The Washington times., 1915-03-30
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Motion Pictures May
Be Installed AT
Metropol an
Opera House
By GARDNER MACK.

While people interested in the
amusement business are still gasping
at the spectacle of THE Birth of the
Nation" produced in motion pictures
and drawing crowded houses at reg
ular thcater prices in the heart of
New York's theater district, The, an
nouncemcnt Is made that negotia-
tions are in progress for the leasing
of the Metropolitan Opera House
for the production OF joint film and
musical dramas at regular Metro
poitan prices!
This means that the lO-cent motion
picture hds leaped to the Importance
of the most expensive grand opera.
In fact. the anneuncement of the ne
gotiations in progress contain the
statement that the price OF orchestra
chairs for the productions to be given
will remain S., as heretofore.
The New York Review is RESPONSE
bic for the publication of the an
nuuncement, although it is made on
authority of Louis j. Sleznick, vice
president and general manager of
the World Film Corporation, the film
concern that is conducting nesotia-
tionS for the leasing of the opera
house.
Otto II. Kahn, William X. Wander
bilt, George Gould, Henry Rogers
Winthrop. Paul Cravath, and other
metropolitan directors look with IA
vor upon the proposition which has
been submitted to them by Sleznick,
states the Review, for the lease Of
a Mntr
ton of mammoth feature films. in
connection with a musical program
OF the highest Class supplemented by
soloists drawn from the ranks Of the
Metropolitan artists.
The offer of the World Film Cor
annually for many years that the
millionaire directors of the Metro
politan intended building new
opera house further uptown. and
that the great theater at Fortieth
street and Broadway would be torn
down to make way for a mercantile
or office building.
The, offer Of the World Film Cor
poration may open up the way for
building new opera house, though,
or course, such structure as would
be erected could not be planned and
erected in time for the opening of
the next opera season.
"A $2oO,OOO film production has been
already secured for the first feature
and other gigantic films are now in
course of manufacture by the World
Film Corporation. 1t is estimated
that the running expenses OF the
house, pictures, orchestra and So
loists would amount to $1,000 a
week.
"A contract for the services of
Alfred Hertz, the Wasnerian musi-
cal conductor of the Metropolitan, to
take charge of the musical portion
OF the entertainment, has already
been signed. 1t Is estimated that as
much as $1,000 a night can be paid
for the services of leading Metro
politan stars. and still there will
be good margin of profit for the
management. There will be no
chorus.
Tn regard to the proposition, Mr..
sleznick yesterday said.
1T is true that 1 have made an
offer for the lease of the Metro
politan Opera House. but the matter
is still pending. Even II we do not
secure the Metropolitan we shall
carry out our program of manufac-
turing and presenting here next sea-
son feature films on a greater scale
than has hitherto been attempted.
We are prepared to make an outlay
of a quarter of million dollars
upon the manufacture of a film pro-
duction every month If necessary
and we shall offer these wonderful
pictures in every city in the coun-
try at regular theater prices.