The Washington times., 1915-08-13
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Picture Makers Take
Active Part in the
Civic Affairs OF
,. Los Angeles.

One Of these days the grave and
reverend seigniors VINO Go the pain
and fancy seis niorins for the cay
Q OF Los 4l"Eoits M'ii grave ana rev.
erently i.piare The present seal and
sign OF the ulIy Win & ueNice WniSn
will show u ilo ,ion picture director
rampant on 1ieiu or gold with
camera in the middle distance and
In the center a comedian with one
large snoe firmly fixed on The
ground and the other just as firmly
placed against the diaphragm OF
another comedian who is about to
become reGLincent! In other words,
the coat-of-arnls of Los Angeles will
be chansed 20 give the motion pic
ture the center OF It's stage, for
the motion picture is doing Tor Los
Angeles what the fruit, and glorious
climate OF California began.
Some weeks ago statistics were
published snowing that about 90 per
gent of the motion pictures made in
the worlu were made in or around
the city OF Los Angeles. these
statistics showed also that some
lo.UU OF the City's population earned
their living In some part of the
manufacture of pictures. That would
ordinarily be enough to assure per-
sons who doubt the Importance of
the industry to the city.
Inc pictures are meaning some
thlnS more than this, however,
some hing entirhy outside of the
picture industry itself. one of the
biggest booster campaigns ever
organized in this country has re-
Gently been launched BY motion pic
ture people under the leadership of
Mack Sennett. the director-in-chief
OF the keystone Company. This
campaign has nothing whatever to
do with motion pictures. At is for
the purpose of boosting Los An
geles and that particular section of
California as great place to live.
1t tells about all the advantages of
the pace ana practically never
mentions motion pictures. The
Rooster committee" includes repre-
sentatives of all business interests
but the motion picture people are
really running it, as@they are sup
out.
In several other directions the mo-
ton picture men have worked for
the benefit of the city. For in
stance Colonel selig. head Of the
selig Polyscope Company. has fur
nished the city of Los Angeles with
public park and zoo. The park.
the zoo Is part of the business
establishment of the Selig Com
pany, designed primarily to serve as
q stage for motion pictures. But
1t is also part of the city. Our
friend. Willard Howe. who has just
geles. Is enthusiastic over this
phase of the motion picture bene-
fit to the city.
One Of the first impressions
visitor receives in Los Angeles"
Mr.. Howe declares, 'is the manner
porations are assisting in municipal
affairs entirely outside Of their
business interests.
"A significant instance Of this is
shown in the Selig Jungle Zoo. which
ASIDE from pe rS a par. of the Selig
picture plant is also pleasure park
for the city OF Los Angeles. l."-
Gated In easy access. here is main
tained a permanent exhibit of anil
mails, birds, reptiles, etc. to the
number Of $50.
This zoo is a favorte resort Of the
Los Angeles folks and is considered
by the municipal officials as an I'M
portant acquisition to the city
While houses, gum gcovr, trees
bamboo jungles, dens, etc, are
scattered over the spac Gus srou:lds
visitors to the zoo in no way inter
players. For the stages with theil
sets and scenes. the dressing rooms
property departments etc, are suf
fciently removed from the park a!
to be an institution in itself
Colonel S"lig malnta ms corps o
animal trainers who give public per
formances at specified hours. Ther'
is also dancing pavilion for th'
use of patrons and music Is fur
nlshed by a municipal band. Th
park Is well patrolled and rules o
safety must be observed by public
and players alike. During my visi
there one of the actors was fine
heavily for speeding in the park"