The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-18
100000 MOVIE
CONCERN FORMED
Will Turn Out Own Pictures
and Show Them Over The
atrical Route.
IT. F.. AITKEN IN SCHEME

For the first time in the history OF
the business motion pictures are to be
placed on an equal plane with legitimate
theatrical productions. A 100000
company Is being formed. with II. r..
Aitken at its head. which has acquired
the services Of d. w. Grifith, Thomas
r.. Ince and Mack sennett as producers.
who will turn out pictures to be routed
throughout the country in a chain OF
theatres precisely az regular produc-
tons have been handled by the leading
theatrical producers OF New York.
This announcement was semd- o officially
made yesterday following reports that
Mr.. Aiken, who is now president or the
Mutual Film Company. has been de-
posed and was 10 start a new concern
Of his own. The company will be In
| ~corpurated in a day or two and the pic
lures will be routed at the 81 scale OF
prices.
The combination virtually means a
| merger ~ the interests OF the New York
Motion Picture Corporation, which VIII
sever it's connection with the Mutual,
the Reliance and Majestic companies,
the Keystone Comedy Company and sew
cral subsidiaries ~ these.
wall street capital IL behind the
movement. The new combination will
have besides the producers named c. q.
Baumarn, Adam and Charles Kessel and
the Western import Company OF London
as leading figures. He~adquar Will
be In New York with branches In Lon
don. Paris. Vienna, Petrograd, Rome,
Barcelona and South America.
Control Of n chain of theatres through
| out the world with n central theatre on
Broadway has been acquired. II Is an
nounced. The first showing OF the pic
lures will he in New York. Prominent
stars of the American and European
stage. IL is also announced. have been
engaged. Messrs. Griffth, Ince and SEN
nett, the three artistic directors, Will
supervise all the productions. Each one
has long been recognized as preeminent
In his respective field. Everything they
produce will he routed over the com
pany's chain OF theatres.
Striking figures In regard to the imam
cial outlay for the new corporation are
disclosed. II Is expected that the annual
cost OF the weekly programmes or
series OF pictures 10 he produced. Will
approximate $1,000. 600. This IL Justi-
fed by the assertion that at the present
day tho annual earnings OF the film In
terests are not far from 81 900, OOO, 900.
the picture business now being ranked
J IONrt0 or NTH among luf great lHuuT
tries Of the United states. II Is ex-
pected that his new movement will
raise the figure above that high water
mark.
Although II. r. Aitken refused yea
,erday 10 discuss at length the deal. he
admitted the formation OF the combina-
ton. In other quarters there was a
tendency to call the undertaking prem
a.ure,' the idea prevailing that the
deal was made for effect" In the pres
ent impending split W the Mutual
Film Company. its president. Mr.. Aiken,
and the New York Motion Picture Cor
poration.
There was ar undercurrent OF opinion
seemingly mostly In the minority. that
the reported amalgamation would not he
definitely consummated and was helms
used to overawe the Mutual into making
certain important concess ons relative &c
Nj. Aitkeu's position and the New York
Motion Picture Corporation.
These reports were not entirely sub
s,autlated. but gave much ground fol-
discussion as to nov far the newly an
nouuced deal would he or had beer
actually carried.