Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1920 - Feb 1921)

Crooks that Follow the Movies 37 the progress of the world. Even, device of science and civilization has been seized upon as a device of fraud. There have been frauds in even industry and possible line of sale. Impulsive money-holders have purchased freely cast-iron gold bricks, cotton plantations in the Gulf of Mexico, oyster beds in the Missouri River, dry oil wells, and factory after factory that never rose a speck above the level of the paper upon which it was pictured. The wider and more comprehensive phases of fraud have attached themselves, barnaclelike, to industrial enterprises, especially with new and booming industries. Undoubtedly the motion picture is the industry today that has the widest appeal, financially and romantically. Every day the nation goes to the "movies." It is only natural, therefore, that thousands find themselves stirred by the romantic possibilities of the motion picture — the lure of art and fame, that others gaze wistfully upon the financial possibilities of the exhibiting field, and that still others envision themselves rolling in wealth from the production end. Upon all classes the confidence man has his keen eyes. Into the pockets of all classes the confidence man incessantly dips his fingers. He is a master at brushing gently upon the emotions or twanging resonantly upon the material ambitions. Picture-Play wishes to expose the methods of these frauds, and to draw a plain line, as it were, between them and the legitimate phases of a great industry. To the writer was assigned the task of investigation. The inquiry developed that fraudulent operators fall into three classes : fake exhibitors, fake producers, and fake instructors. This article deals with the first. Thus we get back to the stranger who arrived in Valeport on a sunny spring afternoon. The stranger possessed perhaps a thousand dollars and an incredible knowledge of human nature. Soon after reaching Valeport his fund of information was extended. He knew now that the small city's two motion-picture theaters were inadequate. In other words, the town was "underseated." He also knew that neither of the theaters ran firstclass films. In addition, he was aware that there was a vacant lot a half block off Main Street — a desirable site for a motionpicture theater. The newcomer decided that the situation warranted a gambler's chance to the extent of five hundred dollars. The next move was to acquire a sixty-day option on the vacant lot. He obtained this for five hundred dollars, proceeding cautiously and in such way that the owner had no clear idea of his purposes. The agreement giving the option called for ultimate payment, if final transfer were effected, of a sum somewhat in excess of the owner's idea of the actual worth of the property. The owner chuckled to himself over the sharp bargain he drove, and the stranger chuckled to himself because he had invested all he intended, and because subsequent payments would be made by the townspeople. The option secured, the stranger let it be known that he represented a first-class and widely known motionpicture producing company. It was the purpose of this company, he said, to erect a theater which would be the pride of \raleport and in which the best films would be exhibited. Broadwav, so far as motion-picture art ARE THERE ANY "MOVIE CROOKS" IN YOUR TOWN? There may be, for they work everywhere. By reading this series of articles you will learn how they operate in their various ways, and will be able to evade the baits which they set for you. is concerned, was to be lifted bodily and transplanted in Valeport. The stranger talked modestly and quietly. He discussed big things in an easy, matter-of-fact manner. He wasn't pretentious, but he was solid and substantial. He inspired cofidence, first with the owner of the vacant lot, who became his unwitting champion. From that point it wasn't necessary for the visitor to prove anything to anybody. His every word, falling from his plausible lips and backed up by the elderly, prosperous citizen, was sufficient. Subtly the stranger worked upon the owner of the property, dangling vague strips of bait before his eager eyes, and matters just naturally drifted into his channels almost without direction. To all appearances the stranger was busy. Whenever he appeared in the streets he seemed to be in a hurry. His mail was fairly heavy. Occasionally there appeared a letter with the name of a big film company on the corner of the envelope. This was stolen stationery mailed to him by confederates.. Now and then he got a registered letter. But as a matter of fact, time hung heavily on his hands, and he spent much of it in reading in his own room. The first ditch, now, had been taken safely. The people of Valeport were awakened to eagerness for just such a motion-picture theater as the stranger described. They took to reading more closely the film reviews in the metropolitan papers and counting the time until these wonderful pictures would be a weekly event in Valeport. For months a vague hope and longing for something of just that sort had stirred within Valeport, and many were amazed that such steps hadn't been taken earlier. Certain business men with idle money inwardly rebuked themselves for not having seized an opportunity that now stood out so boldly. The stranger was alert for this identical drift of thought. Being an experienced confidence man, he recognized it, sensed it. almost before it had taken definite form in the minds of citizens themselves. Occasionally he met business men, and detected in the meager and sketchy conversation this ripple of regret and desire. One day the stranger made an important announcement to the owner of the vacant lot, and it got quickly to the right points, as he intended. "The company which I represent," said he, "is not an exhibiting company. We are producers of films. That is our business, and we don't like to venture out of that field unless we feel it necessary to protect our business as producers. For some time we have been watching Valeport, and decided to get our films in here before our competitors beat us to it. That means a new theater. We cannot exhibit in a theater which doesn't correspond in an artistic sense with our splendid productions. "I find now that the people of Valeport are eager for our films, so whv not let a few of Valeport's own citizens into the enterprise? We will handle the matter until evervthing is going good and gradually turn the theater over to Valeport. All we wish is a guarantee that the films of our immediate competitors are not exhibited. We want to extend our producing business to this city, but we don't want to be exhibitors. "With that in view. I have drawn up plans for a Continued on page 91