Hands of Hollywood (1929)

Chapter XIII MISCELLANEOUS INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS There are various kinds of independent producers. Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Sam Goldwyn, and others are independent producers, in the sense that they finance their own productions, but they release their pictures through the big organizations. "Uncle" Carl Laemmle, owner of Universal Studio, is an important and successful independent producer, distributing his own pictures. Tiffany 'Stahl, Columbia, Gotham, Rayart, etc., produce and distribute their own pictures, but on a smaller scale. These producers are classed as "the real independents." There are also many small independents, called the "Poverty Row" producers, and their pictures are called "quickies," because of the small amount of capital invested in them and the short time devoted to their production. Every year the independents "are finished," yet the reputable ones continue to make pictures and to make money. In fact, some very worthy and highly successful pictures have been made by the small independents. PREVIEWS A preview is the showing of a picture in a theater before it is officially released. Many pictures have five and six previews preced' ing the actual release. The purpose of a preview is to determine audience reaction. Previews usually are given in small neighborhood theaters just before the last evening show. The theater owner pays nothing for the preview except that he reserves seats for the various members of the picture company. At this show, the picture which is being previewed is screened in place of the usual short subjects preceding the regular picture. Some producers choose theaters in different [99]