davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

IRE IN the heart which will proso-.,v
uemand action OF the more .u,o--,'
KINDS, such as perhaps ONLY III. sroker
"ord may entirely supply.
Even the movies themselves ara W.
aiming TO feel the need of 'l,s FIR
the spoken Title is being ,is.t ,nor,
ana more frequently. and MI r. arl
NOR" the dialogue OF il Is e>pros%ai
"!'h definite literary flnls. ari ,rir.
a~cterlzation.
The charge is often trnuc.. ..r-r,.
the actor that he has f,ryu.,, 20
legitimate for the movie ,.m,'. ta
"'S" sums Of money W.. rtIj'
truth l. may he charged tha, ,.r sage
mas oft"n forsaken him Art ..r...'.
something is To he said f.. sep
VINO prefers clean an vN,., ",
MOVIES To the not AWAY ...'-
pays open tn HIM On '.. roc :
stage IN these transitional O.'.
Now having said 81 mu'r o.. H ,'
II the moving picture. r.,.
WI" knows mo Will acrusr 49,, o.
taG"nism toward the sp.N.'. .t .H.
I" show my sincerity IN - s v'
explain that during the It-
! have been steadily rof.~rr ".
oners. as for that matter .n.r Ht".
refusing legitimate Offers "a dc
not consider to come up - r-
artistic level.
stu. ! have not eu',rol' on. 90
ne spoken drama. In m, .' -"'
way ] have been upholi"r t'-
ner thereof albeit IN a l,r,
with no more stage d~ecora'.w 80
chair and table. sometimes r .I'
II another chair, ANA have ;'''
evcn in these days Elrl; '.. h"'
Shakespeare, Mast.rlinck. |D'o'f''.
Preston Peabody. and unH a1'
kennedy, and others have .n0.a'N'-
important To say Of life and Cos an
The human henrt and human 7"s''ni~
which perhaps tho NOV" M" nc"e
h" lhlo 10 express quite - VOL
NJ the same, the movi" ha7'~ pMF
II t. my mind n very lplll ari w.
MIGRATING place, in the act nv NJ
things, shall In glad, however, Whe'
rs "A people We shall grow iu,, j. sense
of values and proportions IN ne
well as art.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

each year goes by. The time has gone
when producers who take real pride in
their work can put out cheap photo
plays. The public now demands the
best. No matter how popular or well
known a star Is he will not be success
full in the long run unless he Is pro-
vided with a play that suits the public.
=. r. Barnum's axioms are getting out
OF date. You simply cannot bunk the
public"
What is your idea Of, say. the
twelve most popular Aim stars, re-
gardless Of their salaries?" Mr.. t'roh-
man was asked.
"Offhand. I should say" he replied,
that the twelve most popular persons
are Mary Pickford. Marguerite Clark.
Charles Chaplin. Clara kimball Young.
Francis Bushman, Anita Stewart. Dus-
tin Farnum. blanche Sweet. Theda
Bara. Marie Doro. Mary Fuller and
Pearl White.
"The fact that certain OF them re-
celve salaries which appear to he out
Of all proportion to the services they
! render Is "A mystery only to the lay
man.. When one realizes that the aver
age life Of a good feature play Is about
two and one-half years IL can be
readily seen that in that time a popu-
lar photoplay will return more money
to its producers than was originally
put into its making.
Many OF these Aims are made 10y
special artists who are engaged az
certain stipulated sums but who do
| not make the business of picturcs their
life work. THESE sums perhaps appear
Ia he very high. but the income from
n picture of this kind is enough Ia
warrant the outlay.
Then some manufacturers wish e.
cast n glamour about their stars 10y
speaking In vague terms Of tremcn-
dous salaries paid them. Bu, when an
actor Is supposed To- he getting say
$500 a week or more remember hat
this remuneration IL probably only fur
a few weeks and that for the rest of
his time he is idle. The large major
ity of those in the profession are paid
on this basis. Therefore their annual
income. IL will lie found. IL not So very
much larger than that Of the average
business man.
There IL no reason for tho public 10
he fooled into a belief hat large sal
aries last the ., ear around only in
isolated cases is this true.
Where the real danger lies. as Mr..
Goldfish 50 aptly said. is in paying
larg" salaries 20 artists under contract
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

