Motography (Jul-Dec 1913)

September 20, 1913 MOTOGRAPHY 199 On the Outside Looking In By the Goat Man I WISH that the film business wasn't so fast. I would like an official statistician — some one who got his pay envelope regularly and had nothing to do but think it out. Every time a newspaper says that a hundred or two or three millions of dollars are spent each year for motion picture tickets, the house organs jump the clipping and reproduce it in a conspicuous place with full credit. And after a time the thing grows commonplace and we begin to believe it. No one seems to know or to care. We only realize that it is a whale of a business and that it has never shown a disposition to settle down. About the time that a thousand foot reel gave evidence of being standard, the whole works blew up for multiples and now we're going pell-mell with the new condition. None of us dares to prophecy the future — we only know that films are here to stay. * * * But there is a thought which might not have percolated the noodle of the exhibitor who is loudest in his denunciation of his lot and as I have seen no hint of it, I'll emit it here. The legitimate theater has been satisfied to wag along for years and years on a forty-sixty or a fifty-fifty split, depending somewhat on the nature of the show. Film production costs approximately, considering all averages, about as much as the legitimate attraction. Then there is trouble in booking — many dark houses and the like. The legitimate manager cannot go to a central spot and make his selection of program at a fixed price. * * * The General Film Company has never told us what its program has cost. Let us presume it amounts to a million dollars a month, which ought to be a reasonable figure, inasmuch as we know so little about a million dollars ! Well, what per cent do you presume General Film is operating on, forty-sixty, or fifty-fifty? When you reflect that an exhibitor can pick his. program from a million dollars worth of entertainment every thirty days you begin to feel sorry for the big theater fellows, don't you? You know that General Film gets nothing like a forty-sixty split. Suppose it gets eight per cent for delivering your show into your hands every night, rain or shine — the show you have seen and which you approve. I doubt whether my estimate is far wrong. And the rule applies to other programs, if I am not badly mistaken. I .£?**« Kk: ', M E»" ^ H8P^ ■Lv r~ flit ■> '3 ■k^vmSkB MM ^B Jks am mmW '" ' -;' '-"•'' "v -■ ' *'WRF^ Vivian Rich as "Constance" in "For the Crown. am reasonably sure that the exchange end of the film business isn't the sinecure. In shrewd hands it returns a satisfactory profit, but it isn't a bed of roses. The exhibitor will awake some day to a full realization that if he conserves himself by hustling, his end of the business isn't the worst end of it. In the meantime, will some exhibitor stop taking in nickels long enough to drop us a line? Here is something to think about. * * * Fred Gunning has gone over to help Pat Powers in whatever Pat is needing help in. My opinion of Pat hasn't been shaken. He can pick live ones. Ben Schulberg says, "Impossible at present." I do hope Ben will survive his honeymoon before the snow flies. * * * Sid Smith, our own modest Sidney, has bought himsejf a rubber stamp and turns out his letter heads nowa-days in three-colors. Great little scheme ! He also wants the dope about coming conventions. Read the book, Sid, read the book — they're all put down. * * * While I felt there would be trouble, when they pricked the New York bubble which concerned the League and Trigger and the bunch; I was sure it would blow over and we'd all be back in clover long before we turned to eat September lunch. But I find that I'm mistaken ; Neff and Trigger can't be shaken ; they are bound to have it out from week to week. First we hear from Neff, the eager, heapbig-chief and m. p. leaguer, then we get a whang from Trigger on the cheek. It's a sorry snarl and tangle — none of us enjoy the wrangle arid I dread to see them maul away or gloat, for the fear \ I feel this minute is the thought that I am in it and they might conclude to get my little goat. Neff has told me, open-handed, in a letter which he landed, that his balance sheets are clean throughout the book. He has paid out all the money and to prove it wasn't funny, we are asked to go to Wiley for a look ! All the more it is a pity for it's far to Kansas City and the railroad never fails to take its toll. What we'd much prefer to witness is reports of proven fitness, that would show us how to dissipate a roll. Then we'd like the information of the League throughout the nation — how