Photoplay (Jan 1921)

Photoplay Magazine — Advertising Section "All Is Not Gold, etc." (Continued) 115 Like Crusader's, the stock sales circulars of Democracy Photoplay Company quote liberally the big profits made by certain films, and like Crusader's, Mr. Lybarger's circulars are filled with endorsements from prominent men. In fact, Mr. Lybarger seems to have the heaviest batting record in securing testimonials from big men. But these men are not listed in the circulars as purchasers of stock. Governor James M. Cox of Ohio, late Democratic presidential candidate, wrote, "I am impressed with your photoplay, 'Democracy,' or 'The Fight for Right.' You have noted the high spots. It should prove both interesting and educational. Let me wish you success." Of course, at the time he wrote, Governor Cox had not seen 'Democracy' because it had not been transferred from Mr. Lybarger's brain onto the films. "No experimenting with your money," announced Mr. Lybarger, hinting at "Birth of a Nation" profits, ?3,ooo returns for each $100 invested, when not the most experienced motion picture man knows whether his next picture is going to be a success or a failure. Every picture produced is an experiment. Look at the stock quotations. Goldwyn's which last winter went up to more than $30 a share, is now below $10; Triangle about 33 cents; World Film, 25 cents. And Goldwyn's is producing many film pictures, excellent pictures. All of which leads one to the firm conviction that the only decent way, the only honorable way in which to finance a motion picture company is to lay all the cards face up on the table, and say to your prospective financial supporters: "Here are the cards. Take a good look at them. This is a game of chance. We may win or we may lose. Do you want to come in?" There is no reason for believing that the business affairs of the Democracy Photoplay Company have not been properly handled. Mr. Lybarger is a man of good repute, honest and upright. The letters in his circulars from men distinguished in public life testify to his ability as a student of economic affairs, but none of them say anything about his achievements in the motion picture field, probably because he never produced any pictures till "Democracy." This initial venture may yet prove a success. If it does, the way ot other motion picture producers, not as able as Mr. Lybarger, and not so honest, will be made smoother. Moreover, if "Democracy'' turns out a money maker, it is Mr. Lybarger's intention to continue producing. After all the preferred stock of the Democracy Photoplay Corporation has been retired at par with interest, 80 per cent of the net earnings of the company is to be divided among the stockholders and Mr. Lybarger and his associates, and 20 per cent is to form the capital of the Feature Pictures Corporation, a successor of the present company. The bankruptcy court of Pittsburgh, Pa., is now winding up the affairs of the Advanced Photoplay Corporation, another motion picture concern, financed by the public. It was promoted by Edward McKim of New York, who conceived the bright idea of making picture production an endless circle of profit and entertainment. He proposed to film plays in a big amusement hall to which the public would be admitted at popular prices. Everything went well till the male star of the Advanced refused to act before the public. It seems odd that an actor — even a screen actor — should shrink from the public gaze, but it only goes to show that you never can tell what sort of obstacles mav bob up athwart the path of a film producer. Officers of the Advanced blamed the actor for the failure of McKim's clever program, but to a student of the film industry it seems that a motion picture company, which can be tripped into the bankruptcy courts by one blushing violet of a movie actor, is not very firmly built. However, the Advanced took in about $70,000 of the public's money for stock, according to the estimate of J. D. Hern and Dennh AE. Behen, attorneys for the creditors whose claims total about Sio,ooo. Neither Mr. Hern nor Mr. Behen, nor Mr. Bradford, representing the receiver, thought that the assets of the company would pay the creditors in full, so it is not likely that the stockholders will receive much. It seems only right, inasmuch as most motion picture companies receive their corporate birth in Delaware where the charter laws are so liberal that you can launch any sort of corporation on a shoestring, that a few of them should remain in their native state. One of them, called DuPont Pictures, Inc., did settle down there right under the wing of the DuPont family of multi-millionaires. The company was started shortly after the press of the country had proclaimed the fact that one of the DuPonts had entered the motion picture business through heavy investments in Goldwyn's. As a whole we are deeply interested in the doings of our famous millionaires, so it seemed that most everybody in the country knew that the DuPonts and their millions were in the movies. This fact the promoters of DuPont Pictures, Inc., seemed to perceive. Accordingly they secured the services of one John T. DuPont of Montclair, N. J., to lend his good name to the company. John T. DuPont was no kin to the powder millionaires, nor was he a motion picture man. Representatives of the DuPont de Nemours Corporation seemed divided on the subject of John T. Some were of the opinion that he was a retired grocer; others said he was a locksmith; and one functionary of the company was certain that in private life he was a plumber. But all agreed that he was an honest man who had merely accepted what appeared to him a lucrative position as officer of a new corporation, named in his honor. According to the spokesmen for the DuPont de Nemours Corporation, the men who really launched the company were W. T. Whitmore and Bernard Levy. The address of the new picture company was the DuPont Building, Wilmington, Del., headquarters of some of the most important business enterprises of the Delaware DuPonts. The company was first incorporated for $100,000. But, according to letters sent out by DuPont Pictures, Inc., "it is proposed to increase this immediately to $5,000,000, 8 per cent cumulative preferred stock par $100 and 50,000 shares of no par value common stock." DuPont Pictures, Inc., might have had an interesting and picturesque career had not the Delaware DuPonts butted in, commandeering the services of the Post Office authorities. The subsequent proceedings were brief. The officers of the new company were hailed before Solicitor-General Lamar, and they readily agreed to dissolve business. No great damage had been done. Postmaster English of Wilmington said he had received a letter from only one man, a resident of Indiana, who acknowledged that he had bought stock. I want to close this article with an illuminating little story told me recentlv by a During all those days of waiting and worry — before baby comes — what wouldn't you give for the innermost secrets of motherhood? 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