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^t^-Q INTRODUCTION 1 HIS is the complete story of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, the world's greatest motion picture enterprise. The story of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation is the story of the motion picture. For it is this organization which has made the motion picture. Seven years ago, Adolph Zukor saw in the motion picture, then only an amusing toy, amazing and tremendous possibilities. He realized that if it were properly developed it could become a world factor, an international language, an entertainment and educational medium such as the world had never known. He knew that if he could persuade celebrated stage stars to appear in photoplays, he would be making the first step toward the future. Sarah Bernhardt accepted his offer, after many lesser stars had turned it down. The other stars were willing to follow in her lead, however, and with the founding by Mr. Zukor of the Famous Players Film Company, in 1912, the modern motion picture was really born. The possibilities of the screen were realized also, almost at the same time, by Jesse L. Lasky and Arthur S. Friend. In 1913, they formed Jesse L. Lasky Feature Photoplay Com- pany, and they and their associates worked independently on the same ideals that actuated Mr. Zukor. The two companies pursued parallel paths independently until 1916, when they merged into the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. In the beginning, this was largely a holding company acting through subsidiaries; but in 1917, the subsidiaries became through merger part of the larger company. The corporation has an authorized capital stock of 200,000 shares with no nominal or par value. Its shares are the only motion picture securities of any kind listed and traded in on the New York Stock Exchange. At the time of writing, it was selling at $115 a share. Securities of some other motion picture companies are traded in to a limited extent in the outside mar- ket, known as the curb, the highest priced being quoted at $1.50 for shares of $100 par value. The corporation conducts a world-wide business. In addition to its twenty-eight branch offices in the United States, it maintains six branches in Canada, and offices in London, Sydney, Wellington, Mexico City, Paris, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Buenos Ayres, Rio de Janiero, Santiago, Havana, Tokyo, Shanghai and Manila. Starting from nothing but an idea a few years ago, today this corporation encircles the world. It employs the finest artists, writers, directors, technicians. It produces the finest pictures, Paramount-Artcraft, known all over the world as the ultimate in motion picture art. This organization, which has led all the others since the beginning of the motion picture, is now opening its greatest year, the greatest year in the history of the screen. Totally reorganized, enlarged both in scope and size, the Famous Players-Lasky Corpora- tion will give to exhibitors and to the public greater service and greater enjoyment than ever before. Paramount-Artcraft pictures will continue to be the splendid force that has carried this industry forward, year after year, to unprecedented success. [ 5 ]