Variety (August 1913)

12 VARIETY A BILLION IS INVESTED IN MOVIE ENTERPRISES Theatres in the United States Estimated at 30,000, Two- Thirds Valued at Average of $40,000 Each, Total $800, 000,000. Another $200,000,000 is Tied Up in Manufacturers 9 Plants. A New York amusement enterprise promoter recently advanced the inter- esting estimate that the moving pic- ture industry in the United States rep- resented an investment of close to $1,000,000,000, and upon his total being challenged, advanced figures in this form: There are over 25,000 moving picture houses in this country, and counting the open air places the total would more closely approach 30,000. The elimination of a third of these as old building and store shows would prob- ably leave 20,000 new establishments, the average value of which would be roughly $40,000 for land, building and equipment. In the large towns a house can not be erected without represent- ing $60,000 or more total, with many reaching higher figures. Accepting this computation, the housing of the movies stands at $800,- 000,000. The investment in the manu- facturing end of the business here and abroad reaches $200,000,000, bringing the figure up to the billion mark, and this is not. considered too high. The estimate of the showman as to the total of theatres was immediately attacked, and it was pointed out that it< the absence of any official census, ro approximation could be arrived at. He admitted this partially, but in- stanced in defense of his figures there were listed 850 moving picture places in Greater New York. With its popu- lation of about 5,000,000, this gives a movie theatre to about 6,000 inhabi- tants. But this is in a centre where there are close to 200 other places or entertainment, representing an enor- mous gross capacity, and where the movie as an amusement is- tremendous- ly overshadowed by other auraciions. It is of record that there are more movies than this. A short time after the formation of the General Film Co., which took over the 50 odd indepen- dent exchanges of the country, a can- vass of the situation was made and nearly 8,000 customers were tabulated on its books. This was in 1909. Since then the General Co. has gone ahead. Ir the meantime the independent man- ufacturers have increased vastly in strength until it is now estimated by the film men themselves that the rental business is about evenly divided. In the U. S. there are 4,000 towns having a population of 5,000 or more. None of these is without its movie shows, while in addition almost every hamlet has one. Some villages with less than 1.500 inhabitants have a "picture place." For the towns of 5,000 popula- t : on or more an average of four picture shows is calculated, based upon the large number of these exhibitions in the big cities. Fort Wayne, for ex- ample, has 16 for its 65.000 population. A picture proprietor in New York the other day, when talking about a new picture house he would shortly open, claimed he did not care for com- petition as he had a "clear radius of five blocks," meaning there was no op- position to him in five blocks on either side of his theatre. When this was mentioned to experienced showmen they expressed surprise, but upon re- Hection agreed that perhaps in a thick- ly populated neighborhood a clear ra- dius of that size would be sufficient to support 1 a picture theatre of 600 capac- ity. Last week there were 62 subjects re leased by the independent manufac- turers through their several selling agencies. This would probably repre- sent a total of 45,000 feet of new sub- jects. The General Film Co. probably turned out a larger total, certainly as large. When it is considered that each 1 000-foot reel is worth somewhat over $100 (12 cents a foot) and each sub- ject is turned out in scores of copies, ii will be realized that the manufactur- ing of films is a gigantic industry, without including the vast amount be- ing invested in feature films. SHOWS IN FRISCO. San Francisco, Aug. 27. Business at the Savoy where "The Traffic" is the attraction, has taken a slump. This is the first of the "white slave" plays to reach San Francisco. It started well, playing to $9,000 for the first week. "Bought and Paid For," at the Cort, continues to draw splendid business. MOROSCO'S PRODUCTIONS. Oliver Morosco reached New York Tuesday and confirmed the report that he will not have anything to do here- after with Paul Armstrong's play, "The Escape," which Morosco was getting ready to bring into New York. Also that Morosco will not produce "No. 6 Washington Square." Morosco objected to Catherine Calvert playing the lead in the Broadway presentation of Arm- strong's piece. Armstrong insisted she hmdle the principal role and Morosco told him he could go ahead and make all arrangements to suit himself as he (t*forosco) would withdraw from the production altogether. Armstrong stood pat on the Calvert matter. As to the Washington Square piece, which has been rewritten, Morosco decided that it did not contain the punch demanded by New York theatregoers. Probably his first Broadway produc- tion will be "Help Wanted," by Jack Lait, of the Chicago American, which was tried out Sunday night at Morosco's Los Angeles stock house, the Burbank. Morosco plans to bring Grace Valentine, a Pacific Coast stock star, here for the leading role in the Lait piece. Another piece due for fall presenta- tion is "Rita's Romance," a musical play by Leo Ditrichstein and Silvio Hein. It's not unlikely he will change its title. Another