The Washington herald., 1909-07-25

Now that the President OF the United
States has put the stamp Of his approval
upon the moving picture show, ii can be
safely. predicted that this form Of amuse-
ment has come to stay. IN fact 1t has
already gained such Roadway in the field
OF popular amusement for people Of mod
crate means that 1t only needed Mr.. Taft's
sanction to become source Of diversion
for even those whose purses can afford
more expensive pastimes.
A vast fortune has been invested in this
industry, which Is probably as yet only in
it's infancy. 1t has been estimated that
something Ike S500OO.0OO capital will rep
resent very closely the amount that has
been expended IN the manufacture OF
films. the erection Of suitable theaters and
halls, and the equipment Of machinery,
&c, that IS necessary 10 place the pic
lures attraeuvely before the public.
Every city Of consequence has It's NOV
Ing picture theaters, and the business IS
rapidly extending TO the smaller towns
and villages. until there are In the neigh
borhood OF 5000 Of these places scattered
all over the United States.
some Interesting Statistics.
Already Chicago boasts Of nearly 400
moving picture theaters. The Western
metropolis leads the list Of American
cities in this particular. although her an
Client rival. New York. has already passed
the 800 mark. OF the other cities and
towns, the number OF places given over
80 H.
cording to the size and Importance OF the
locality. The enterprise also extends 70
all parts OF the continent. including the
Dominion OF Canada, Mexico, Central and
South America, Cuba. and the Canal
Zone.
AS a purely business proposition the
moving picture idea is gaining enormous
proportions. When one stops 70 think OF
the immense amount OF labor and ingenu-
ity which is brought to bear upon the
perfection OF any one OF the films so
temptingly set forth for the public de-
location, and the vast number Of diff
ferent pictures which one sees IN the
course OF q very short time, some ade-
quate idea can be gained OF the magni-
tude OF the enterprise. OF course Il IS
true that a large number Of the films
which are displayed are OF foreign man
ufacJure-France. it IS understood fur
n.shing the greatest number OF diversified
subjects. This. however. applies 10 the
comic and sentimental subjects embrac-
ing those which are made 10 order"
Naturally pictures are taken in ali
countries. and geographically speaking
there is no special locality where films
emanate from. The film machine can be
found everywhere-frOm the crowded
Chrfto ~ Nan VowIrFu E-agF CrFn
Bots de Boulogne. or the Champs Elysee
In Paris. A group OF miners to!ling in
the depths Of the earth may be shown
cheek by jowl with representations OF a
drawing-room at Buckingham Palace
Nothing IS TOO great or too inaccessible
20 attract the moving picture purveyor,
and his reward comes with the delighted
mulutudes who never seem 70 tire OF the
result Of his interchangeable labors.
A Vast Enterprise.
Some idea can also be gathered from
the statistics collected. which show that
nearly I.000.0c0 feet or $50 square miles OF
films are shown every day in the United
States. Fourteen separate pictures pass
the spectators eve every second, eau
culating by the average rate OF speed at
which the machine travels, so that every
day the public sees more tlan lasOuJOt,-
900 Of separate and distinct photographs.
This Is one OF the things accomplished
by photography, and can well be classed
as one OF the greatest wonders OF the
world.
OF course. in accordance with the bust
ness methods Of the day. and the neces-
stiles or everyday competitive endeavOr
the moving picture business IS controlled
and operated by a central company. or
trust 1t is inevitable that a business,
embracing such multitudinous ramifica-
tons should be handled with more dis
patch by a single concern. OF course.
there are branch companies, and some
few Independent organizations. but for
the most part the business IS controlled
by one trust
This means the maintenance OF
branches In every part OF the known
world. not only for the gathering OF
pictures and the preparation Of films,
but for the exhibition and marketing
OF the finished product as Wen The life
OF a film, while necessarily limited, IS
OF by no means short duration. and one
set OF pictures win be transferred from
city TO city. and from theater TO theater.
as long as the pictures remain distinct
Then, too. there are many duplicates, as
well. The control OF patents on the
machine rfsed and fha Vlur,iuo FIN o.