The Washington times., 1916-01-13
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
By GARDNER MACK
One Thoixand Miles
of PhotopldyS Is
the Output OF
Los Angeles
By GARDNER MACK.

Every little while somebody cofh-
piles a lot Of statistics that reiaJe
to the progress OF the motion pic
ture business which are intense,S
interesting to motion picture patrons
They are not only interesting oe-
cause of the bit of Endorsement they
give to the vanity OF the motion
picture patron who stoutly main
tains the greatness OF mis- favor::e
art. but also because they increase
in totals in so rapid a manner that
one is led to believe an adding ms
chine must be worked overtime pu,-
ting down the figures and then ne
out of date before total can be
cast.
tiguratively, this is fact with
motion picture statistics. The m
crease in all branches OF the bust
neHs has been so rapid that each set
of statistics published II behind the
actual conditions By the time ;hey
are completed
In a special edition Of the Los
Angeles Times the newest statistics
OF the industry, so. FAR as II relates
to Los Angeles, are given. And II IS
interesting to scan some of the rg-
ures so as to get new idea OF Just
how tar forward the business mas
gone.
Moro than 50 per cent Of the films
arc produced in southern California.
One thousand miles Of negatives are
annually developed in the Los An
seles studios. from which 40,o,0 miles
or positive are made. The people OF
the United States paid S2e7 ,O0e, go
pictures. Twenty producing com
panies spend over million dollars
a month in Los Angeles. They en-
ploE 1900 people regularly. The an
nual cost OF maintenance of the
three largest producing organiza-
lions lions IN the world which operate
Here .,S,l,n exelusively-the Thomas II.
studio. and the Universal City-as-
gregates S2,75o,OOO. Fourteen thou
sand people applied for work as "ex-
tras' at one of these studios during
the past year.
The fascination which picture
work has for the population is At
tested by the records kept by the
employment bureau of a single CON
cern, which show on tho file cards
some Of the following occupations
previously followed by the applica nts.
sign artist. chauffeur, aeroplane
pllot' deep-sea diver. railroad work
or, criminal detective. animal train
er. school teacher. preacher, stem
ographer. clerk, trained nurse. real
estate salesman. author, musician.
electrical engineer. hairdresser. wig
maker. elevator starter, srcnitect.
photographer, soldier, housewife,
Two studios own zoo, acres of
land each. surrounding their respec-
tive plants. in order to insure them
selves every variety Of location
close at hand. At Universal City.
where twenty-four stock companies
are constantly at work. 81 900 feet Of
MN nm Is used each week, Signals to
nhotogra piers and directors are
mashed from a tall mast erected on
an eminence. When conditions are
favorable white flag flies from the
mast. When conditions are unfavor-
soie nag Is substituted which
pears the command in immense let
ters: Don't shoot" Camera lenses
to the value Of sl2. 900 are locked in
night. every
Universal CITY is known as the
mlll'on-dollar plant. II consists OF
several concrete buildings. several
Immense stares. larEe zoo. and
employees. Col William Selig also
mas mil lion dollars invested in his
Rrfe park. zoo. and motion picture
plant almost in the heart OF Los
Angeles city.
The Inceville plant has $780, .oo in
owned. which amounts to 5000
acres. The Fine Arts Films Studio
has concern valued at $3.50. 900 with
several acres of land. The Lasky
plant at Hollywood is valued at half
n million dollars. David Horslev
ro,; mas s-o'.CVo invested in his zoo and
motion picture concern In the heart
OF Los Angeles city. The Vitaeraph
has also purchased big tract in
rast HOLLYWOOD. composed NJ SOME
n1teen acres. spending $3.50, 600. The
@ @Morosco Photoplsy Company has
sfo'oVc invested in big studio in the
cltV. The keystone Company's prop
ertX in Edendale Is valued at $3.50. 900.
Inc average one and two-reel pic
lures cost somewhere around 81 900
pcr week for each director. Feature
pictures will run from 5000 per week
,h. uo, . pon this basis YOU will find
that sixty directors on regular re-
leases would cxpend $4,000 a week.
ana sixty directors on features would
eNpend Sl2O 600 week making a
total of $3.50 40 per week. Multiply
IN: bv hfty-two and you have
The following figures show certain
detailed items OF expenditure:
InceXille has an average weekly
payroll Of $4,000. exclusive OF the
salary OF stars: with overhead ex-
penses between $4,000 and $40. 900 a
Week. There are eleven directors. in
Guiding Thomas Ince himself One
hundred and fifty actors are regu-
larry emploNed with between 1000
ana d.eo extra people used on occa-
sion. The commissarv department
COSTS 200 per daN. this amount cover
lnH ~" amount expended by the
tesular actors; The romnnnv owns
twenty-five automobiles and as many
Leading people own their own ma
chimes.
The Fine Arts Film Studio. with its
ten directors. has a Dovroll OF about
$4,000 to $4,000 per week 1t owns a
dozen automobiles. and has employed
as many as 1000 extra people on a
picture. The Selig Company has q
payroll OF about $4,000 per week,
WIN 10 people emplored. and min.
directors. Universal City costs 81. 900
oaN Tor running expenses. 1t has
twenty directors and a salary li.t ner
week OF between $4,000 and SeS, 900