When the movies were young (1925)

First Publicity and Early Scenarios 69 periments with electric lights, satisfactory results first being obtained with the Jeffries-Sharkey prize fight. The One Minute Comedies finally were given up, but the Mutoscopes, being Biograph's biggest source of revenue, were continued. The Mutoscopes were brief film playlets that were viewed in the penny-in-the-slot machines. One day, before Mutoscopes ended, my husband asked me to run over to Wanamaker's with him and help choose some pretty undies for the Mutoscope girls — photographically effective stuff — so we selected some very elegant heavy black silk embroidered stockings and embroidered pink Italian silk vests and knickers — last-word lingeries for that time. I felt rather ill about it. "Oh dear," I thought, "this is some business, but I'll be brave, I will, even though I die." Well, the parcel being wrapped, David took it and then handed it to me, and I thought, "Why should I carry the bundle?'' So we reached Fourteenth Street. David started to the left without his parcel ; I was continuing up Broadway, so handed it to him. But the lingerie wasn't for Mutoscopes at all — but for me — just a little surprise. So then with a light and happy heart, I took my way home to admire my beautiful present. After the Biograph had engaged David, Mr. Dougherty did not want them to make any more Mutoscopes. Mr. Griffith directed possibly six. In order to influence Biograph to cut out the Mutoscopes, Doc got very cocky, and he said to Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Marvin, "You wait, you'll see pictures on Broadway some day, like you do plays." But they gave him the laugh. "Yes," Doc added, "and they will accord them the same dignified attention that John