The New York Clipper (December 1914)

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December 19 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. 11 THE MOST TALKED OR SCREEN COMEDIENNE MARIE DRESSLER IN A WHOLE3AI EDY OF" LAUGHS AND R In which the SUPERB COMEDY CAST recognized as the greatest laugh-makers in the history of Motion Pictures support her I IM O I- U O I IM © CHARLES CHAPLIN MABEL NORMAND ■■■■ - ->?:.. rv.:._ ■ ;■<?■ ■ ::#p}W£$ 5 Parts of absolutely Excrutiatingly, Ludicrous and Side Splitting Situations Released Dec. 21 On the Regular ALCO Program Branches Girdling America IOIM 2ia W. 42d S-t. ►m^ York MOFF 8CELY, THE GREAT DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICAN MOTION PICTURES, BY ABTH0B J. LAKO. (Export Manager, Nicholat Power Company.) Those who have watched the remarkable development of the American motion picture industry might well express surprise that a great advance Id an entirely new direction is soon to take place, In fact, is talcing place. Vet the commercial possibilities of the busi- ness for the manufacturers and producers of the United States have not been half de- veloped. On the surface this may sound like n radical statement, yet it is really conserva- tive. It might have been made much stronger. l-'or up to the present the American motion Picture industry has depended almost entire- ly on this country for development, while nearly all the rest of the world lies bractlc- ally untouched, quite undeveloped. The first - early endeavors to exploit foreign markets, endeavors that have been greatly stimulated by the European War, have borne fruit, and the wise film producers and theatre equip- ment dealers are making baste to follow the lead of the successful pioneers. The tremen- dous nosslMlltlcs of the export Held offer a golden harvest To realize Just what the rest of the world means to us, it la well to compare with this virgin field the progress that has been made In this country, where the opportunities are really smaller both by reason of smaller area and population. All over the world, from ocean to ocean, in the Arctic Zones as well as on the Equator, no matter what may be the customs or traditions of the people, re- gardless of race, language or local conditions, will motion pictures be found. And they bave come to stay; they have come to amuse, to instruct,. to educate. In each country the people see pictures depleting scenes not only from their own lives, but from tbe lives of others In far distant lands. For there Is a diversity to photoplays that requires tbe Inclusion of every clime and every nation- ality, that discloses to tbe view even the life of the ancients. All this In addition to the great news events and tbe wonderful educational fllmB that are flashed on thou- sands of screens all tbe way 'round the globe. The public demand seems insatiable; the cry always is for more pictures and for a pester variety of subjects. It is this popu- lar response that bas made possible tbe com- mercial success of the motion picture in- dustry. The development of the industry bas been one of the marvels of tbe last decade, and while in the aggregate this development has Industrially been confined to certain sec- tions, indirectly it has a tremendous Influence upon all sections; although cameras, films and projection machines are made In only a comparatively few localities, their use is universal while the manufacture of motion picture equipment is restricted to this extent, the commercial possibilities are as great in one part of the world as in another; wberever people have eyes to see with, the motion pic- ture business makes fortunes, sometimes great and sometimes small, for the men who, In various ways, are identified with the Industry. Coming back to the scene of the greatest development of motion pictures, a tew figures will Indicate the tremendous growth of the industry. Tbe total business last year repre- sented investments and expenditures of moro ttian 1300,000,000, wbicb is said to make It tbe fourth largest Industry In tbe United States. Tut* amount is distributed among (he manufacturers of machines and dims and equipment for the production of both these Items, also theatre equipment, the theatres themselves and tbe property on which they stand, it will be seen, therefore, that tin financial benedclarles have not been limited to a few men, for In addition to those who have been more energetic and farseelng than their fellows in tbe development of the busi- ness, and who bave benefited proportionately, there are thousands of men wbo bave given up other businesses to engage in tbe ex- hibition of motion pictures. These also helped" reap tbe great harvest. It is said that more than 20,000 picture theatres In tbe United States received *u,000.000,000 paid admissions