Variety (December 1917)

" 236 VARIETY THE PICTURE INDUSTRY By GUY PRICE. £1 Loi Angeles, Dec 20. The other day m friend of mine, a thorough business man who has con- centrated so much on his work that he was admittedly narrow minded, dropped in for a visit. "I'm going to broaden up a bit/' he said. Traveling around to see and do other things than I h?vc been ac- customed to. They told me back home that all they had out here was the movies. That right ?" I spent the afternoon with my friend and the whole of the next day and at the conclusion of our jaunt around Los Angeles he remarked: "Say, you know when I went to a picture show before I never took the time to realize there was such a thing as a motion picture industry. Why, man, it's one of the biggest things in the country." The experience of my friend would be indeed strange to one who hat net tried to comprehend the magni- tude of the picture industry. If yon are a film fan you have, without a doubt, read something of how the pic- tures are made and the press agehted eccentricities of your favorite star. But that is nothing. Even those who are most vitally interested in motion picture production are often com- pelled to pause in their work and gasp at the enormity of the film business. . I ■ I renewed thanks for your support heretofore and now, and appreciation or your future patronage, we extend the Seasons Compliments, and our sincere wish that 1918 will give you full measure of profit, prosperity and success. AS NOW, it shall be our aim so to study your interests and our own that each of us will gain added strength from our partnership and mutual esteem.— We recognize the responsibility you placed upon us by your confidence and support. We shall continue to deserve it. It's tOUR business to see that OUR business prospers.OUR business <o help YOUR'S. World policies have at last waked up most distributors and producers to the real mutuality of interests of exhibitor and dis- tributor, both must (ail unless both SURVIVE. World Film Corporation The expert statistican it the indus- trial bureau in Los Angeles and his corps of assistants armed with rapid fire adding machines are even unable to keep up jnrith the growth of the mo- tion picture industry. They are^ overwhelmed with the ever increasing amount of money ex- pended, and staggered by the ever Jjrowing payrolls. They are so hope- essly behind in their efforts to furn- ish exact data on film work that all they attempt to do is make estimates. There were some who imagined that the war would puncture the ascending balloon of prosperity in film produc- tion. But they lost all fear. The afternoon and day that I spent with my friend from the east was en- tirely devoted to visiting studios in and around Los Angeles. I made it a point that he should see everyone and compiled the following list: Arizona Film Co., Balboa Amuse- ment Producing Co., Bernstein Film Productions, Bosworth, Inc., Charlie Chaplin Co., Christie Film Co., Clune Film Producing Co., Continental Film Co., Diando Film Corp., £. and R. Jungle Film Co., Essanay Film Co., Famous Players-Lasky Corp., William Fox Studios, Hearst-Pathe News, Lavid Horsley Motion Picture Co., two Thomas H. Ince studios, Keystone Film Co., Lasalida Films Corporated, La Salle Film Co., Jesse L. Lasky Fea- ture Play Co., Henry Lehrman Master Comedies, L-Ko Moving Ptcture Co., Majestic Motion Picture Co., Oliver Morosco Photoplay Co., National Film Corp., Nevada Motion Picture Corp., Paralta Plays, Inc., Rolin Film, Inc., Selig Polyscope Co., Mack Sennett Film Corp., Sierra Photoplays, Inc., Sunshine Comedies, three Triangle studios. Universal Film Co., Vitagraph Film Mfg. Co., Vogue Films, Inc., Lois Weber Productions, Yorke-Metro Film Co. And Los Angeles is not the only piace where the picture industry thrives 1 The estimate made by the statistican, and he is as conservative as statis- tical generally are, is that $10,000,000 is spent by the picture producers in Los Angeles every year. He estimated the number of per- sons employed as between 10,000 and 12,000. Probably if the statistican were at a distance he would be able to make this estimate more accurate, but being right in the midst he cannot compre- hend it as a solidified whole. He has no perspective. Only a few years ago the only pic- ture studios were a few hastily con- structed shacks on a corner lot some- where. Now the city is dotted with big concrete walled plants equipped with every imaginable contrivance and facility. A few years ago the only picture actors were a few nondescripts. Now the greatest stars in the theatrical world have appeared and are appear- ing before the camera. A few years ago only a few adven- turous men were "behind" the indus- try. Now keen sighted financiers and investors seek stock in the companies, sink millions of dollars in a single project and reap their returns three- fold. Remember, I am only giving the facts as concerns the industry in Los Angeles and Southern California, Other data is not at hand. There are hundreds of units of the industry scat- tered throughout the United States and a grand total of dollars in re- sources, earnings and expenditures, if one could possibly secure such a re- sult, would be beyond the wildest dreams of us all. Prank Powell la In personal charge of the film direction of the acw Rex Boach picture, "The Heart of Sunset" Donald Crisp, now on a racltlon and who hat fulfilled his oontract with Lasky, has ser- eral offers under oontract. The next picture that Margarita Pitcher will appear In following a holiday yacaUon wUl be "High Heels."