The Detroit times., 1916-01-28
The Movie Miracle
eY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright, 1915. by Frank Crane)

.ot notwithstanding industry.
Ten years ago it hardly existed; TODAY
it is the fourth from the top in the
ranks of business.
From the New Years editions Of the
Pacific Coast papers l CLEAN the follow
ing facts:
Since the outbreak of the war in
Europe practically the entire film output
is from the United States.
Fifty million people visit a motion
picture show once every twenty-four
hours, taking the whole world into reck-
oning
The people of this country paid last
year $29700O,O0O TO see the movies.
The new word movie" has grown up
with the new amusement, and will prob
ably Gust the words "photoplay," "ci-
nematograph, - cinema. etc. because il
is short, expressive, and has caught the
peoples fancy.
Eighty per cent Of the films are man
ufactured in and around Los Angeles.
Reasons-O Continuous sunshine; (2)
equable climate CD all kinds Of natural
scenery near together, the sea- the
mountains, snow, tropical plants, plains
and rugged country.
In this region twenty companies spend
over a million dollars a month making
films.
They employ 1900 people regularly.
In addition 1000 extra persons are
sometimes employed in one day by some
one of the companies.
One of the studios owns $4,000 acres
Of land in order TO have all varieties Of
landscape.
The largest privately-owned collection
of wild animals in the world is owned by
one of the companies.
There are more famous actors at or
about the time of this writing in Los
Angeles than were ever on the "Rialto"
in New York at one time.
Among them are Geraldine Farrar,
Nat Goodwin. Sir Herbert Beerbohm
Tree. Raymond Hitchcock, De Wolf Hop
per Digby Bell, Eddie Foy, Willie Col
Her Blanche Ring, Carter de Haven,
Madame Pavlowa, Richard Bennett
Marie Doro. Hazel Dawn, Fanny Ward,
Dustin and William Farnum. Marguerite
Clark Anna Held, Mary Anderson, Va
leska Suratt, Tyrone Power, Douglas
Fairbanks. Helen Ware, Edith Wynne
Matheson, Marie Tempest, Julia Dean,
Lou TelIegen, Tully Marshall, Edna
Goodrich, Donald Brian, Billie Burke and
others.
The best films were once made in
Europe, but are now made in America
Americans films are used extensively
in Europe. While the war has dealt
hardly with the regular theaters, the
movies flourish, as the low price makes
this form of amusement the most pop
ular
The salaries paid the stars are enor-
nous. One celebrated comedian gets
100000 a year. A grand opera diva
received $4,000 for a few weeks work,
besides all expenses, including a large
furnished residence, automobiles, ETC.
Another young stage woman was paid
$4,000 for playing the lead in single
photoplay. At one time seven Broadway
stars were on salary at one studio, each
drawing $4,000 a week.
Besides the actors, all manner Of other
professions and trades find employment.
The files Of one company show the follow
ing occupations Of those hired: Sign
painter, chauffeur aeroplanist, diver,
railway man, detective, animal trainer,
school teacher, preacher, seamstress'
sculptor, stenographer, author, musician
electrical engineer, hair dresser, wig
maker. architect, photographer, cowboy,
soldier, etc.
And all this astounding industry has
sprung up as if over night.