during 1018, these theatres show- ing 06.000,000 feet of mm each night. New York City may truly be said to.be the centre of the Industry, it has more than 1,200 motion .picture theatres, which are said to be attended by 72O;0OO persons dally at an average admission price of. eight cents. Of course, In'some of the fine,«theatres tbe prices run higher, fifty cents being ordinarily charged for the best seats. In nearly every other city and village in the country the number of theatres is just as large In pro- portion to the population. , There has been a marked Improvement In the character of motion picture theatres all over tbe world. Even In the largest cities any little old structure or abandoned store was accepted as an exhibition hall. This tins almost entirely been done away with. With the Improvements that have been made in the character of both the subjects and the Dims, and In their projection on the screen, has come a decided advance In the character of the theatre Itself. This has Lceh not merely an attempt to make the sur- roundings correspond in attractiveness to the improved character of tbe photoplays and appearance of tbe pictures, but the movemct lias been very largely In deference, to tho audiences and to add to their comfort con- venience and safety. Wise motion picture theatre managers now make every pooslble appeal to secure a high grade clientele and, having secured it make every effort to give continued satisfaction. It is for that reason that tbe managers reek photoplays tbat they know will be suited to the tastes nnd desires of the audiences, and for the same reason that tbe producers do all In their power to meet this demand. This Is one of the principal factors in the great - commercial success of American fllui producers—they have studied the tastes and desires or the public. We ore speaklug now not merely from a local standpoint, for the American dim manufacturers who are seek- ing the great foreign markets have shown the same wise, broad-minded policy in their relations with foreign buyers. Just as photo- plays depleting tbe customs, the thoughts, the activities and traditions of Other coun- tries appeal to audiences In the United States, so do American films which show Mir home life, tbe industrial progress, tbe civic development peculiar to the country, the business life of the metropolis of a hemi- sphere, or the old cowboy and Indian scenes which were common in tho early days of onr Western development and which are now being re-enacted for motion pictures—so do these objects carry something new or at least tell a human interest story that Is somewhat different from that which the residents of another land may be accustomed to in their evcry-day surroundings. It is estimated tbat during tbe present year American Sim manufacturers have ex- ported more than twenty-five thousand miles of pictures. It is no wonder that many of the well known picture actors and actresses of this country are as popular In Europe as in tbe United States. A single motion pic- ture may reach fifteen million spectators. While It is being enjoyed In New York. Chi- cago or any hamlet In this continent at the same time it may bo applauded la Lodon, Stockholm or Sydney. Yet, In spite of all of this expansion, Latin-America, tbe Orient and Africa, have beon practically neglected by the 'American film manufacturer, and In- terest In these markets only became mani- fest after tbe crippling of European motion picture plants since the beginning of tbe great war. New York may easily be regarded as the centre of the America motion picture indus- try. The Nicholas l'ower Company, which Is by far the largest manufacturer of pro- jecting machines In the world. Is located there, while there are fourteen large con- cerns in New York and vicinity tbat manu- facture films. The Nicholas Power Company not only makes most of the machines used in tbe United States, but exports them In large quantities. A namber of tbe film companies arc now endeavoring to develop their foreign trado In all tbe world's markets. The film business bas grown so rapidly that manu- facturers have not been able to make them- selves very familiar with the foreign market, but those tbat bave made a study of tbe export field are beginning to be well rewarded for their efforts. They are now la a position to furnish the buyer of any other country photoplay films that cover n wide range of subjects and action. They can provide sen- sational melodramas, war ploys, love storlos, society dramas, tbe classics, Indian uprisings nuil humorous aims without end. Another striking Illustration of the tre- mendous development of motion pictures in- dustrially in tbe United States Is the state- ment recently made that the business employed more than 50,000 men and women. Yet, significant