Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-14

-. s,flo,cfn0 article bv Roger w. BOO
-.rsops Amcrtcd's IcddtH0 outhor'tt on
<xsfry ard rndroe. o.ves nn .Hssgn' % 20.
xV ,,,srtor. Herbert Brenon, " the pro.
~ - "a Dauohfor Of the Gods" but
e'.-,. she fascinating angles Of the nov-
e:' e:-.r,.,,s industry by tOhtch profit may be
<<- syoya an iHvcstrcHf chtoA tCould
=. ordtnory thcotrtcol production.
~-rtc..iy enough, MT. ROBSON ond Mr.
Sr- suggest too opposite methods Of
,r1~t,ro to secure the same profitable
rsssh
~ rrrNrI.Y on the Island OF Jamaica,
with Herbert Brenon (who first
"a. hls reputation as the director OF "Nep-
-. paushter') while he was preparing a
- NAV at a cost Of perhaps $1,000, 900 /!
IN about geometrical progression Here Is
.c,p IN cost Of production from $4,000
:. mao 900 In Ave years and then from
s,sa 200 10 81, ,ooo. 900 IN only one year.
~ the setting of this now play an old
s..n,rh fort was necessary. so the sunny
~. v,re searched in order 20 get one.
. ~ most suitable one was found half under
-.r>r near Kingston, Jamaica. II was
IND Fort Augusta To pump out the
.-.,.r drain the land. kill the mosquitoes
sna All in cost 100000. But this was
snly The beginning.
me story made II necessary hat Moor
a clty should be built behind this fort.
!. this city must be a real palace, an actual
.,.vs market. stores Of all kinds and every
sh,rr else that one sees in an old Moorish
sisy Moreover. these stores must be full
n roods-cioth. pottery. baskets. provisions,
40. the streets must be full Of people and
an the people must be black and have
oriental costumes.
such A city was built, so that when n
granger entered the harbor of Kingston.
Jsmnlca In February of this year this new
movie city was more in evidence than was
cid Kingston itself. II is certainly more
spectacular To build this city is said to
have cost between 100000 and 100000.
10 transplant one coeoanut tree cost 5000,
While Il cost $1,000 just to repair a sentry
box on the old wall.
but the building of the city was only a
mart Of the expense AS l have said. II
must be populated. and all of the inhabi-
tants had TO he hired at from SO cents a
day upward. The day / was there $50
actors we're performing. For the day on
snraged and some days the number ran up
70 5000, all OF whom must be provided with
costumes and many with helmets. spears
Or bows and armor.
And yet this great Moorish city. costing
half million dollars, is only one scene OF
The story.
But all this expenditure is based on rea-
pn. The only wonder is that more people
did not have the sense to anticipate such
schievements Any one who had stopped
70 think It over could easily have foreseen
hat the presentation of any big spectacle
vas sure to be a money-making proposition
without the slightest risk. This is a result
II the law Of averages.
When a regular theatrical company Ii
formed to stage some great play with q
famous star, II can appeal each night to
only one audience. II the house is full and
nis one audience is receptive II is a profita
bic Investment, but II not II fails. AT the
most the receipts are limited to the seat.
of one theater and for the time being to the
whims OF one community. With movie pro
auctions II is entirely different
When movie company gets a big stai