is rapidly coming Into much public
pUpu aviiy. receives :5O.o0O a year
from thc Famous Players.
Outside -; these three stars there
are estimated "a hc about 5000 prin-
ciial actors and actresses in the bust
ness who receive from th.ir various
employers sums raug,ug from $500
IA week down to 800. And Yet al
lowauCc must. ho mad, for "A certain
amour, Of buucomhe connected with
their earnings. Their salaries are not
always as large "a, represented by am
bilious press agents. Bu' they are
unuuestionahly very large IN some
cases. Why? n asks.
In answer many film companies
which employ flcrsons Ike Chaplin
submit some interesting data. \
prominent bank in n recent circular
says:
There is perhaps ~ parallel in
II commercial history 10 the growth
Of the motion picture business, which
now occupies fifih place amonr Ameri-
can industries in soint of volume and
represents over $500. oO0. 900 of in
vested capital. II is estimated that il
gives employment to more thar l0O.-
600 persons.
There are NOR" than $4,000 mo-
ton picture theatres throughout the
country, The attendance il figured
at $1,000, 900 persons daily and APP
proXimately $1,000. coo a day is paid
for admissions. giving the amazing
total of $3.50. 600 900 for the year
Handsome theatres in expensive 10,
cations are now given over to tn,
motion picture business. The mos
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

Will 1t Prove the Villain in the Piece and in the Big Final Scene
Set Off the Bomb That Will Cause a Crash? This New Problem
of Reckless Expenditure in Payment Of Film Stars Dis
cussed by Leading Motion Picture Managers

-
,'o'av'e ac'oIs Me ",p'oyru a,u VIZ
49, ~" "'... 1870 ID
see 900
",s,. .s..a.s -, IL, o,,,, v.,,h
,....ua al, :. t,s,,..rm ,u,, nr.son,
- -. ...-.. ,...r... A..
,ha ,rs,.,r,, rsocha. ,hs .whsiant,ai
h.s,. sor ,,h,,h +, 4. o,,,i,,.i,, da.,,red
i, win command m. aid OF hanks and
investors. To watch its growth and
study the causes thereof should prove
Instructive"
Some manufacturers point with pride
To figures such as these. you see
why we can afford to pay big salaries:'
they say. Look at those statistics.
Isn't that enough to convince YOU that
its worth itc And it's rowing all the
time"
Charles Chaplin is paid the large
salary which he receives from the Mu.
tual Film Compsny not only on the
strength NJ those f,p,,res b,t beca,,se
tho nublic patronage n, h,. Aims IN,
d~omon,,r,,ad h.,,ord n ao,,h, ,ha, ho
viii hiring a return IN them n, more
,h,r Tho .morr, ~, hi, .a,a,y Tbsr
49, t~.lt-. 80 up1,- f~.e.u. l~tN
~. nuaaramra - ~. N,,ma, ,.i,
,.,, o. ,rcr.a.. ,h. ,a,,,. ~ h u,ho,.
,. 80
-. ~
-.
""" " "
'."p,''.'' ""n ~ .''' "
p.o"' "'''',a"' VI" "' 'ep"'"''o" NY
o''r'hS Puoi'c s'och ior sdte' as 'hes
Il" NOT "eaI III 'his lott" "f ous'hess'
ON the other hand Mary Pickford
IL paid her salary for entHe.y diner
ont reasons. She IL one of the best
sellers that the exhibitor can obtain.
She appears IN what are termed fea-
ture plays. namely. those II a are owe
two reels In length. AS a rule h de-
mand for her is more than the supply
and the manufacturer gets a large
enough return from her pictures to
warrant her big salary. She il n
greater institution Of the movies than
Chaplin. In other words. Miss Pickford
meets a totally different demand from
that of chaplin.
The case ~ Marguerite clark, who
Is put down az the third highest priced
star IN PICTURES. IS parallel 10 that 81
Miss t'cRrord. MISS tIarks popular
Ivy on the screen ~ waxing fast; MISS
iIcktords mas probdb'y reached IT'S
nlshest point, nut IL SHOWS no = 81
DIMINISHING h"th III thcm nave proved
'h'ir ura"lhS power ana 'heir money
'"ah'ns power ,
=, mas zee" u."''e''"'cu 'N"e an"
asn'" '""' ~ "" "u '"'
WA. .ou"'' '"S " p'"'''ca.! '"-
"'''@' os e'''! '". 40 an ''"S.,"-
,"n s'aVeu '""' pfV"'',vn, mn
,''"p""' "","e " '.'' ,
n - ,a.t 80.
=, a., ,..a
~. anin 49, - h. ", ~,
.,. oaaun y. ,.,L.J .,o .it,
"a ...... ,a.. ,,a n,h,i,,s
ra.-.s
noLing ., ar,,h.r rho.. ~, u s,,-
-. ~. ,nn..ton 4. 90 asr.d.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

