The Moving Picture World (1907)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. 681 JAMES ®. CLAl^SL of tHe Pittsburgh Colcitata Light Co. THE P1FLES1DBNT VnHad Film Satrico Protective Association off TJ S. A... and oho soado tfiao following snaoaa^e to tne trade. 'I feel that the United Film Service Protective Asso- ciation, organized in Chicago, December 14, will prove to be the very best step those interested in the moving picture business in all its branches could possibly take for the general'welfare of the business. The widespread interest in the movement was shown by the large attend- ance at the Chicago meeting. Almost every film renting, jobbing and manufacturing concern in the United States was represented, which in itself shows how well all branches of the business realize the urgent necessity for some action toward the general uplifting of the moving, picture industry. I believe the forming of this associa- tion marks the beginning of the end of the various forms of abuse to which this great industry has been subject, and the abolishment of these abuses means the beginning of the most prosperous era'the manufacturers, renters and exhibitors have ever known. The film manufacturers will, I believe, in the near fut- ure make film subjects such as we have never before dreamed of. as they will have the assurance that they will have the members of this association. to properly handle and rent their productions at a price in keeping with their value, and they will feel that they can put more time, money and thought into their productions than if this association were not in existence. What incentive has the manufacturer at the present time to get out a splendid film production, and have some film exchange send it out the first day to an exhibitor who runs six or seven reels per week, in a city of, say, 50,000 inhabi-' tants, have him run it one day and return it when prob- ably only one or two thousand people in the town have seen it, and no other exhibitor in the town will ever show it again ? In this manner a beautiful production , is killed forever in this city, when not one-tenth of its | inhabitants have ever seen it. Does it not seem a shame that a manufacturer will spend possibly thousands of dollars and months of valuable time getting up a great picture, only to be discarded after running one day? It is enough to discourage manufacturers trying to produce you might say "works of art," when they are treated in this manner. I have been advised, and believe, that a certain subject ran five hundred consecutive nights in Paris; in the United States it lasts one day. The exhibitors are themselves to blame mostly for the poor films they may have shown, because the demand for new subjects is so great that the makers do not have the time to turn out subjects you would otherwise receive. I hope the exhibitor does not feel that this association is going to hurt him, as it is exactly the reverse, as the public should be the first consideration, and the exhibitor the next, for on them we all depend-and the exhibitor certainly does not presume that we are going to choke off the source of our existence. I believe that with the films that are going to be produced, and each succeeding one better than the one before, and the elimination of old, scratched and worn films, the patronage of the five- cent theaters will steadily increase and the exhibitor will again be back on the same money-making basis he once was. Personally, I advocate the discontinuance of the use of old scratched or worn films, also the abolishment of six or seven changes of subjects per week, and the stop- ping of the production of films showing crime or sug- gestiveness. If the manufacturers will confine their energies to pro- ducing comedies, comedy dramas, fairy tales and clean dramas, I believe the present agitation against the moving picture shows in some cities will soon cease. Nfow that this association has been started by the elec- tion of officers, I ask the members and also the exhibitors throughout the country to give these officers their support in every way, and by the combined efforts of all persons interested in any way in this great industry, we will be able to lift it from the depths into which it has fallen and put it on a basis which will not only make it profit- able, but educational arid instructive, as well as amusing, and by so doing, perpetuate a business which at the pres- ent time is fast cothing to an untimely end. Let the exhibitor make his place bright, cosy and in- viting, and cater to the best element of his town, and not have it passed by as a place not fit for ladies or children. Let all the bitter competition and trying to put the other fellow out of business stop, and let us all work together as one, for the betterment of the most popular priced amusement" the world has ever seen, and which should be on a par with the highest class theater, and which de- serves better treatment than it has been accorded. Art, from the world's beginning, has found its pedestal in time; so it will be with animated photography. In conclusion, I hope the enthusiasm which is now being displayed will not be allowed to die down, and that the meeting to be held in Buffalo on January IX, 1908, will see the business placed on a foundation so solid that it will prosper as never before..- . Yours truly, James B. Clapk.