The Moving picture world (May 1922)

310 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 20, iy22 Ten Years Ago Selznick Was "Radical" Because He Visualized Long Features TEN years ago Lewis J. Selznick entered the film industry. Six years ago he formed his own organization. In a business that was a joke twenty-five years ago and was "given six months to fade out," ten years is a long time and six years is quite a little while. From the day he became a part of the picture business "L. J." began making himself known; today "Selznick" is as much a synonym for photoplays as "Kodak" is for film. Ten years ago Mr. Selznick was engaged by what was then one of the largest producing and distributing companies in the business to aid in a reorganization of the company's management. His ideas were so remarkable, the results which his suggestions brought were so startling, that within three months he was appointed general manager. Rut Mr. Selznick was altogether too progressive to stay long in this company ; he needed a free rein to work. He had a lot of new ideas which his superiors couldn't see at all. He dreamed of a regular output of "features." but the heads of the company told him he was wild, that a thousand feet was plenty long enough. So the firm and "L. J." parted company. Introduced Three Reels The name of Selznick has been associated with many of the more radical developments in the progress of the screen during the past ten years — that period of revolution which has resulted in the screen of today. His second step in the business was to organize a company to produce three-reel plays on program schedule. Showmen and their public liked the idea and the new company prospered greatly — until the board of directors attempted to control Selznick's "radicalism." He stepped out of his second alliance to start a third corporation. A distributing organization to release a five-reel feature every week was organized — and Selznick had added two reels to his theory that to give a complete entertainment the screen must tell its story in full detail. .\t about this point Selznick began declaring that showmen would soon be presenting pictures in general — and his pictures in particular — more than one day. FUmed Stage Plays Mr. Selznick turned his attention to plays that had made a stage success and "sold" the idea to William A. Brady, the Shubert and other theatrical producers that their stage plays would make even better photoplays. Prominent stars were associated with the newer type of picture — Lew Fields was presented in "Old Dutch," Wilton Lackaye in "The Pit," Alice Brady and Holbrook Blinn in "The Boss," Clara Kimball Young and Wilton Lackaye in "Trilby." Lillian Russell and Lionel Barrymore in "Wildfire" — these were some of the stage-play and stagestar "bets" that were "coupled" by the Selznick idea. Exhibitors "cashed in" and confidence in Selznick's judgment grew apace. Wall Street money was invested in the idea and, eventually, a curb was applied — with Selznick again declaring for "complete control, or separation." From the outset of his connection with motion picture production and distribution the hardest nut Selznick had to crack was "the board of directors." When the screws were applied Selznick invariably packed up his belongings and departed. Experience finally taught him to build modestly — but to build for himself and be free and independent. Six years ago Selznick started "on his own." He developed the idea of open booking on individual pictures; he sold franchises for various territories because he needed the money ; he made pictures that made money and enabled him to repurchase the franchises. Select Pictures was incorporated as a distributing organization and thirty offices were opened in the United States and others throughout the world. Stars were created and directors developed; Select exchanges came under full control and directors developed ; Select exchanges came under full control of the man who made "Selznick Pictures" known the world over. As his business developed "L. J." began "developing" his sons — Myron and David O — to stand with him at the wheel. Now Myron is in full charge of Selznick production and David O. sees that they are exploited. When "L. J." started in the picture business ten years ago Myron and David were schoolboys in knee breeches. Pathe Exchange Earned $328,483 Net Last Year Pathe Exhange, Inc., reports net profits for the year ended Feb. 25, 1922, of $328,483, as against $122,000 interest requirements on bonds outstanding as of that date. The balance sheet showed total assets of $7,870,622, of which $4,368,045 were total current and working assets, against current liabilities of $1,021,632. Net tangible assets (exclusive of good will and scenarios) were reported at $5,307,066, or 348 per cent, of the amount of bonds issued, and net current assets were reported at $3,346,413. or 219 per cent, of the amount of bonds. At the present time the company has no bank loans outstanding, having anticipated or paid at maturity all bank accommodations. The company has outstanding $1,525.000 ten-year 8 per cent, sinking fund gold bonds due 1931, $1,679,900 8 per cent, cumulative preferred stock and 100.280 shares of no par common stock. Daylight Saving Without Moving Clock Goes Through Quietly in D AYLIGHT saving in the District of Columbia will become effective May 15 without the formality of legislation and without any change in the clock. Failing to secure the enactment by Congress of one of the several daylight saving bills pending before it, the business men of the city cooked up a new scheme and took it to the White House for the President's approval and the first the general public knew of it was in an announcement that beginning May 15, the government departments and business houses of the District of Columbia would begin business an hour earlier in the morning and end an hour earlier at night. The moving picture people were given no opportunity to file a protest against the move and, in fact, it is doubtful if any protest they might have filed would have been given much consideration. This new scheme of daylight saving will probably not be as popular as the Washington; Is ^[ective May 15 more acctut^ method of advancing the clock an hour, owing to the fact that many people are unwilling to get up an hour earlier by clock time, although they will quite cheerfully get up if the clock is advanced. Opponents of the idea also ])oint out that people will not go to bed an hour earlier, to which advocates of the move reply that we do not need so much sleep in summer anyhow. Just what effect this scheme will have u])on the amusement enterprises of the I ity is problematical. If the theatres Gijen and clo.se an hour earlier they will undoubtedly lose some business, as has been the case in most of the cities having daylight saving. If they observe their present hours it is quite likely that they will lose very little business. The District law provides that theatres on -Sundays may not open until 3 o'clock. Whether the commissioners will adopt an amendment to the law advancing the opening an hour, has not been announced.