The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

of Science ni which organized in 1908, following the formation of the so-called "film trust" in the same year; and it will be observed that the independents' mode of business procedure was much like that of its rival, both as to its holding company and the method of distributing its product, but, unlike the well-disciplined and firmly entrenched G. F., the Motion Picture Sales Company was "in wrong" almost from the outset, though through its offices a tremendous volume of business was done, but friction came principally from two groups of gentlemen, and the warfare these indulged in probably has had no parallel in the history of "the show business." This warfare first brought about the dissolution of the Sales Company and the formation of two competing bodies, one called the Film Supply Company, and these in turn gave way ultimately to the two strong organizations of to-day, namely, the Universal and the Mutual. The development of both of these groups of independent manufacturers has been truly extraordinary, yet v/hatever ground has been gained by either represents a survival after the most bitterly fought series of legal and physical combats ever recorded of an industry replete with sensational incidents in its progress. The contests for supremacy between the theatrical syndicates and the old-time pitched battles between the rival circus magnates were in line for Carnegie peace medals when compared with the endless warfare — ^still prevalent — in filmdom. The principal participants in the various legal and physical encounters were men who have done constructive pioneer work in the development of the motion picture, men who have made fortunes in the last ten years and most of whom own