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

0 f ^ c i c n c e 1^3 as has Siegmund Lubin, whose name is known throughout the universe and wherever the cinmatograph is in use. Scientists, merchants, statesmen, men of art and letters will go down to posterity as having achieved remarkable successes. Lubin will be always remembered as the genius who combined dramatic power with the wizardry of finance and made it possible to commercialize the film industry and place it upon a plane of remarkable efficiency so that those who wished to invest their capital in the business could find there a stable, successful undertaking. Starting in a most obscure way in his own optical store which he established in Philadelphia soon after his arrival in this country, Mr. Lubin began to perfect his ideas as to the cinematograph. When he had progressed to the extent of perfecting a suitable machine, he devoted himself to the camera, and when he had what he wanted he started to take the pictures himself as an experiment. In those days greater liberties vi^ere taken as to details in the way of production, and often now when this picture genius steps into his studios and sees the efforts of some of the latter-day directors and their temperamental efforts, he silently wonders what they v.'ould have done a dozen years ago, had they not possessed the facilities which they do at the present time. It was not long before every one in Philadelphia began to know of Lubin and Lubin films. His reputation grew as the business prospered ; and keen to discern the future of the industry, Mr. Lubin engaged in the exhibition business, and four of the most beautiful picture-houses in the city, located on Market Street, the city's greatest transient thoroughfare, made