Moving Picture News (Jan-Jun 1913)

14 THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS WILLIAM LORD WRIGHT'S PAGE A Nursery Jingle Jack Spratt would eat no fat, His wife would eat no lean. They had no time, in which to dine — And view the picture screen! THE real ''picture play fan" is loyal to his favorites. The actors and actresses who pose in the pictures each have his or her devoted admirers. There are many instances where patrons will not attend the moving picture theatre unless this or that actor or actress is appearing on the day's program. The "matinee idol" has been supplanted by the "moving picture idol." So intense has the admiration become that film concerns are working overtime to supply information concerning members of their stock companies. Every film editorial department and every trade journal, and many newspapers, receive countless requests anent the personalities of leading film players. The majority of these artists have graduated from the legitimate stage of the moving picture studio. They took time by the forelock and braved the contemptuous comments of fellow players several years ago, and now they are reaping the rewards of good salaries and no one-night stands. The waiting list of every moving picture studio is now filled with the names of actors and actresses who a few short years ago would have refused to appear in moving pictures. There was a time when the manager of the moving picture "show," conducted in a storeroom with the aid of a bed-sheet and a brazen-throated phonograph, was rather in disrepute. To-day ten millions of people delight to do honor to the exhibitor of Cinematograph offerings. Not many years ago the moving picture "show" was conducted 'midst the humblest of surroundings. To-day the finest theatres in this country are open to the tabloid drama. Stageland's most formidable rival is Filmland, and the word "movies" is synonymous with uplifting entertainment for young and old. The year 1912 was a momentous year for Filmland. In 1912 Cinematography was recognized by pulpit and press; saffron-hued newspapers, which habitually laid all the human misdeeds to the moving pictures, ceased their attacks, and manv of them are now conducting "picture play pages." Thousands of churches installed moving picture projecting machines Pictures having to do with Biblical and educational subjects became popular. Moving pictures were shown in public schools and, according to some educators, moving pictures will revolutionize courses of study in the classrooms. # * * * We notice that the straight silhouette is quite comme il faut, as we say in Boston picture theatres. * * * * The effect of moving pictures on legitimate theatrical entertainments during the past two years has been startling. Moving pictures have supplanted the old-time melodrama and the former circuits of theatres throughout the country showing "tank dramas" have been put out of business. Not only this, but more pretentious theatrical attractions have suffered. Many of the patrons of highpriced theatres are refusing to pay $1.50 for a seat when they can enjoy the pictures for admission prices of from five to twentv-five cents. The best actors and actresses in this and other countries are no longer ashamed to pose. Bernhardt blazed the trail and was paid $30,000 to appear in filmed productions of "Queen Elizabeth" and "Camille." The Frohmans and Schuberts became interested and are heavy stockholders in moving picture ventures. James K. Hackett, Mrs. Fiske. Tames O'Neill, Lillian Russell, Marshall P. Wilder, Nat Goodwin and many others, have recently posed for film plays. We predicted a year ago that the stars of the legitimate stage would be seen in the pictures and we were laughed to scorn Developments proved our assertion a fact and to-day even the greatest in Stageland delight to do honor to the pictures. The latest "dope" is that Charles Frohman, H. A. Spanuth and Alf Hayman have formed a $1,000,000 stock company which will produce motion picture films in which all the prominent artists will appear. The stars thus posing for the films will include Maude Adams William Gillette, Alia Nazimova. Hattie Williams, Richard Carle. Billie Burke, Edith Wynne Matthison, John Drew, Julia Sanderson and others. Besides these recognized stars, the casts supporting them will be virtually the same as those seen on the stage. * * * * The moving picture has brought the theatre to millions of people in all countries who had hardly even heard of that institution before. It has also brought fame and fortune to numerous individuals who, ten years ago, were unknown. Carl Laemmle, a, few years ago, conducted a clothing establishment in Oshkosh, Wis. When the moving picture was in its infancy he started a small "storeshow." Like others in that early period, he made easy money. He used the profits to open other "shows." He sold them for profit and, entering Chicago, he started a film exchange and sold and rented films for other exhibitors. To-day his fortune is estimated at $3,000,000. M. A. Neff, president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, a few years ago was proprietor of a moving picture theatre at Marion, Ohio. He sold his business and entered the field at Cincinnati. He conceived the idea of organizing the exhibitors into protective associations. The first meeting was held at Columbus, Ohio, only a few years ago. To-day the Motion Picture 'Exhibitors' League of America boasts of a hundred thousand members, and nearly every state in the Union boasts of state auxiliaries. State and national conventions are held yearly and the leading statesmen of the nation think it an honor to be invited to address the meetings. "Will there be radical changes in the character of present moving picture plays?" was asked of an authority. "The character of the regular moving picture film release is undergoing a radical change right now," was the prompt reply. "The film stories will be more dignified and more convincing. Crime pictures, so called, are being rapidly eliminated, and exaggerated action is to be a thing of the past. The alleged comedy which ridicules the racial characteristics of Jews, Irish, German and others will no longer be tolerated. The drama and comedy of the 'everyday people' will be the vogue before many weeks. The cowboy picture is also undergoing a change. The sensational play of Western border life is being supplanted with the historical Western drama of a spectacular character and every care is to be taken by the majority of film manufacturers to release productions of a refined and moral nature." ^ ^ % ^ Thomas A. Edison is devoting much of his attention to Cinematography. Talking the other day in his laboratory over at Orange, N. J., he asserted that he was working on a series of educational films that would revolutionize our educational system. He plans to substitute educational films for text-books in the eight lower grades of the public schools and teach the children, as we study nature, through the eye. "To teach the children you've got to awaken their minds and keep their interest at the highest pitch," said Mr.. Edison. "I intend to try and do away with the text-books in the lower grades, substituting in their place moving pictures. We've got a lot of hieroglyphics — the alphabet. What is there in that to interest a child? When we get moving pictures in the school the child will be so interested that he will hurry to school for fear he will miss some of the interesting pictures having to do with nature, with history, with psychology, geography, etc. It's the natural way to teach — through the eye. We learn from observation."