Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-28
the GREATEST LEAP
IN HISTORY
From Nothing to the Fifth In
dustry of the World in
Ten Years.

From a once despised novelty to the
highest point of perfection ever at
tanned by the drama is the remarkable
record of the motion picture today.
Five years ago it was the subject of
contemptuous sneers, and regarded as
a mere "get-rich- quick" invention, TO
satisfy a satiated public for short
time. and then be consigned to eternal
oblivion. Today it is the height of ar
tistic achievement. 1t has risen on its
own merits, from n ridiculed pastime
to a disni;ied and ennobling influence.
whose stimulus even today cannot be
over estimated. and whose future can
be but weakly forecasted.
a few short years ago, when the mo-
ton picture was in its infancy. il rank
ed among the very lowest of CONNER
cial enterprises. in proportion to capt.
tai invested and labor represented. At
this writing, it is the fifth largest
industry of this country, with its scope
ever-increaSing. Accordingly. it is we'll
to give a moments consideration 10 the
factors involved in this -precedented
event in dramatic annals.
! AS in every revolutionary movement,
a leader arose in the ranks Of the mo-
ton picture adherents, and brought
order out of chaos. This leader. David
Wark Griffith, was young actor who.
like many of his kind becoming in
terested in the photoplay, adopted it
for his profession. Mr.. Griffith had
ideas. His ideas were unlike any that
had ever been practced up to his ad-
A.
In the opinion of those more expert
enced in the business than himself,
his ideas We're impractical, and un-
feasible. But Mr.. Griffith had the
courage of his convictions. His theo-
ries We're tried, and proved successful.
! Change after change he made in the
accustomed order of things of the mo-
ton picture. and each departure was
pronounced Improvement. At length
his work attracted the attention of
learned men, and when the first be-
grudging column of praise was ex-
tended TO one of his pictures in a met
ropolitan newspaper, the initial vic
tory had been won by the picture.
Other men, quick to realize and appre-
clate the value Of his skill, copied his
methods, with the result that the en-
tire industry was raised from its low
ly level to the enViable plane which it
is now enthroned upon. Pictures that
d. W. Griffith made four and five years
ago are still held as standards of their
art. 1t is generally conceded that the
greatest one reel picture ever made
was The Battle" and in this photo
play. Mr. Griffith for the first time
n n cd ~ n6arc
accomplished with one thousand feet of
film. "The Battle" was made nearly
five years ago Within the last ~
months. d. w. Griffith vsualized for
the screen the mightiest spectacle in
the history of the drama, his now fam
Gus. Birth of Nation" In IL reels.
The Birth of a Nation" is destined
ever to be "a standard of standards,
and it is by far the most wonderful
artistic creation which has ever been
presented. From the one reel of "The
Battle" to the twelve reels Of "The
Firth of Nation is a far cry: yet
these two pictures stand for two of
the most significant marks of progress
that the filmic industry has ever ex-
perienced. So much for Mr.. Griffith.
A little later after d. w. Griffith had
established himself and his produc-
tions. his first. and in fact, his only
serious rival as a claimant for fore
most directing, made his presence
known. This rival was Thomas H. |
Ince. Motion picture critics today are
divided as to which one, Mr. Griffith
or Mr.. Ince is the better director.
Certainly Thomas H. Ince has a |
most laudable record as a produce
er of photoplays. Startling in the |
same manner as Mr.. Griffith. with |
a small company of unknown actors |
the genius of Mr. Ince at once made
itself apparent. In comparatively |
short time, the two most formidable |
names in the motion picture world !
We're those of D. w. Griffith and Thorn |
as H. Ince Each had their own adj
mirers, and to this day the arguments ;
still wax warm over their respective |
merits. Mr.. Ince built up the New |
York Motion Picture Company. whose
products paved the way for the sur
vival Of the independent companies in
the industry. owing to their superla-
tive quality, and if for no other rea-
son than this. Thomas H. Ince will |
be assured Of everlasting fame in the
chronicles of the drama. Mr.. Ince's !
best known pictures are THE Battle
of Gettysburg" and THE Wrath of the
Gods" However, to leave Mr.. Ince
for the time being.
While D. w. Griffith, and Thomas Fl.
Ince. or Thomas II. Ince and D. w.
Griffith, whichever way you prefer it,
are the foremost opponents of the dra-
matte element in motion pictures there
is third name to be added to theirs,
which, when SO placed, comprises the
three greatest directors in the world
And, as it should be. this name repre-
sents-not the element of drama, which
is so ably taken care of by the two
above mentioned gentlemen, but the
less serious side Of life-comedy. Mack
Sennett is the name Of the man who
has undoubtedly caused more people
to laugh than any other mortal since
the world began. Mr.. Sennett is the