new Morosco star, Selma Paley, is to be featured here as Rita. For the present Morosco will let "The Money Moon," the J. Hartley Manners' piece, remain on the shelf. He plans to bring out "Playthings," written by a San Francisco society woman as a comedy satire, before Jan. 1. Morosco's "Tik, Tok Man," after its Chicago engagement, is now on the one nighters. It may make New York later, but if it does it will have some new principals. Morosco has just sent out a road company of "Bird of Para- dise" with Lenore Ulrich playing the principal role. TWO '•EXCUSE ME" SHOWS. Following Varietv's exclusive an- nouncement Henry W. Savage would not produce "Excuse Me" this season comes word he has leased the produc- ing rights to the S. T. King Amuse- ment Co. This new firm, headed by Steve King, will send out two compan- ies, the "No. 1" troupe starting at New- ark, N. J., Sept. 29, playing city time i:> the east with probably one and two- week stands in New York and Brook- lyn. The "No. 2" opens the latter part of October and will travel to the Pa- cific Coast. King will engage at least 80 per cent, of the original Savage com- panies. The King company has taken a five years' lease on the Amphion, Brooklyn, and after extensive alteration it will take on a permanent policy. $5,000 FOR PliAY. $5,000 as a prize for a play may be offered by Joe Weber, who is now thinking it over. Mr. Weber wants a piece along the lines of "Alma, Where Do You Live," in which he will have a part. Negotiations between vaudeville and Weber and Fields have not been closed. If the team accepts variety engage- ments, and Mr. Weber choses a manu- script for the prize money, the show production will be held over until next season. HAS ALL SYRACUSErS£CORDS. Syracuse, Aug. 27. Montgomery and SVaaC and Elsie Janis played at the Empire Monday night to $3,400 at one performance, breaking every record for the town. The downstairs prices were $2.50 per seat, but the remainder of the house was sold at the regular scale. There were 300 standees at $1.50. WALNUT ST/S NEW SEASON. Philadelphia, Aug. 27. Ben Stern, who has leased the Wal- nut Street theatre for the new -sea- son, opens the house Saturday night with "The Firefly." Stern will be here for the opening, although he has placed Dayton Wegenfarth, of the old Grand here, as resident manager. The Walnut's top price will be $1. This week the house was used nearly every day by New York companies unable to get Broadway theatres for full dress rehearsals. If you don't advertise In VABIETY, don't advertise at ail. SHOWS IN CHICAGO. v/ Chicago, Aug. 27. The season is now well on its way. It began late this year, but under rather propitious circumstances. Those shows that weathered the summer found the picking very good, and re- ceipts were prosperous. At the pres- ent time the Garrick is playing pic- tures after being dark two weeks. The Princess opened Sunday night with "Little Miss Brown," with indications of good business* "Stop Thief came to Cohan's Grand opera house under the same circumstances, and the new La Salle opera house opened its doors with "A Trip to Washington" under the most flattering conditions. The Cort has been opened for some time with a farce, "The Elixir of Youth," and the Olympic is doing a tremendous business with Margaret Illington in "Within the Law." This gives five of the 11 first class theatres for the sea- son already open. Preparations are now on for "The Whip" at the Auditorium, opening Aug. 30. "The Lady of the Slipper" will start at the Illinois about the same time. Power's and the Studebaker will not open until about Sept. 15, and the American Music Hall will begin opera- tions about the same time. The Whit- ney, now known as Joe Howard's Comedy theatre, will open later. The elimination of the Chicago opera house, the Colonial and McVicker's, has cut down legit competition. There are in- dications the season will be more pros- perous for those houses that are open. The "$2 houses" will be the Gar- rick and Power's, although it is possi- ble prices may be reduced in these for some attractions. Big vaudeville will be looked after in "The Loop" by the I alace Music Hall and the Majestic, as usual, and variety of the popular order will be furnished by the Colonial and McVicker's. "Little Miss Brown" opened Sun- day at the Princess to a packed house. The show pleases and the in- dications are that the engagement will be a prosperous one. "Stop Thief" came to Cohan's Grand Sunday also, and played to a big house. The attraction is full of laughs and it went over well on the opening night. The Scott pictures moved from the Princess to the Garrick, and the open- ing was very flattering. The advance sale for William Hodge in "The Road to Happiness" at the Garrick is good and the indications are that "The Whip" will have a rousing welcome when it opens. "Within the Law" at the Olympic is going right along at a merry clip, and the house has been practically sold out at every performance since the open- ing. "The Elixir of Youth" at tfie Cort iw not doing a tremendous business, and will soon give way to another attrac- tion. The new show at the La Salle is c'oing very well in its first week. The first day's advance for "The Whip" reached $5,170. It is $1,100 more than the record in the same way held by "The Garden of Allah" at the Audi- torium. It is claimed "The Whip's" advance will run to $25,000 before the show opens Saturday. All seats are for sale in tbe box-office, it is said, and speculators are barred.