Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-03-10

ton, which inaugurated In New York. Philadel-
pha and Chicago, motion picture theater pro-
grams, where two dollars vas charged for the
best seats. The new plant VIII consist OF twenty
or more concrete and stea1h64af<nroof buildings.
including nine separate lnclosed with ground
glass stages-one for each producing organiza-
tion
The players will have every comfort, including
individual dressing rooms, with steam heat. cleo
trio fans, and hot and cold water. etc. Factories
in connection with the plant will manufacture all
sets, furniture and wardrobe needed The ranch
studio will be maintained, and there two big
carnations making western drama will be main
tanned.
by Keystone comedies made In Los Angeles.
Four years ago the nucleus OF this company. cor
sistirg of Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand and
Fred Mace. arrived there and rented vacant
lot. Now the Keystone studio occupies two city
blocks, practically half of which space Is COW
cred with stages where fun making reigns
preme. Padded bricks bies and trick props
Of every nature from toy warship to an aero
plane, are on hand at every turn and here are to
be found the greatest collection Of comedians the
world has even known-Weber and Fields, Sam
Bernard. Eddie Foy, Raymond Hitchcock, Roscoe
Arbuckle. Chester Conklin, Charlie Murray of
Murray and Mack fame, and scores OF others who
have graced the comedy and vaudeville stage or
the sawdust ring as headliners. Fun making ia
here serious proposition and the hundred odd
players, writers and directors treat 1t as such
even the famous keystone cops.
The producing quarters of the maker of the
most profitable motion picture ever filmed, 1.-The
Birth CT Nation" adapted by David Mark Grit
fifth from the book The Clansman," consists OF
two city blocks at present-one taken up with
executive Office buildings. stages and dressing
rooms, laboratories, and factories. and the other
block retained site for settings MIR. Grit
fifth came to Los Angeles in January, 1914. and
leased lot containing bungalow. Back Of this
he built stage and began work. Additions to
the producing star were made so frequently that
no time could be given for future planning. AS
the result scores OF buildings were erected as
needed for workshops, developing and printing
laboratories, dressing rooms, etc.. 90 that the
studio now has a hit-or-miss appearance, where
about five hundred people employed, fully
two hundred being actors, actresses and writer's
In February 1914, livery stable IN Hollywood,
which had later been used for q garage was
leased by two men we'll known IN the theatrical
producing world. and they began making motion
picture along new lines. That their method was
successful is proved by the fact that i've times
since they have found It necessary TO lease ad-
ditional grounds, and their plant now covers q
block $50 by 700 feet, End the studio 10 crowded
The men were jesse L. Lasky. previously vaude-
Vile producer, and Cecil B. de MILE legitimate
stage producer and playwright Their company
became the Jesse L. Lasky Pic1sfe Play company,
and they. during the last year. Introduced Amer
icas greatest opera star, Geraldine FArrar, the
motion picture screen. Miss FArrar worked at the
studio twelve weeks in the making Of three Eve
reel subjects at . salary Of more than dollar .
minute.
In brief manner the foregoing describes the
producing plants Of the largest makers of motion
pictures. There are many other studios in Los
Angeles with from one to four companies work
ing at each. It would be impossible to go from
the center Of the business district to the city
limits In any direction without cor(ing upon ono
or more motion picture plants.