The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-10-20
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Great Gro7Dth of the
Photopldy Shown
in Figures and
Programs.

business VIII. CHI occurred within the
last two weeks, together with Sc
ries of program announcements re-
Gently MADE. The first of these pears
more directly on the value OF the
business interests that have Deen
reared through the manufacture OF
photoplays. The stock in the UNI
versal Company held by Pat Powers
and two others, was sold recently Tor
something like $3,0oO,00l. The orig
inal investment of these three gen.
tlemen was less than S10,O0O,0OO in
this same stock!
1t was recently estimated that So
600 people attend motion picture ex-
hibitions i'm Washington every week.
The chances are that this estimate
is too high. But there are about
seventy motion picture theaters in
Washington, and each of them will
accommodate from 600 to leo people
every day and evening. Most Of
the time they are all comfortably
full. Some of the time they are
crowded to overlooking. There have
been a number of estimates as to
the exact number of motion picture
houses in the United States, the
latest being about 1900. 1t is prob
able that this is q conservative es-
innate. 1t is believed that fully
l0,000,0 900 people attend photoplay ex-
hibitions every day. IN the city OF
New York there are more than LOU
theaters, and in Chicago there are
100. 1t is estimated that more than
$50, 100000 is invested in the business
in its various branches. To great
extent these are merely figures. as
the nature of the business is such
that no one can give an exact estl-
mate Of what IL amounts to, and no
one is in a position to do more than
guess at the actual facts.
But the mere suggestions Of the
facts are big enough to speak for
themselves. The fact that ten thou
sand dollars invested in stock 4 few
years ago has grown to almost
million dollars is good enough evil
dence OF the rapid and substantial
growth of the business, as the price
that was paid for the stock at the
last sale was not a cent moro than
It was actually worth, when the
value Of the business ii represents is
considered.
The second big deal that was put
through came only last week and in
volved the transfer of the Pathe
studios in this country to William
Fox. the theatrical manager, who is
about to embark in the motion pic
tIuc producing business on a very
large scale. Mr.: Fox has be3n one
OF the largest individual Exchange
men and exhibitors in the country.
lie has owned many important pic
ture theatars. Now he intends to
produce his own film. The signifi-
canoe of the Fox purchase is not so
much in the price he paid for the
property, which was considerably
over a million. it is reported, and in
wolves studios in Jersey City, New
York. and Los Angeles, but in the
use to which he intends putting his
purchase.
Already contracts have been signed
by such well known stage artists as
Wilton Lackaye, Edmund Breese.
and Dorothy. Donnelly TO appear in
Fox productions. 1t is the inten-
don Of the new producer to turn out
some original plays in which artists
OF the caliber Of the three mentioned
Will be starred in the same way as
they are starred on the stage. And
II is also promised that the work
these people do in the studios will
not interfere with their appearance
on the legitimate stage. bit win be
supplemental to such appearance
There have been other announce
ments made that are Of more than
passing interest to the patron Of the
moving plcture-announc sments that
ere In line with the Fox idea The
new company known as the Para
mount Players. which controls the
Jesse l. Laskey, and the Bosworth
companies. is preparing q program
OF releases which speaks volumes for
The artistic growth of the motion
picture and gives positive evidence of
what we mean when we say that
the film is not detrimental to the
ttage, but rather a help.
This company has already released
from the Famous PLAYERS Studios
such films as II. B. Warner, in THE
Lost Paradise" Henrietta Crossrnan
In The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch"
Mary Pickford in Such Little
Queen" Bertha Kalich in Marta of
the Lowlands," and Marguerite Clark
IN "Wildfower." Some of the things
next are Maclyn Arbuckle in The
County Chairman" David Higgins in
His Last Dollar" Mary Pickford in
Behind the Scenes" Johnny Barry
more in The Man From Mexico:
Gladys Hanson in The Straight
Road; Tyrone Power in "Aristoc-
racy:" and May Irwin in Mrs.
Black Is Back"
From the Lasky studio there has
already come Dustin Farnum in THE
Nirginfan;" Edward Abeles in The
making of Bobby Burnt" and Rob-
ert Ed<son In Where the Trail Dr.
ytdes." There is promised from this
firm Max Figman in what's His
Name" Edward Abeles in Ready
Money" Bessie Barriscale and a Bel
asco production OF The Rose of the
Rancho" and Theodore Roberts in
The Ringmaster." The Bosworth
Company has produced the film
dramas made from the Jack London
novels, and is now engaged in put
ting in film some of Charles Van
Loans baseball stories. The Lubin
Company are sending out, through
the General Film Company, plays
with such stage stars as William
Hitchcock. Andrew Mack. Rose
Coghlan, Evelyn Nesbit Thaw and
others.
Surely there can be no doubt from
the association of these names and
these plays with the film that II has
reached a high place in the art Of
presenting the best there is in the
drama that can be shown in action
alone. In one Of the big studios a
short time ago we were informed
that some Of Clyde Fitch plays are
TO be produced on the screen. and IL
Is understood that all of the big
Iiebler productions, as well as the
Belasco plays. will be played again
before the camera
1t is d significant thing that the
list that has been cited contains the
plays that are TO be released TOR
motion picture patrons before De-
cember j OF this year Every three
months there will be a similar list.
The supply now seems to be almost
inexhaustible because the great ac-
tors and actresses and the great
producers are rushing to the film
TO give that permanence to their
plays which TIN stage cannot give
The film will always be ready for
''revivals' Ii will last as long as
the world lasts, IL 1t Is properly
protected
At should be understood, however,
that this does not entirely usurp the