bought in the winter OF
l90t-5, SO ii is now in its eleventh
season: but you mustn't think that II
is mean and shabby. Far from il. ~
a matter Of fact i, is a pretty decent
looking coat s,ill. thanks TO its original
quality and tho care | have taken
Of ii.
II buy my clothes ready made. but
] buy pretty nearly the hest. which |
find To be sound economy. Good
clothes look better, wear better and
keep their shape better: they are bet
ter in every way. and in the long run
they cost less than cheap clothes.
For this overcoat, which would
have cost, custom made. anywhere
from $50 10 SIS. I paid $40. 1t was a
little too heavy. but il was Of very en-
cellent material. lined throughout with
heavy silk " superior quality, and Il
was beautifully made. II had "A velvet
collar, which | don't fancy; but taken
all together 1t was so fine "A coat that
! wore IL with pride and pleasure.
"In the third winter the elegant silk
lining began Ia show distinct signs If
wear around the bottom. II there is
one thing | can't stand IL is a coat
with a ragged or worn or patched lin
ing. hut this lining was still perfectly
good everywhere except around thai
bottom edge. and ! hated 20 go to the
large expense Of q complete new lining
just for that ragged edge az the bot
tom.
"Then I had a bright idea. Besides
having a velvet collar, which | didn';
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
SCREEN

at can all be summed M in a v.,,,
few words: Politeness from emplov.
ees, cleanliness in the theatre. ycn,l,.
ton. light. good music with tho MO-
grammes and good pictures. From ,bO
standpoint Of the exhibitor ,hes. AZ.
all important factors in the doye,o,.
ment of the motion picture in ,bo
United states"
But one Of the thorns in tho side r,
the exhibitor and something ovs.
which he has no control is the bro,
ent overproduction in the movies. f.
il authoritatively stated that there AZ,
twenty feature plays produced in N.
country every week. Most OF them havo
their first releases in New York. There
are five theatres in the city tina, de,,
in these films. Seven go TO no Nov
York theatre. n to the Strand. two ia
the knickerbocker. one to- the Rroad.
way and two TO the Academy OF MI.
sic. This makes a total Of thirteen
films which a be taken care Of. bu, 4,
leaves w un%accounted FOR. Those
seven features are what is left over
each week and they must take Their
chances in other parts Of the country
since the next week vii, bring n
twenty more.
The average price for a feature rlay
Of the variety that will run at a tho.
atrc for a whole week IL 800 a day
for first release. making 500 for the
week. When a thcatrc has 'wo
feature films in a week the exhibitor
must pay $3.50 a week each. som.
theatres like the New York change
their hill every day. The Same aver.
by charging the exhibitor 500 for
each picture. making $500 n week. Just
as in the case NJ the other kind o,
houses
As tho film becomes older less and
less ran lc charged for its exhibit on
For instance, although the Strand
Theatre may pay 500 "A day fo- ,
Mary Pickf"rd picture. the next hors.
to which that picture ome will have
to pay only $50 or SIS a day. ana 50
on down the line. II is a mistake "a
suppose 4 fiat rate is charged %hcf.
ever the picture may be shown.
Consequently when there X over.
production when films arc manu'a,.
tIrcd faster than they are showr-
the manufacturer H. willing To- 'tke
i.S, Tor a first release rather than have
IL 20 hegUng for IA customer. .Appar.
entity this question is almost os siea'
an EVIL Ia the industry as tho oAor.
biiant salary.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

