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

312 Ct)e CSeatte ly publication called "Town Talk," of which Herman E. L. Beyer is the editor. Mr. Beyer being a prolific photoplaywright has naturally devoted the greater portion of this weekly to the motion picture, and in this policy he has steadily wielded increased influence — in fact, one may really read more interesting first-hand news of film doings in "Town Talk" than in some of the trade issues. Surely no newspaper, daily or weekly, not entirely given over to studio activities can claim to compare with the little Newark weekly, which is to be found on the desks of producers, editors and directors in all the studios. In March, 1914, the publishers of the "Photoplay Magazine" launched as an annex to that publication a most inviting little monthly, entitled "The Photoplay Scenario." In appearance and in its make-up generally, the little magazine resembles "The Photoplay Author" — the oldest of periodicals of this nature existent. Interest in the newer arrival, however, has been sufficient to indicate how large is the public which such publications can appeal to. Even now the number of distinctly scenario magazines is as large as that of the musical or dramatic fields, nor is there any evidence at hand to indicate that interest in such publications will decline in the near future. Some persons believe that the plethora of stage plays makes for a retrograde movement for the scenario writer, whereas just the contrary is the case. Stage plays require the aid of the scenario expert quite as much as the original photoplaj^ and while this feature is looked after by staff writers in the studios, the attention necessary creates a larger rrarket for real film plots. Besides, the present vogue of stage plays is likely to