Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD -M7 As a pioneer in the business, of course, Miles Brothers reaped their reward. Like other businesses, recent changes have not been without effect upon them. The renter to-day in fact is confronted by the necessity of having to work on a smaller margin of profit that he was a few years ago. Of course the business is greater and there are more renters. But the exhibitor is wise to his opportunities and so he forces prices down. Mr. Milea like others, would like to see the business so constituted that the exchanges could work to a uniform schedule. Whether that state of things will eventuate, however, looks doubtful at present. We naturally touched upon the Film Service Association, its history and present standing. Mr. Miles emphasizes its purely social character, although, like ourselves, he looks back to the recent convention at the Imperial Hotel, New York City, as having produced some good progressive work. The meeting at Detroit, in July, promises to be a great success. The moving picture industry, young as it is, of course has its pioneers, as we have already pointed out, who, like the industry, are mostly young. They are so near to the beginning of things that their recollections are likely to be fresh, whereas in the case of age distance somewhat hallows old associations. Time "softens outlines, and so one gets a more or less impressionistic effect of what happened in the beginning of things. You get nothing of this kind from Herbert Miles. It is all clear-cut, concise, matter of fact — something like himself. The figures of the business done by Miles Brothers as renters made our teeth water. No ! We shall not print them ; lest we excite cupidity and covetousness. Miles Brothers is a big business exchange with a hard working staff, as all the world can see for itself when it goes there. Miles's nearly boxed the compass of the moving picture field by becoming film manufacturers. But it was not to be. "There is a divinity that does shape our ends, rough hew them how we will." Perhaps it is well they did not become manufacturers, otherwise we should not have this interesting yarn with Mr. Miles — a yarn, by the way. which comprehended the state of the moving picture business across the Atlantic three years ago. It looks to us as if Mr. Miles were born to be the secretary of the Film Service Association. Secretaries are born, not made. In our time we have had to call on many of the class and watch them at their work. It does not matter whom you have as president or what sort of committee you have, it is the secretary that makes or mars the association foi which he works. We threw out the suegestion to Mr. Miles that the Film Service Association and what we have seen of it has the capacity of becoming the most important organization in the moving picture field, and we discussed the possibilities of the outlook without, however, coming to any definite conclusion on the point. After all, the F. S. A. is but a young body and time is needful to solidify it and make it vitally effective in the scheme of things. We rather think we detected a rebellious gleam in Mr. Miles' eye when we hinted at the possibilities before the F. S. A. All secretaries are the same — they are apt to protest against any addition to their work. For, however much you thank a secretary, it is never adequate to what he does. He is a long suffering man. As to Mr. Miles' outlook, if we can interpret it for him, it is that of cheerful confidence in the future of the business. You have only to look at the activity that goes on in the great Sixth avenue exchange to realize that though present conditions may not be all that one could desire, yet the exchanges are an essential factor in the business, especially those which handle the business in a prompt, businesslike and efficient manner. Every now and again we hear talk about the suppression 01 abolition of the exchanges. But this, so far as we can judge, is out of the question. They may be diminished in number, but they will always remain as a cardinal factor. We emphasized this point in these pages some months ago, but were contradicted by a brother scribe whom more experience and observation have probably taught the error of his ways. One of the crucial questions at present before the exchange is that of the handling of pictures on non-intlammable film. We gathered that perfect satisfaction on this point does not yet exist either with the manufacturers, the exchanges or the exhibitors. The perfected product does not yet seem to be in general use, but still there are signs that all-round satisfaction will soon be reached. In our long talk with Mr. Miles there were many other little points touched upon on which we were glad to have our memory refreshed, and above all things to obtain many valuable historical notes. Some of these we shall touch upon in future articles. Meanwhile, we would like to say this in all sincerity, that we were glad to meet a man of the type of Herbert Miles in a commanding position in the industry. That is to say, without undue adulation, a man of experience, resource, enterprise, intelligence and with such comparative youth on his side which surely entitles him to look forward to a long and prosperous career in the film renting business. UNIFORMED ATTENDANTS. We all respect the uniform because it is a mark of authority and order, Whether the wearer be a policeman, soldier, sailor, clergyman or the like. We all need keeping in order, we all respect order, therefore we like order — or those of us who have properly regulated minds. Order, it is said, is heaven's first law. We are glad to see that the moving picture theaters throughout the country are recognizing the importance of order in the scheme of things. In recognizing the value of order they are taking the very proper and very obvious step of placing their attendants in uniform. This they are doing as good business men for the best of all possible reasons, that is, because it pays. It pays because the public at large, as we have pointed out, recognize the value of order as symbolized by the uniform. When we ourselves go to a moving picture show we are always glad to recognize the presence or the imminence of the man in uniform because we know that if we approach him we shail get the necessary information with regard to seating and other things. We know that if we want direction to any particular point he is the man to go to. More than that, the presence of a uniformed attendant at a moving picture house, whether outside or inside, symbolizes order, in that the public at large recognizes that he is the representative of the proprietor of the house and is there to keep order. Above all things we like to see uniformed attendants outside of the house as well as in the inside. They add to the dignity of the business, they impress the public, they attract the public. If the uniforms are in good taste they attract the eye and probably lead many people to patronize the moving picture theater who would otherwise not do so. As a last word on this subject, we are glad to see the growth of uniformed attendants at moving picture theaters because it evinces a desire on the part of moving picture exhibitors to respect the public by insisting that their ushers and attendants shall be in the fit and proper external state to greet and receive the public. This being so, we think the public will respond to this wise movement on the part of moving picture exhibitors. # * * In the pages of the Moving picture World, both this and last week, were many advertisements of firms who make a specialty of preparing uniforms for attendants at these theaters, and we strongly urge our exhibiting readers who have not so far placed their attendants in uniforms to get in touch with these advertisers whom we have specially invited to advertise their specialties in the pages of The Moving Picture World. We hope in the immediate future never to visit a moving picture theater unless the attendants are properly and neatly uniformed. For that way success in attracting the public unquestionably lies.