You may believe me or not, hut it's
a fact that the policeman had to
hustle into that a and actually per-
suade those passengers to get out
SONS they could.
After a little while the fire was out
caused by a short circuit, somebody
said; and ] walked toward the city
Hall, wondering what I'd see next.
Didn't have to wait long either.
WARN, mild day, this IL, one of
the mildest for the season known in
the history of the Weather Bureau,
the paper Jays. Well. just as | was
thinking of this a stream of people
came popping up out of the subway
And among them was a fine looking
man Of about 81 who wore a straw
hat such as you saw at the beach last
summer, a white flannel suit and
white buckskin shoes.
Looked as If he'd stepped right out
of n handbook. too. 1t ave me a jolt,
I'll confess. when ! realized that it
was midwinter. But this young fellow
didn't seem to notice anything; he
stepped right along, brisk as can he
minding his own business. The
strange thing was that nobody else
seemed to notice him either. and
there were hundreds and hundreds
passing this way and that, almost all
OF them wearing overcoats and heavy
wraps,
Il had Just turned away from this
sight when ! noticed a couple OF
ragged little boys talking with great
earnestness close by me. They were
about 10 years old, ! reckon, and one
of them had on roller skates. The
other was trying to rem the skates,
and he finally got M Of them by
paying two cents.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

"Fncn he disappeared. but a minute
~ so later ! saw HIM coming back
almost hidden by n load of wooden
boxes and such tircwuod that he had
tied together and dashed on top OF
that roller skate, 1t would have taken
three boys to carry all that wood in
their arms, but here came this enter
prlsing young citizen. wheeling it
along on top OF that single roller skate,
as easy as you please, and Just that
much satisfied with himself.
Last thing | saw of interest wAS
two or three minutes ago. Just as 7
left the CRY Hall Park and started
DOWN this way. A lot OF people were
sitting on the benches, resting their
bones ] s'pect, but on OF the
benches there was just a single per-
son. an old man with a long white
beard. who looked like a broken down
preacher in his black Goa and bat
tered stovepipc hat.
Ills hands We're hanging Imply, his
eyes were closed tight and he was
sound asleep. | felt sort of sorry for
the poor chap. when all at once three
of these little street devils sneaked
up back Of the bench, put u newspaper
right under him. touched a match to
the paper and scooted off for lear life.
The next second there was a flash of
fame and the old mar jumped a yard
up into the air. letting out a yell as
me did so. He tapped the smoke out
Of his coat tails, looked around dazed-
like and the last | see OF him he was
walkinr off, shaking us head and
mumblhrg To himself.
"Yes,' Uncle lin concluded. this
here New York village is Il great place.
But | got tn be going along now to
find an eating house. I'm getting
holler and sharp set"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
Uncle BILL STRATTON was in
town on a visit.

