Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 21 THE MAKING OF A BOY SCOUT A Feature of Exceptional Merit and Purpose — President Wilson Poses in and Endorses Picture, Which Has Wide Support MANY persons are watching with interest the ease with which a six-reel drama, "The Making of a Scout," is made the subject of first-page newspaper stories. The secret of this remarkable publicity for a motion picture play, aside from the merits of the drama itself, is to be found in the fact that it has the unqualified endorsement of the most prominent men in the country, among them being President Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot and Judge Ben Lindsey. President Wilson gave his stamp of approval when for the first time since his election he consented to pose for the picture. For the purpose of trying it out the producers of the picture have given a few private exhibitions. These have met with marked success. Newspapers have printed first-page stories and editorials urging their readers to see the picture; boards of education have authorized the sale of tickets in public schools. Department stores have bought tickets for the purpose of sending their juvenile employees to the show, and have put advertising display cards on their counters. Theodore Roosevelt Approves As a self-advertising proposition, "The Making of a Scout" seems to be without an equal. The following extracts from facsimile letters have been authorized for reproduction: Theodore Roosevelt — "I am extremely glad that this picture drama is to appear." Julge Lindsey — "It is positively one of the greatest feature films yet produced in this country." Gifford Pinchot — "I want to send you my heartiest congratulations on it as not only a most useful but a most attractive thing to see." The drama in the picture is woven about a street boy who becomes a member of the Boy Scouts of America. It therefore has a direct appeal to the four hundred thousand Boy Scouts in the United States. These boys stand ready to conduct an advance sale of tickets, because the fundamental law of the scout is to spread the gospel of his organization. The picture, which is owned by the Wedepict Motion Picture Corporation, 115 Broadway, New York City, has the endorsement of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, and under the terms of the contract between the producing corporation and the National Scout officials, it is the only Scout picture which can be shown with such endorsement for a period of years. Interest in the picture throughout the country has been aroused through the columns of two scout magazines which have a national circulation, with the result that local scout officials appeal to motion picture house owners to produce the films. Requests for the picture have come to New York from practically every State in the Union. The Public Interested A remarkable feature in connection with the picture is the ease with which the public is interested. In one city recently one thousand letters, each containing four tickets to the show, were sent to a selected list of citizens. When returns were all in it was found that one out of every three letters brought back a check for one dollar. In the same city the street car company carried posters on the dashboards of the cars free of charge. In another city the school children were given a half holiday in order that they might attend a special matinee. In Richmond, Va., Governor Mann wrote a public letter endorsing the picture, in which he said: "I am sure that every citizen and every boy and girl in Richmond will benefit from seeing this play, endorsed by such great men as President Wilson, Jacob Riis, Judge Lindsey and others." In that city the production of the picture was preceded by a speech by John Garland Pollard, Attorney-General of the State. In a column story about the picture, the Richmond Times-Leader said: "Naturally the Scouts are very much gratified to know that the Governor is actively interested in their work, and they are especially delighted that the Governor is urging the people to see the play. The prospects are that there will be a record crowd in attendance. Free Tickets Provided "Through W. G. Sales, local manager of the Western Union, the announcement has been made that the Western Union believes so much in the possibility of 'The Making of a Scout' that it will provide every one of its messengers with a ticket for the play. W. J. Parish, manager of the Richmond Cedar Works, will do as much for the boys employed by his company, and there will no doubt be a good many other employers who will be glad to afford their boys an opportunity to see this photoplay." In Richmond one Boy Scout sold 260 tickets. The appeal of the picture seems to be a particularly wide one, and as an educational feature it is of highest merit. The picture was produced under the direction of Edward Warren, and is excellent in photography, setting and full of dramatic interest. An inspiriting romance threads together the novel scenes of the Boy Scouts' life and work. SCENE FROM 'THE FIRST NUGGET' (Eclair)