as this total Is, it refers only to the manufacturing end of the business and the production of picture films. Moreover, the figures appear to be very conservative. The liim producers in New York and in other parts of the country each employ stock com- panies of from twenty to thirty players. For the big feature productions supernumeraries often are employed by tbe hundreds anil sometimes by the thousands. Connected with the picture dramatic companies are tbe di- rectors and the camera operators. There aro ulco the operatives la tbe mechaalcal depart- ments of the film plant and In tbe projection machine and camera factories. Add to these the office forces of the various companies and the employees of other concerns directly or Indirectly connected with tbe manufacture of films, tho production of tbe pictures, the manufacture of cameras and projection ma- chines, and tho total will probably exceed 100,000. In addition there are the ticket sellers, doormen, attendants, etc., of the 20,000 theatres, which adds possibly 100,000 or more men and women to those otherwise connected with the operation of tbe motion picture Industry. These figures are multiply- ing rapidly. Unfortunately we can only give those for tbe Industry in the United Stater, as statistics do not show the total number of theaties tbroughont the world. So rapidly In the motion picture developing tbat new the- nt res are being erected In every land. It speaks well for tbe future of the bust- cess, Insuring not only permanency, but a high standard throughout tbe world, that Bradically all of those who bave taken up te exhibition of motion pictures realise the dignity of this new business and bave shown their appreciation of this fact by doing all In their power to place the theatres on a high plane. When we say that motion pic- tures bavo come to stay, the expression sounds exceedingly weak. Motion pictures, ns nn industry, a business, an art and u cl'.'tlUlng factor, to use the old expression oi.ee again, are only in their infancy. A FEW MINUTES WITH LEWIS J. SELZNICK, GENERAL MANAGER, WORLD FILM CORPORATION. In conversation recently with Lewis J. Sclznlck general manager of the World Film Corporation, we learned that the World Film Corporation came Into being Kcb. 14. 1014. Mr. Selznlck bought out the old World Spe- ctal Co. and the Pompeii Film Company, lie then proceeded to secure the film products of the Shuberts. Tho next contract ho closed was with Win. A. Brady, for the exclusive right to manu- facture and distribute his pictures. Then con- tracts were closed by which bo took over the Cbas. B. Blaney Picture Flay Company. The next big institution to sign with Mr. Selznlck was the Llebler company, and at the mime time he closed with Paul Armstrong for his greatest successes, "Alias Jimmy Vnlentlno' f and "Tho Deep Purple." World Film Corporation market its products. Through bis personal efforts Lillian Itutioll ngrccd to make a photoplay version of her greatest success, "Wlldllrc," and Lew Fields, tho noted comedian. Is now working on a plcturlzatlon of bit great success, "Old Dutch." lie concluded u contract with Mrs. Medlll McCormlck, tliu notcu louder of the suffrage movement, by which tlu World Film Corporation will handle the suffrage photo- play, "Your Girl and Mine," on a unique helling plan, which will bo mutually bcnonclnl to the auffrago cause ami tho World Film exhibitors, <Bert Lovy, the famous artlst-entcrtolnor, wbo Is known to vuutfovillo audiences throughout the world, Is preparing a series of phutonlay novelties for Mr. Selznlck. 10d- ward B. Curtis decided thnt Mr, Hclznlck was (he most capable man in the picture world to handle his .Indian picture, In the Land of the Head Hunters, upon which ho spent three years, and a small fortune to malic. Tho acute observer of the doings In this field knows that Mr. Selznlck never uiakin an announcement Hint he has to retract. Whatever statement ho innkes Is ono that run be banked on. Ho when ho was asked regarding the future aimotmconicnts of tbe World Film Corporation he said that thero were eomo big ones to lie inniln that would startle the moving picture world, but nt the present moment he could not make any final Hlutcmcnts, From the Colonial Motion Picture Corpora- tion be secured Sir Gilbert Parker's photo- play. "Tbe Scats of the Mighty," and other features, He has taken over the entire out- put of tho Dyreda Art Film Corporation, and recently the California Motion Ilcture Cor- poration arranged with him to have tbe Considering Hint within n short period of six months Mr. Hclznlck lins made the World Film Corporation's tininc n staple one wher- ever pictures are considered, he can feel cer- tain flint the year 101-1 was one Hint he need not be ashamed of. It may be considered a happy augury for 1015.