T Uncle BILL. STRATTON was in
town on a visit.
Nope" he said 70 n chance
acquaintance who met him on
Park Row, II haven't been within
sight, sound or touch of New York
for two year or more But It's a great
place and something's always doing.
Let me tell YOU a few OF the things
that's happened since ] landed right
here on this block, opposite the old
post office. about fifteen minutes
ago.
"First thing ] saw was a dinky little
motor car. standing siose 10 the curb
back there A nit. About 1910 model,
I Judge, and looks as II II had been
running night and day ever since 1t
was built. Scared paint wore off in
spots, and standing there close to the
sidewalk like n discouraged old horse
that cant take another step.
"But what struck my eye was this:
around the So k"s Of one front whec.
was a good reliable cham. stout enough
Il hold an OK, and at the end OF that
chain, lying on the sidewalk, was a
un pound iron weight, Ike We hitch
~ n fractions colt. Nobody was In dc
car il jus, stood there, calm ard
quiet, aud -nfo'N hirchcd to that weight
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
Marguerite Clark of the Famous Players.

reliable ground and on a foundation
that Is the result of experience and
good business instead OF theory and
speculation"
The reporter went elsewhere in order
to delVe deeper into the mysteries sur
rounding the trade. lie had been told
OF the big salaries paid to persons like
Mary Iickford and Charles Chaplin
and he reasoned that there must be "A
way of finding out why these persons
are worth these sums. why the firms
which employ them can afford il and
where they get their returns.
A careful comhing ~ the situation
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

brought out accurate figures on what
some of the film stars receive yearly
for their services. The three high
est paid stars at the present time are:
Mary Pickford. who receives $4,000
a week for iifty-two weeks Of the year
and a certain percentage Of the
profits.
Charles Chaplin, who, according to
official announcement. gets about
$4,000 n week and a bonus. Gt was
author!tatlvely stated, however. on this
subject that Chaplin really receives
but $4,000 a week.
Marguerite Clark, a young star who
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
Nv EDITH WINNIE MATTHlsoN.
START with the frank confession

r START with the frank confession
that I like movies. Axe them
L thrilling. like them beautiful,
and I like them funny. or the tech
meal side. I am delighted with their
ngenuity. their very real contr'ou-
,ion 10 the fascinating art OF fac'al
EXPRESSION and pantomime, their
increasingly interesting experiments
and success in composition and
rhythm.
Particularly I am impressed ny all
those things they are able to do which
We Of the legitimate stage cannot even
nreterd IN do. such as the swift fash
ing from scene to scene WITHOUT TIRE
rDme long waits. the localization OF
, norton of the scene by enlargement
AS, for instance. in the case or a
letter; and the Illusions Of magic. The
management Of terrific crowds doing
spacious things in obvious open air
must also he put to their credit;
though in this particular 1t Is sur
passed by the cut Of doors pageant.
I contend that all Of this makes for
real enjoyment. refreshment. and Is
often a matter of genuine art.
The price OF admission il all in
their favor-one OF [ things to COM
pliment them upon, Again. I love
their bright, cheerful theatres. the
democratic seating accommodations.
the undeniable impetus they have
given to the p~opulartzation Of good
music. and tho universal courtesy to
be found in every department OF the
management Of such theatres, Even
the box offices treat their patrons with
respect,
But above all, taking a catholic
view of dramatic art in general, ! find
myself beholden to the moving picture
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
Theda Bars Of the Fox Film
Company.

