Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1922)

3344 Motion Picture News Vv HAT memories of the early hectic days of motion pictures — the good old days many pioneers call them— are recalled when the subject up for discussion is Carl Laemmie. Imp one reel dramas with Mary Pickford starred and King Baggot playing her leads, “Lucille Love” with Francis Ford and Grace Cunard featured, the first serial picture to really make a hit — playing to S.R.O. everywhere and putting a crimp in General Film Company that it never got over, Mary Fuller, who dropped out of sight all at once after making a name for herself that still endures — got married so somebody said and quit trouping — , Bluebird pictures built on the principle of “the play’s the thing,” and nationally advertised, Lois Weber’s productions that made a half a dozen stars over night and a barrel of money for exhibitors, all come back, in the mind’s-eye, as if they did not represent the events of a pre-historic age — according to the way time is figured in the film business. In such a retrospection is to be found many a milestone in the path of the infant industry’s progress. Many an apparently unsurmountable obstacle was overcome. Many a hard fight was won and many a progressive step in which the whole film world had an interest, was taken. And through these times of stress, Carl Laemmie stayed at the helm of Universal, meeting the numberless problems as they came — making history for the motion picture business and incidentally doing pretty well for himself. Universal City came into being, General Film Company gave up the ghost, one and two reelers went out of fashion, competitors sprung up on every side, but Universal has kept right on doing business and Mr. Laemmie has continued as president. And so it is that when our jury empaneled to select the twelve greatest people of the industry looked about for candidates Mr. Laemmle’s name went down if for no other reason than for his deeds of other years, his battles in the right when the business needed aid to the nth. degree and the record he has made as an independent producer and distributor. Mr. Laemmie has consistently fought for the stabilization of product and the uplift of the industry. That he has unusual ability at organization is well attested by the success of the company he heads. But we prefer quoting from the letters of the Hall of Fame CARL LAEMMLE Who Fought the Early Monopoly Threatening the Industry jurors to convince the reader of his right to a place on the list. Fred S. Meyer, prominent as an exhibitor is among the staunch boosters for the President of Universal. He even goes so far as to say that without Mr. Laemmie there might not be a motion picture industry today. However, that remark is qualified as will be seen from Mr. Myer’s cirticism in submitting Mr. Laemmle’s name among his list of candidates for the industry’s Hall of Fame: “I select Carl Laemmie, president of Universal Film Manufacturing Company because in 1910, he, single handed fought the Patents Company. Without Mr. Laemmie there might not be an industry today or else one a la Standard Oil or American Tobacco.” Arthur S. Friend is among those who include Mr. Laemmie in their list.. Like many others he considers him entitled to a place in the Hall of Fame because of his early successful fight against the shackles of monopoly. Mr. Friend writes: “Mr. Laemmie, President of Universal Film Manufacturing Company is among my selections because of his determined and successful fight against the Patents Company, and for his freeing of the industry from the shackles of monopoly.” Many of those who advocate Mr. Laemmle’s candidacy do so because of the manner in which he opened up the independent field along both producing and distribution lines. Among those who give him a vote because of this is P. A. Parsons, whose comment is as follows: “Mr. Laemmie is selected because of his early and successful battle for the independent in both producing and distributing. He pioneered the cause in these directions.” Fred Beecroft couples Carl Laemmie and William Fox as the pilots of the independents. He writes : “There are two men who stand out today as pioneers in the opening of the independent field. They are Carl Laemmie and William Fox. Between them they succeded in beating the Patents Company.” Rex Beach comes in with the majority and recognizes Mr. Laemmie for his early efforts. The noted author writes: “Mr. Laemmie must be included because he was the first independent to fight the film trust.” Reginald Warde says: “I place on my list the name of Mr. Laemmie for organizing and establishing national distribution in the early days of this industry in the fight against the General Film Patent Company.” C. L. Yearsley says: “The President of Universal must be included for the organization and stabilization of production.” R. H. Cochrane’s selection is made along the same lines as many others. He writes: “Because his successful fight against monopoly was responsible for the fact that there is more than one company in existence today.” Theo. L. Hays’ recommendation is as follows : “ Constructive as a pioneer and progressive as an independent producer and distributor.” Perley Poore Sheehan: “For the vision and organizing power he brought to motion pictures.” E. V. Richards says: “Mr. Laemmie pioneered a cause that established the independent field.” Elmer Pearson: “Mr. Laemmie is in cluded in my list because among other things I consider his early efforts highly beneficial.” William A. Johnston: “Stabilizer of the industry through his sturdy stand for independence.”