The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-04


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house In that il often induces persons
TO enter who otherwise might not 20
THE stringency of the fire Depart
ment regulations also operates against
the making of large profits, especially
in Greater New York, where the laws
are far more strict than In many other
cities. more particularly Boston ana
Philadelphia. For instance. there are
regulations As to the number or spec
tators. Standees are not allowed. The
rows of seats must be certain mini
mum distance apart while the aisies
must be very wide. Exits must be
plentiful, the walls and ceilings made
Of metal and so must the operators
box in which the films are operated
The license fee demanded in this city
is another heavy item of expense. to
say nothing of minor expenses, such
as the pay of cashiers, doorkeepers,
ticket takers, operators, ushers, plant
and other help required.
mo matter how many persons may
be clamoring for admission to q mo-
ton picture show, only a stipulated
number, under the fire departments
rules. may be admitted at one time;
hence the proprietor must turn money
away. irrespective OF how badly he
pective patron thus unable to gain ad-
mittance may go to some competing
motion picture house in the neighbor-
hood and become a steady patron, to
the financial loss Of the first theater
because of the fire departments rule.
This Is only one of the many losses
which motion picture show must
take into consideration. AS in many
other business enterprises which the
public imagines are big money max
ers. the profits are much less than they
are generally believed to be. 1t Is like
the case of men who gamble; the pub
lie hears of those who win, but seldom
Of those who lose
The moving picture business prac-
teen years ago, when Thomas A. Edi-
son perfected moving picture ma
chine. Its growth was slow at first,
investors being timid about taking up
the new invention. The films were
made in short lengths, the subjects
being such things as fire engines leav-
ing their quarters in response to an
alarm. people walking In Fifth ave-
nue. on Sunday. or a fast passenger
showed its Willingness to accept the
new form Of entertainment. longer
films were made, which portrayed
short comedies or similar subjects.
The plays were. posed in the open air
on roofs Of high buildings.
With the invention of certain form
of electric light 1t became possible to
produce pictures in interior studios.
The next step was the production of
pictures In localities which harmon
ICED with and were described in the
scenarios. In time the more impor-
tant manufacturers of motion pictures
established stock companies in various
parts of the country and at points
where the scenery and surroundings
would most readily fit in with the play
and subject to be produced. For in
stance, several companies have studios
and companies in Southern California,
where the clear atmosphere aids in
producing good pictures and the mild
climate makes 1t possible to work out
doors during the entire year. One
company in particular has a studio
and company at Santa Monica, where
subjects which involve the sea may be
produced. and another at Glendale,
near Los Angeles. and not far from
Santa Monica. but where land subjects
may be handled to better advantage.
Then, in addition, some companies
also have studios and companies at
Chicago, at points in the South, in or
near New York and elsewhere.
Having this idea of harmony and
manufacturing company Is now en-
gagged in preparing a play based on
the drama "Shenndoah" and depict
ing scenes during the civil war in the
South. This is being produced by a
Florida company. Exact copies Of
federal and Confederate uniforms are
worn by the actors, and arms of the
period are used, including a Confed-
crate cannon which was posted at
one of the outer defenses of Atlanta
during the war. but which for years
has been slowed away in a warehouse
in Brooklyn. Incidents of Shermans
| march to the sea are to be shown.
More than four hundred people are
employed in this particular portrayal,
Another company bought the right
from the widow of the late Dion
Boucicault to portray THE Shau-
ghran" in motion picture form. The
actors and actresses who were 10 take