Camera - April 14, 1923 to February 16, 1924 (April 1923-February 1924)

ESTABLISHED 1918— A FILM MAGAZINE AND A FILM NEWSPAPER IN ONE Entered as second class matter, August 11. 1918. at the postofnce at Los Angeles, Cal., under act of March 3, 1879. W. (DOC) LAWSON Publisher and Manager DELBERT E. DAVENPORT Editor JOHN CORNYN Advertising Manager FRED W. FOX _ Advertising Copy GENE WOOLWAY Studio Representative Marbridge Building NEW YORK CITY H. H. CONGER COMPANY. National Advertising Representatives First Nat'l Bank Building Holbrook Building CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO Price 10 cents per copy, $3.50 per year in Los Angeles County. Outside Zone, $4.00 per year. Canada, $4.50, Foreign, $5.00. Issued on Saturday afternoon of each week at 6318 Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California. Phone 439-869 Address All Communications to Camera! Vol. VI. SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1923 No. 11 In view of the early approach of the Fourth of July again, let us resurrect that old saw: Beware of the gun that's not loaded! Also, mind your fire-cracking if you mind losing a finger or two. Any man who takes advantage of another man when he' s down on his knees need not expect to stay on his own feet so very long. Time sweeps the unfair into the discard unaided by mortal man. There's going to be a revolution in motion pictures one of these days, but it won't be a Trotsky or a Lenine at the head of it, and, when it's all over, some of the present-day leaders among producers will probably go under. The east had scarcely recovered from a blizzard when a man-killing heat wave hit that section of the country. From frigidity to torridity seems like a silly jump to endure when it's so simple to take a jump to Southern California. Gradually the old-time, machine-made program picture is passing into discard, as one by one the producers are forsaking that field in favor of the so-called "special." Yea and verily, it is highly possible that in another couple of years you'd hardly know a photoplay, so different and better it will be. There seems to be some doubt in the minds of some people as to the status of the motion picture industry so far as prosperity is concerned. All doubts should be dispelled by the simple statement of the fact that more money is being spent on film production this year than at any time in the entire history of the business. This is status enough to be optimistic over, we think. Motion pictures about Hollywood are all right as far as they go, but more good would come of it if there could be injected a more serious note in all pictorial references to the home life of this community. The sooner the world knows that Hollywood people — including motion picture people — live just as people live in any other wholesome American city the better it will be for all concerned. Exaggerations one way or the other will not help one iota. A movie a day keeps the "blues" away just as an apple a day will keep the doctor away. Now of all times should it become the habit of all civilized peoples to patronize the motion pictures more than ever, for an increase in patronage at this time will prove a great boon in encouraging the many improvements in screen fare which is so much demanded by the public. It takes money to pay for improvements and the activities around box-offices are requisite to making possible the defraying of the expenses. Hence let there be all the activities required since it is all for the common weal that motion pictures should be improved. Next week the first annual Motion Picture Exposition opens at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Out of common patriotism — an element which should be universally common in all Filmland — this enterprise should be given the utmost support by the picture people. It cannot be said that this rather gigantic affair has been advertised either judiciously enough or extensively enough, but it seems certain a sufficient number of people of the great general public know about it to insure record-breaking crowds. The very novelty of the idea of having a motion picture exposition is alone amply powerful to prove a big drawing card. There is a veritable influx of child artists amazingly apparent in Hollywood just now. Mothers and fathers are bringing their off-spring from the north, east, south and west and all in-between directions as they never did before since the movies became the universal rage. Meanwhile there is very small demand for such juvenile talent. It is being proven daily that it is most difficult to develop second Jackie Coogans and second Baby Peggys and someone should take the trouble to broadcast the information relative to the great surplus of child aspirants here at present. It was demonstrated at a certain studio just this week that the issuing of a call for children brings at least fifty for each job. It is to be hoped the ratio will not be increased simply as a matter of sparing some doting parents from bitter disappointments such as are inevitable in such a big majority of the cases. Myron Zobel, publisher of Screenland, a fan magazine, and Hollywood Confessions, ostensibly a sensational publication, is "on the pan" on the charge of his editorial policies and various tactics being unfair to Hollywood and detrimental as well. One of the local newspapers has been "jumping unto him with both feet" and many merchants have joined in a movement to make known their disapproval of him most emphatically. Meanwhile Mr. Zobel has moved bag and baggage to New York, where he does his own work at least, and it is highly doubtful whether or not he is justified in advertising that his Screenland comes from Hollywood at all, especially in view of the fact that it is not even printed here. He has had wonderful opportunities to do Hollywood many good turns, but evidently he has not elected to be conspicuous as this city's benefactor. While he does not maliciously malign this center of film-making, yet there are unsavory intimations in many of the stories he publishes and for this he can be blamed. Here's hoping, however, he will prove it is all a mistake and that he really is a good friend to the old home town, which certainly has been good to him.