Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

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754 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Observations by Our Man About Town. The trouble-makers for the moving picture people seem to have, at least temporarily, turned their attention from the exhibitors to the film exchanges. Pittsburg, Pa., seems to be a favorite haunt for them. Either the news gleaners on the daily newspapers of that city are most liberally subsidized or the writers arc the biggest fat-heads that ever pushed a pen. Some of the stuff they are stringing out in their columns at the present time about moving picture films and theaters is the lini'st example of what a semi-idiotic mind can conceive. Many weeks ago an explosion took place in a building of that city in which a large film exchange was located. Of course the exchange was saddled with the responsibility for the unfortunate affair because there were a large number of reels of film in the place. According to the reports published by those who are supposed to give all the news that is fit to print, each reel of film was to all intents and purposes a Whitehead torpedo. In other words, the reporters endeavored to convince the people that every film exchange is nothing less than a powder magazine. Subsequent development of facts have in no way changed or modified the opinions of these newspaper people. The best any of them have done has been the publication of so-called claims by the film exchange people that the explosion was not caused by moving picture films. They have not had the fairness to concede that there was a possibility of mistake in their original conclusions as to the cause of the explosion, but for some reason best known to themselves have persisted in pounding the film exchanges, the films, and everybody connected with and handling them, for being dynamiters. * * * The attacks by the daily press upon moving pictures and the places and people handling them, too frequently savor of a lack of good faith. The reports and comments too frequently reflect too much ignorance of the real facts to warrant a belief that the newspapers are sincere in what they say on such matters. They would have the public believe that they are stirring the public officials to a better protection of the people against loss of life and property, but their radical methods disclose the true purpose. The dramatic critics of the daily and weekly newspapers never contribute notices on the moving pictures, except to condemn them. In criticizing vaudeville programs the writers comment upon every act except the pictures, unless it is to say the pictures are bad. This may be accounted for by the statement that the picture houses do not carry advertisements in the papers referred to. The various dramatic papers maintained a similar attitude for some time, but they are falling into line and giving the pictures the attention legitimate amusements deserve. * * * Why all this hue and cry about the great danger attending moving picture films? Do the facts warrant it? There are in existence to-day, and have been for at least three years, more picture houses by an enormous percentage than there have been theaters at any given period during the same time, and not one event resembling a calamity has been recorded against them. Take the history of the theaters of the world and count the scores of catastrophes involving great loss of life and property that stand recorded against them. The facts show clearly that the daily press have by exaggeration, neglect to seek and publish details as they existed, and a manifest desire to prejudice public opinion, maintained a most unreasonable and unjust attitude against thousands of people who have millions of dollars invested in a perfectly legitimate business. * * * The latest idiotic writer announces through the press of Pittsburg that the United States Government has taken up an investigation of the explosion in that city. He says the Government proposes driving every moving picture exchange out of the city; that it has found that when subjected to great heat the films generate powerful explosive gases. No one has denied that ignited films in confined quarters will do this, but there is not a case on record where an explosion of that character has taken place. This writer is evidently one of those fellows who used to come out with such scare lines as "Moving Picture Machine Exnlodcs." "Several Hundred Lives in Jeopardy," "Presence of Mind of the Police Prevails and the Performance Proceeds." and a lot of such tommy-rot that did great harm to the picture people by scaring the public, until confidence was restored by the people themes learning that such reports had for foundation only of sensational -pace writers. The reckless knockers may as well reconcile themselves now to the thought that the moving picture business is a legitimate one and it is' here to stay; that none more carefully guard against loss of life and property than the people who are engaged in it. Every moving picture theater represents the investment of so much capital, and every foot of film is likewise the representation of so much money invested. No business man more jealously and diligently guards his property than the owner of a film exchange, for the reason that its destruction in almost any case means ruination. The growth of the business and the demands of the public make it absolutely necessary for the film exchange owner to procure a new supply of pictures daily. It takes weeks to get out of a new picture its actual cost, and that picture must be carefully guarded after that to give the exchange man a chance to get his profit. These pictures, or films, are procured upon cash payments — not spot cash always — but cash, as the term is known in all trade circles. It is easy to see, therefore, that every exchange is constantly carrying an enormous stock which has been paid for, but will not become profit-earning for some time, and therefore no one is more anxious to protect it against loss than the holder. To this end they have co-operated with every municipal body in the perfection of regulations as to the handling and exhibiting of the films, and no expense has been spared For this purpose. Their sincerity in this direction has been demonstrated time and time again. They have refused to rent films to places that have not complied with the municipal regulations guarding against loss and have insisted that only competent employees shall be allowed to handle the films and operate the machines. In no instance have they allowed selfishness to stand in the way. While, perhaps, primarily active in guarding against personal loss, they have stopped supplying customers whom they found were neglecting to observe, or attempting to evade, the municipal regulations enacted for the safety of the public. These picture people have known for a long time that various agencies have beer, diligently at work to annihilate their business if possible. The subject has been publicly discussed and commented upon quite frequently. Persecution has been engineered from various sources for as many purposes against exhibitors and all others engaged in the business. The press, pulpit and public departments all over the country have been pressed into the service, but the pictures have survived the ordeal and are receiving better support from the amusement seeking public than ever before. * A * It will not be long before the daily press will condescend to give the moving picture business the consideration it deserves and abandon the attitude of the present day. Public opinion will force this. The daily newspaper is a great power, but the people form a greater one, and they can either make or break a newspaper. The latter frequently swerves the people, but when the issue becomes one of fair play the people act for themselves. HIGH-CLASS POSTERS FOR MOVING PICTURE THEATERS. Thomas H. Quill Inaugurates a New and Promising Scheme. Coincidently, we might accurately say. contemporaneously with the publication in this issue of The Moving Picture World of our article entitled "The Poster End," and another article by a contributor on the same subject, comes an announcement that will interest manufacturers, renters and exhibitors alike all over the United States, as to the manner in which the commercial end of the moving picture is in future to be handled. It is this: That Thomas H. Quill, until recently publicity manager of the Selig Polyscope Company, has resigned his position with that firm in order to take up an appointment with the United States Lithographing; Company, who, in conjunction with Mr. Quill, anel we will say ourselves, perceive not only a great future for the production of posters for advertising moving pictures, but also realize that the time is ripe for supplying the demand that already exists for them. We might here say that Mr. Quill's severance from hi.' friends, the Selig Polyscope Company, is a nerfectlv amicable one. It is all to the credit of Mr. Quill, and in this we applaud him, that he has the greatest admiration and respect for Mr. Selig. whose enterprise in the production of moving picture^ on a preat spectacular scale earns the applause of us all. Both Selig anel Quill, we know, are sorry to lose each other, but we are confident that Quill's entry into the poster end of matters commands his former chief's sympathy and that all around the popular Thomas H. Quill is assured of .a large volume of good wishes for his success. And we arc convinced that he will be successful lie is