Camera (April 1920-April 1921)

CAMERA ! "The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry" Page Five 1111 V The Crgest of the Moiion Pictum Musiry DEVOTED TO THE NEWS OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY LOLA B. ROBBINS AND RAYMOND CANNON, PUBLISHERS Entered as second class matter, August 11, 1918, at the postofflce at Los Angeles, Cal., under act of March 3, 1879. = Raymond Cannon Managing Editor = Fanchon Royer Editor Scott Macnicoll Adv. Manager = Ora Brook Circulation Manager III! Illllllllllll Vol. Ill = Price 10 cents per copy, $2.00 per year in Los Angeles County. Outside Zone One, $2.50 per year = S Edited and printed on Saturday afternoon of each week at 4513 Sunset Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California. (Holly 1539.) = if SATURDAY. JUNE 26, 1920 THE EXHIBITOR WILL DECIDE Prom over the entire country, the exhibitor has issued a cry which has taken on the note of a warning. Obviously, he is dissatisfied with the conditions under which he must operate, and his dissatisfaction is more than ]ia})lo to alter them materially. The day seems to have passed when the picture showman, either big or little, must or will receive cheerfully any sort of a deal that is handed him by the releasing' organizations. He is demanding' what he considers square treatment, and we have an idea that he will obtain what he desires. That he is at present a vital factor to be dealt with, was demonstrated by the Exhibitor's Convention at Cleveland, this month, Avhere unpi'ecedented things were accomplished in that department of the industry. One thing is cei'tain, if many of the alleged unfairnesses of the big organizations are sul)stantiated, a revolution wiTT insue that is bound to reach clear through to the producer. Brieliy, the independent exchanges Avill receive the patronage heretofore cornered by capital, which will naturally open up unlimited po.ssil)ilities for meritorious independent productions which have had littl(> chance under the okl regime. Will such be the case, oi x<\\\ the big exchanges discover in time that in this instance, the welfare of the exhibitor means not only their own progress, but their vtry life? THE INDIFFERENT ACTOR It is presumably inevital)le that Ave shall be entertaiitcd and initated respectively by the work of clever actors and unsatisfactory ones. Moreover, it may even be necessary, if we wish to retain a compai'ative set of values, for such to be the case, since it is by contrasts that standards are established. There is, however, one characteristic brought repeatedly to our attention recently, which must be eliminated from the actor's list of possessions for the benefit of himself, his company, and the discriminating fan. This is because there is no trait that, quick to reveal its i^resence to the educated cinema patron, is more annoying than mere indifference. It is surprising to note the number of clever actors ami well-known stars Avho have been allowing carelessness to ruin productions made by them under contracts procured on the strength of thoughtful work done in the past. The fact that an actor may hold a long term contract does not justify work of an inferior nature, and even if he considers only his own welfare, he should be brought to the realization that •<uch a couise Avill bring direct disaster upon himself. During the past few months there has been a growing tendency for actors of ability to slump in this inexcusable fashion. The producer should remedy such a condition l)y refusing to accept slighted, poorly thrown together work. That he neglects this displays inefficiency on more parts than one. The day of hit or miss, slimsy picture construction belongs to the dead past. It should be forgotten. WHY THANK ANYBODY? "A resolution presented at the Cleveland convention last week, to thank the trade press, was withdrawn when an exhibitor-delegate read from 'Wid's' an article he termed a deliberate ^mis-statement. The convention seemingly agreed with the speaker. Regardless, though, why thanks to the trade press ? What does the trade press do that entitles it to thanks ? Whenever a showman wants to give thanks for publicity, give it to a daily or a magazine. That 's publicity that's extra, not in the trade pi-ess that must publish the news of the ti-ade. Some of the trade press is always upholding the; trade, 'friendly' — because it thinks there's money in that policy. Others of the trade press may be against the trade when there isn't enough money in it for them, and so on. Don't kid the trade press and don't let the trade press kid you, nor any theatrical paper, like Variety or anything else. A showman runs his theatre or show to attract business. Yes? Well, a newspaper of any trade runs itself to attract business the way that looks the easiest to it. AH show business is showmanship which takes in the ever-increasing trade press." The above extract from the current issue of Variety reminded us of .several recent local demonstrations of the attitude herein treated. Why say more?