The story of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation (1919)

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A tiny theater, or "projection room," to speak in the motion picture vernacular, seating twenty-seven, is in constant use, not only during business hours, but frequently at night in order to allow executives charged with that duty to satisfy themselves that each release is above reproach in every artistic and optical detail before any one else is permitted to see it; to allow members of the advertising and publicity departments to familiarize themselves with the pictures to enable the Board of Review to pass upon productions; and to give trade press representatives advance showings. On special occasions stars are given an opportunity to see their completed productions, before public exhibition. The motion picture industry is a business of such infinite variety of detail that it is not possible to standardize operations as fully as could be desired. Furthermore, the volume of work required is large. At least 25 percent more office employees are necessary than would be required in a wholesale shoe business, for example, with the same annual earnings. Nevertheless, the general offices of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation might well serve as a model of efficiency; it is so efficient, indeed, that no time is wasted in discussing that much overworked term. Nothing is done by hand that machinery can do. Powers tabulating machines, an improvement on similar apparatus used in the U.S. Census Bureau, tabulate data from the exchanges in a small fraction of the time needed to perform the same operations by hand. Book-keeping machines, adding and computing machines, addressographs, duplicating machines, interoffice phones and kindred appliances are used wherever possible to save time, effort and money. For the rest, ideal working conditions, such as good light, fresh air, proper temperature, restrooms for women em- ployees, are provided under a discipline administered on the theory that that government governs best which governs least. For example, a clearly understood rule that prospects of advancement always take into consideration the record for promptness has been found to be more effective than a time clock. The scenario department affords an interesting example of the care taken to provide every detail that will promote efficiency. It has been given the quietest part of the office area. Days were spent in studying ways to provide surroundings best calculated to pro- mote clear thinking. Rugs were found to be less restful than carpets, so all rooms in the scenario department were fully carpeted in dull gold. Windows were not permitted to glare through dirty shades deemed adequate for the average office; they were curtained and draped with velour as they might have been if they were in a well-ordered home. In color they harmonize with the carpet and the walls which blend into lighter tones above the wainscoat line. These things may seem of small account to the uninitiated, but the man- agement entertains no doubt that they have a direct bearing on the remarkable growth in popularity of Paramount-Artcraft pictures.