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TWO
FOX FOLKS
STORY OF 19 YEARS OF
UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT
Fox Film Corporation Anniversary Directs Attention to An Extraordinary Record of Persistent Progress
^ I ■'HIS issue of Fox Folks is * designed to commemora t e nineteen years of achievement by a certain magician of motion pictures, whose business is amusement — and whose amusement is business. '
It is to give to newcom ■ ers among us something of the history of the man who is our leader and whose name is borne by the 'V gigantic motion picture produci n g and distributing organization W'e serve; w’hose success is our success.
It is difficult to review' the accomplishments of William Fox without allow'ing ardor to approach glorification. And glorification is one thing Mr. Fox doesn't w'ant, especially from his employes. Devotion and friendship — yes. But the hallelujah stuff — that’s out.
Such attitude of mind is to be expected from a man w'hose philosophy runs like this: “I regard this life only as an adventure. Money making is an idle pursuit: the only thing worth while is achievement.”
generally regarded as requisite to success in business — that is, all save a sound brain and a keen intelligence to direct it — he has risen steadily to a singularly enviable position. He has done more than his fair share tc provide the world, through his pictures, with entertainment, education, and in unlimited measure the best of all human tonics —
mirth.
Mr. Fox is a product of the famed lower East Side of New' York. His early childhood was like that of his companions, but lurking in his young mind was an unsuspected ambition and artistic sense. His parents were poor, and young William had to give up a cherished hope of high school and college to go to work at small w'ages in a cloth sponging shop. But he added to his very limited schooling by reading standard authors whenever possible.
Penny Arcade the Starter
A great adventure it has been, indeed, for Mr. Fox. From a position most humble, he has risen to wealth and pow'er. He has seen the fulfilment of his fondest dreams. But he is still dreaming and still achieving.
Before he was 21 he had become foreman of the cloth sponging establishment, and at 25 was its owner. Thus he had matured from a pale-faced youngster, with the haunting eyes of a dreamer, into a man ready to meet big business and absorb it.
“Great Oaks from Little Acorns”
The organization of which Mr. Fox is commander-in-chief had its inception nineteen years ago, when he created the Greater New York Film Renta’ Company. This concern occupied his entire time from 1904 to 1913, in which year he assumed the leadership of the Box Office Attraction Company. Two years later he organized and became president of Fox Film Corporation.
Denied in boyhood all the advantages
Popular among the amusements of that day was the penny-in-the-slot arcade. With unusual exploitation he marveled ‘‘how the money rolled in.” Having saved a modest capital, he negotiated for and purchased a penny arcade. With unusual exploitation he scored success, and soon had two pennies coming in where only one came before. Encouraged by this venture, he took over two more penny arcades — and with equal success. His office w'as