Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

INCORPORATED WITH WHICH IS THE NICKELODEON Vol. XIX CHICAGO, JANUARY 19, 1918 No. 3 Year 1918 Promises Great Activity PRODUCTION COMPANIES ENTER UPON ERA OF UNUSUAL ENDEAVOR ALTHOUGH the new year is just beginning to unfold, a reliable forecast is available by reading between the lines of the annual reviews and prophecies issued through the publicity departments of the various production companies within the motion picture industry. It is almost unanimously agreed that 1918 is to be a year of unusual achievement in moving pictures— of achievement that promises to outstrip all previous years. Everyone Will Do Better At least the forecasts of the heads of the producing organizations would impress the reader of their statements that each individual corporation engaged in the making of moving pictures intends that his company shall exceed the successes of past years. It is certain from the plans announced that there is to be no curtailment of production. Every large producer has announced a heavy schedule that will continue to strain the studio facilities of the various silent drama factories. Each one has declared that the quality of his product will excel that of his previous endeavors. Production Will Increase Production will be increased by the entrance into the field of a number of newly formed producing organizations. Announcement of several recently incorporated companies, backed by real money, have been made in the last few weeks. Each new organization has entered the business of making pictures with full assurance of success — according to their publicity matter— and although it is admitted that overproduction was one of the evils of the year 1917, it is asserted that there is always room on the market for good productions and profit in the making of better than good productions. A note of optimism is sounded in the prognostication of every producer at the outset of the New Year. It is not the usual forced optimism that pervades the atmosphere wherever moving picture folk gather or the bravado that characterizes the written lava that flows from the producers' publicity foundries. It is real optimism. Business Methods Prevail Most of the producing brains of the country see ahead a settling of the moving picture industry into a sound business foundation. The structure that upholds the fifth industry of America, they all admit, is being strengthened by the substitution of regular business methods for the more or less uncertain — some wrongly call it "wildcat" — procedure that has accompanied the remarkable growth of the motion picture business. To this end Motography will, during the year, bend its efforts to encourage the advance of sound business methods in every branch of the industry. Brandt Gains Merited Promotion One of the important internal changes announced by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company for the new year is President Laemmle's appointment of General Manager Joe Brandt to the position of general sales manager of the Universal's world-wide organization. Immediately preceding this appointjment, the board of directors of the Universal company named Mr. Laemmle as director general as well as president of the corporation, and elected Mr. Brandt to the post of assistant treasurer. C. H. MacGowan, for some years auditor of the Universal, was appointed assistant to the director general. E. H. Goldstein was appointed to take complete charge of merging the various New York City exchanges of the Universal, the Bluebird, the Longacre (Alice Howell comedies) companies into one large unit, occupying the entire seventh floor of the Mecca building at 1600 Broadway. "The advancement of Joe Brandt is simply a reward of merit," said Mr. Laemmle after the meeting of the board of directors. "It is the result of long and loyal service." A. E. Smith in Auto Mishap Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph company, had a narrow escape last Friday when his limousine leaped head-on against a telegraph pole. He was stunned for a few moments and suffered several painful injuries. Mr. Smith, who was reading, was hurled against the front of the tonneau, the impact causing a deep cut on his forehead. In addition, his leg was wrenched and his hand badly lacerated. Another machine was called and Mr. Smith was rushed to the studio, where he was given treatment in the company's emergency hospital.