, Assistant.  Stereoptician and Motion Picture Expert





HOLLISTER BROTHERS, ENGRAVERS AND PRINTERS, CHICAGO