Motion Picture Magazine (Aug 1914-Jan 1915)

p a n y. My father then offered me a share of his business (he was a paper broker) if I wouldn't go on the stage, but I wanted to go. If at the end of three years I couldn 't make a living, my father agreed to take me in partnership. But I made it go. Four years ago, after discovering that the Moving Picture business was hurting my profession, I went to every studio in New York and offered my services, and many of the studios would not give me even an interview. I offered my services to Mark Dintinfass, who refused me. My income is now $52,000 a year. Mark is perhaps sorry — I dont know. Later I met George Hall, who asked me to come down to the Vitagraph Company, which I did. and had an interview with Mr. Smith, to whom I offered my services for nothing for one week. Mr. Smith said: "We dont do that here, but I will MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE put you in a picture and give you $5 a day, and by the end of the first picture I will be able to judge." I accepted, and before the first picture was completed he asked if I would go into another one. Then I went home and told my wife: "I guess it's caught." Mr. Smith said: "Mr. Bunny, I think you will be a very valuable addition to our force, but there is nothing in the Vitagraph that I can offer you. Mr. Frohman paid you $150, and Mr. Liebler paid you $200 a week, and your last contract with the Shuberts was not less than twenty weeks in New York. ' ' I said: "How far can I go here?" Smith said : " If you make good, there is no limit to where you can go." I asked him to make | me an offer and assured him that I wouldn't be offended by his offer, so he offered me $40 a week, and I accepted, and that is all the contract I have ever had with the