Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-07
BOON TO THECPTANS
OUT OF JOBSAND
WILLING TO INVEST
Movie Man, Who Embodies
Eastern Amusement Com
pany, Has 81 100000 En-
terprise on Hand.

| Actors who are out OF work have rea.
son to be happy. a gigantic moving pic.
| ture concern, with octopus-like tenden.
| cies, Is about to be launched II will fur.
nish employment to at least $50 actors
provided each will buy stock In the con-
| Germ.
This stipulation is not made to increase
the capital, according to A. Shaffer, pro-
moter or the company, but merely TO
make the actors take an interest I'm their
work. The company is assured. he de-
clared today OF si,000,0 900 capital, and
really win operate n chain of 100 theatres
In Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The
headquarters at present ls on the sixth
floor of 400 Walnut street
The concern, which will be known as
the Eastern Amusement Company, also
wants young man to manage each
theatre, but the manager, like the actor,
must invest between $3.50 and $500 This
Is 10 make him take an interest In his
work. Interest on the money TO the
amount of Z per cent is assured in the
advertisement which Mr. Shaffer has
placed in the newspapers
Inc basis OF calculation in this connec-
ton is matter of conjecture, as the
company has not yet opened any of the
theatres, But. according to MIR. shaffer,
u is negotating for the first one in West
Philadelphia.
In order that returns may come in ms
quickly as possible for the investors the
promoter said efforts will be made To
lease or buy three theatres each week.
ME- Shaffer is 80 confident of success of
his plans that It matters not where the
theatre Is located In an advertisement
announcing that he will buy or rent a
theatre he states that II may be located
anywhere In the city. and must have a
capacity of not less than $50
lie contended that 1t was impossible for
q man to make out independently in the
moVing-picture business on account of
the high cost of pictures. To offset this.
Mr.. Shaffer explained he would make one
picture play several houses a day
IF l got film that cost 500 q day
rent he said, II would send it to four
or fVe of the houses on our circuit This
would make II only aboutS20 a house. II
would be necessary to have autos on
hand In order to expedite matters"
The cost of production will also be great
ly reduced by the foresight of Mr. Shnffer
He has 80 scenarios already on hand.
Many of these he wrote himself. But
economy will not eLd there The pro-
moter says he will act as his own pro-
ducer, which means that he will act as
his own stage manager. Experience in
vaudeville abroad, he assorted, fitted him
for this.
When questioned as to the Identity of
some of the stockholders of the East
ern Amusement Company, Mr. Shaffer
said there was only one other ~ r"r-c"'
"a Mr. Everies, former s;u ent Of
the University of Pennsylvania. he "a .d
that Mr.. Everies was the financial man |
Of the concern.
The company's office is not yet fully |
furnished, a telephone and some sta
tionery being the only accessories on |
hand when the caller arrived.
The Eastern Amusement Company will |
not stop at moving pictures. In the |
summer II will produce musical comedies |
in its own parks-whch win be obtained |
ater.
"won't you find it difficult to get ac-
ors or actresses to buy shares of the
Mr.. Shaffer was asked.
mot at ALL" he replied, "one woman
las already offered to buy 5000 worth of
took II | will feature her in a picture"
Pausing to light a cigarette, he added.
We won't employ any one who won't
nvest."