The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-08
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
European War Brings
Disaster to Many
Of the Smaller
Film Concerns
BY GARDNER MACK.

war will have very depressing ef-
feet on the moving picture business
in the United States.
There are probably few producing
companies in the country who do not
look upon the war as a very disas-
trous thing - disastrous in many
ways. But its greatest disaster to
the producers viii be the elimination
of number OF concerns, the princi-
pal business of which has been for
many months past to turn out cheap
film of Western pictures for Euro
pean consumption. Perhaps on the
whole II might be considered a good
thing for the pictures from the point
of view of the public that the war
has come 1t will mean the failure
OF many concerns-but the best and
biggest of the companies will be able
to survive its effects.
Few people realize what ire
mendous business is done in Europe
by American film manufacturers.
Within the past few years the busi-
ness Of shipping film out of this
country has become one of the big
gest features of the export trade.
The ideal conditions that have been
presented in some sections OF the
United States for making pictures
and the tremendous growth OF the
business here encouraged the organi-
cation of companies whose sole bust
ness II has been to send wild West
ern pictures to the four corners OF
the globe, and particularly to Eu-
rope. Much more than half the
American films abroad have been
of this character. The Indian plays
and the plays with cowboys and
rough riders of the plains have made
n big hit with the people of Europe.
who have lived such prosaic lives
amid such prosaic surroundings.
The wild life of America as shown
on the screen has had a great fasci-
nation for them. In some sections
notably, in England, the cowboy
Indian film is losing its popularity.
But on the continent il has held up
well. 1t has been stated that fully
50 per cent of the film made in
America was shipped abroad. This
is probably an exageration Of the
real proportions. but 1t is near
enough to the truth to give some
idea Of what ii will mean when this
outlet for studio products is blocked
by the war that is now going on.
Many film companies that have
been doing a prosperous business will
probably go to the wall. Only the
big concerns will be able to with
stand the loss and 1t is very likely
that these companies will be hard hit
Doubtless. as has been hazarded.
this will be a good thing for the
business, on the whole. The COM
panies that will be eliminated will
be the concerns that have been OPP
Grated on small capital and whose
chief stock in trade was ability to
turn out sensational pictures, pic.
lures that had little to recommend
them but the thrill that was inserted
in every reel. With the destruction
Of the principal source of income for
such concerns will come a readJust-
ment of the business in all its de-
parts and, undoubtedly, the improve
ment of the product of the COM
panies that survive
There is no question but that the
big film companies have made won
derful Improvement during the past
wear, in both the quality of the plays
produced and the character OF the
acting. The business has been I'M
dergoing a settling process during
the year from which the public has
reaped a large benefit. II left 10
the natural course of events II would
probably have required another year
or two for the business to reach a
normal level The war. however,
will have a tendency to hurry TINS
process and II will not be surprising
II after n month or two. the purely
speculative film producers Will nave
been actually eliminated and the
concerns that remain VIII nave set
tied upon sound basis. Whatever
the result II is one of those cases
t,b.re the public is sure TO be the
gamer While we sympathfze deep
~ with the people who lose In tho
process OF REIMBURSEMENT, at me
same time the new era VIII receive
a most hearty welcome. as
svent most deeply appreciated ana
greatly needed for the pehelt VI
most Of those concerned.
t1s become very popular during the
ST wear, has severed his connection
With the Edison company. and VIII
hereafter he seen under a CnlEcI sal
trade-mark. The departure "f VIII
son from the Edison fold is IS much
a surprise as was the exodus n, Mary
Fuller. Charles Ogle. Walter Eo"ln'
a nd George DeSBey. ne @4Ho
with the Edison company three
Years. and was regarded as fixture.
In the future he will head his own
company. II is understood. and MS
pictures will be sent out as features.
There are probably few moving
picturc actors in the country whose
has increased in the pro-
portions that Wilson's has shown In
the past year And ho owes his
good fortune to careful. studious
work and desire to do evF rything
that is assigned him in the host pos
sible way. Wilson is AN actor OF
very high quality. In the 'Cleek
series OF detective stories he devel-
oped a character far beyond the i'm
DortanCe the stories Themselves de-
served He is native Of Iowa,
and ran away from home 10 join
brass band when h" was small
boy. He played in stock companies
In New York and Erooklyr before
becoming moving picture actor.
He has a strong personality and a
most pleasing manner. backed by q
"rcat deal OF genuine ability as
film actor q NJ