Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD pearancc. The windows are mark [nforma Booking," "Song Slides," "Films Out," "Films In." j Uiiuk I... iks and prosperous. II,. rd Film Exchange occupies the whole second ..i the two buildings, i.so 161 Washington street, and is a model exchange. A spacious anteroom, furnished with chairs, is provided for the operators waiting and returning the n de of the front part of the built cupicd bj a very tasty private office for Mr. Eiopp, in the rear "i which is still another smaller private orhi real cozy corner. The remaining pari "i the front is devoted t,. th and a large exhibition room for ma i lim. m«1 a very lai i for the lination and rewinding ol the films, with two large v; in which are kept the reels, each reel in a galvanized iron box. Along in tlu rear is provided a well equipped and well lighted ii tin fi ir pi istei s, etc. I n the cent< r ci tlir floor, back of the partition and windows are the b ing office, the song slide department, the film service, \\ uli all these increased facilities, the Standard Film The Unique Film and Construction Company, with 'I In.M. Ili'kc Supply Company, have just moved to line quarters at >si South (.lark street, and is another well equipped film exchange. The United Stans Film Exchange lias also secured fine quarters at 81 South Clark street. One thing struck that me rather forcibly is the number of typewriting machines used in the exchanges, the large 1 of pretty, vivacious stenographers and the mountains of bo of envelopes, circulars, etc Yes, a modern exchange looks more like a mail order agency than a film house. No would thmk that a rental office would require such a clerical force. Is it a sign of good timi Typewriting machines, well dressed stenographers, can, to a certain degree, impart an air of prosperity to persons not familiar with the business. To men knowing that exhibitors 111 general have very little time or do not care to read circulars, but expect good service, as upon the service depend the cash receipts, all this outlay of an expensive clerical force l the sign of something wrong. \\ here is the Haw.'' A QUESTION AND AN ANSWER. By An Exhibitor. In a recent issue of The Moving Picture World the query was propounded: "What do exhibitors generally, in view ieir own experiences, think of the future of the moving picture?" In one instance at least the question has been answered in a spirit of enthusiastic hopefulness, and as it was answered in deed.-, and not in words alone, it seems well to take a closer view of the splendid playhouse, devoted to moving pictures, music and song and lectures, erected but three week before The Moving Picture World asked its most interesting question. It is an entirely new building, situated in the busy and populous city of Springfield. Mass., and is called the Hiiou. There i not anywhere in these United State a playhouse, whether devoted' to moving pictures or to the highest class of theatrical attractions, with which this house in Springfield cannot sustain a favorable comparison. It was built at a total cost of $,55,000. The builders and promoter are not what are known as "showmen," but belong to the best and most solid citizenship of Massachusetts, men of weath and inclined to be conservative. It may be well now to take a glance at the theater itself. It has a -eating capacity of just 1.000 and every one of the 1. 000 seats i a marvel of comfort. The writer is physically a large man and as a rule undergoes a mild species of martyrdom in the seat of playhouses, but he felt entirely at ease while seated here. The cushion was soft, the look of the thing elegant and refined. The first impression is one of light and cosiness; that i<. after the inviting lobby, with its retiring rooms Openil _ either side, has been passed. To the left on entering is the room for men and on the right that for women, heavily carpeted and supplied with a lounge and comfortable chair-. These two r. >oms. t.> be sure, are but minor features k<\ the house, but are furnished with the same lavishness which characterizes the equipment of the house. Perhaps the most notable feature of the interior, where the walls arc finished in salmon pink, outlined by the white woodwork, is the admirable arrangement of the clusters of electric bulbs ,,11 the front <n the boxes and at frequent intervals about the semi-circles formed by the balcony. The ceiling has been finished in green, white and gold. The house is lighted up during the running of the pictures — a great gain with the best people. There is a corps of operators, a corps of singers, a lecturer, a lady from Boston, an orchestra, attendant* in I b< "tli ided with running hi I Now how has Hi' ]■ the pei pie th< be statu -wei question 1 ■Ii ■ .1 tli ivded after 8 w will al no "stand « ■ 1 1 1 nit" tin -to el ten and t ..1' the fact that the h d in -pit' 1 'I iln i.i' 1 that a larger hou led in the VI I Of tin moving pictures, interspersed, I am bound t" n with "\ . 1 1 1 < 1 < \ ill. What 1 th. same thing in Philadelphia, where one hi of first run and illustrated SOngS and nothing mon nently successful and 1 conducted on the same high methods. On tin sure. With what tin a: film maker now offer in pictures of fine quality, then ought t" be and there 1 a -miliar striving for an "up-Iift" an exhibitor-. The taint of cheap and nasty ha from the pictures, the vulgar and freakish side of the industry wellnigh disappeared, and because the moving picture deserves a better home, people are building them. I have no doubt whatever that the present moving picture will attract the best quality "i public, if properly presented and p 111 a fittii Around the Bijou you see no crow: dirty urchins ban nit, but there arc plenty of mobiles. The surroundings invite the confidence of tin public, and order in such -urrounding maintains itself. In the face of such fact-, the -till existing belief that the | ing picture i intended mainly for half grown boys and the unwashed rabble generally 1 bound to disappear, even in the press and the pulpit, and we are approaching nearer to tin "ideal picture house," of which so much has been said and written. The management is in the hands of Edward I,. Knight. The head operator, the youngest in the State, is Henry P.. Schi .eh. SHE WILL NOT ! ! ! Dame. Opportunity may knock on your door, but do you expect her to lay in wait for you and bang you on the coco? You're doomed to disappointment. Wake up ! WE'VE got a film service that's got all the others tied to the mast; just ask our customers. We're the biggest buyers in the East, got more advantages than any others Roosevelt in Africa Not $50 a day, but call and get our prices or slip us a letter. PARAMOUNT FILM CO. 61 West 14th St., New York BRANCHES PHONE 3181-3383 Chelsea 1188 Main Strtu Bridgepotr. C»nn. 389 Main Strt«i Springfield. Man.