\A/ from to pay the film stars
the fabulous salaries they.
get for their services before
the motion picture camera" Who pays.
n why j. IL possible 20 pay such sums
for their services and st!ll maxi a
profit ON the business? These are
questions which just now are ag.tating
the Him world AMI the movie fan alike.
The answer is not Simple. The lay
man who seeks ~clusc.cutiuusly to get
at the facts meets with diversified
opinions from all sorts If people in the
film industry. However. there Is an
answer and il has remained for the
hig and conservative companies To find
II.
When tho first question was pat :.
Samuel Goldfish. executive head of the
Jesse /. l.a~ky Feature Play Company.
he replied
at isu't possible To- pay the hjc
salaries, hut it is being donc just the
same. and It is being dom" ON credit
by film companies that Set the money
through the sale Of stock To- the pub
lie"
Mr.. Goldfish hastcucd to explain
hat his words had reference not to
the wei established companies but
only to those which. heinz On the verge
OF %finaucia. ruin. clutch like drowning
men at u straw and are willing 10
pay alin"st II price for stars in hopes
Of recoup!ns their losses.
The moving picture business just
now" continued Mr.. Goldfish. can best
be l!kencd { "A great stock exchange.
Tho ftnrltf IA At Sc hfsrI,-. ,,Agt. %.
the top Of the bull trading. And what is
the result? Simply that The companies
are tumblinE pelmcll over each other
In h Ni.d 3crGnhlc for stars without
knowing Rhitt?r they are going or
wher~ they will end, while the moro
conservative concerns lit back and
smile at their ~ueighhors' d~elus.ons.
II believe, however. that the day is
not far distant when this Crea, over
initiation ana oV~ereXpans.on and the
unsound conditions will right them
selves. II Will mean n cleaning out
process. onr NJ elimination ~ the un-
fit and the unworthy and a survival Of
the III. II viii I've q great benefit to II
industry and II will come soon-sooner
than "A expect. For one thing. I'M
REASONABLE salaries 10 artists will stop.
At present the industry Is mad with
the competition for artists. and as the
industry ultimately must derive its
support from the public. the public
will be called upon to meet these great
financial burdens.
"There is n belief nj present that
money end money alone will spell sue
cess in motion pictures. What brings
success now and what will continue to
bring II in the future Will be brains.
artistic ideals and organization. And
all these things are not be had for
&C much money. There's going to he
a big crash and the public. which has
been paying for the big salaries, will
be- the loser thereby. Just now. IL the
rea truth be known. there Is more
money lost in the films than is made.
"The present policy Of some OF the
conservative and successful producers
will have to be followed. Men will pro-
duce photoplays for the very reason
the successful producers of to-day are
meeting with public favor-because
their product possesses artistic merit
and because their means of distribu-
ton and exhibition gre based on solid,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
MISS MATTHISON FRANKLY
ADMITS SHE LIKES THE MOVIES

as me OF M very ehnlte forces nov" not get people Interested IN the life
at work IN tn service of legitimate and flow of external human action
dranna. II seems to lie that yu cam without stimulating hat dramatic cen
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-06
Central High School
Notes Are of Interest

The Seniors of Central High School
are giving in outlines on their essays
and drafts will be read soon.
The subject of these essays vary
from ''Treatises on Coal" to articles on
woman Suffrage"
The Seniors will hold a meeting
Monday between sessions.
The Seniors of the Invitation and
Cap and Gown committees are busy
making collections.
The students on the invitation COM
mittee are the Misses Hazel Rexroth,
Ethel Fisher Della Costello, Marion
Bretz, Marion Goho, and Gertrude
Edwards, Robert Michael Walter
SChaffer, William Binkley, Arthur
Zweifel, George Slothower and Homer
Kreider.
The cap and gown committee in
cludes the Misses Nita Spangler,
jeanette Claster, Esther Gruber, Mil
dred Erlemeyer, Gertrude Edwards
and Lucille Smucker, Daniel Burk-
holder Jay Smith, Paul Dressler Ezra
Strohm, Frank Hoover and Homer
Kreider.
Arrangements are being made fol
the class day, the class play and the
annual trip to Washington.
The Philonian Debating Society will
hold a meeting this evening at the
home of Emlin Hall, 1903 North Sixth
street. Election of officers will be
held and a debate, Resolved, That
Athletics in the Central High School
Should be Compulsory" will be pre-
sented. New members will be en-
rolled and initiation will be held in
Sixth street and vicinity.