The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-11

of the three points of the Triangle Film corpora
ton, which inaugurated in New York, Philadel-
phia and Chicago, motion picture theater pro-
grams where two dollars charged for the
best seats The plant will consist of twenty
or more concrete end steel freproof buildings
including nine separate Enclosed with ground
glass stages-one for each producing organiza-
ton.
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, end there two big
CARNATIONS making western drama will be main
tanned.
Every hamlet in the country has been invaded
by Keystone comedies made in Los Angeles
Four years ago the nucleus of this company.
sisting of Mack Sennett. Mabel Normand and
Fred Mace, arrived there and rented a vacant
lot Now the Keystone studio occupies two city
blocks, practically half of which space is
cred with stages, where fun making reigns
preme Padded bricks. billies and trick props
OF every nature, from a toy warship to an aero
plane. 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, headliners. Fun making is
here serious proposition and the hundred odd
players, writer's and directors treat it as such
the famous keystone cops.
The producing quarters of the maker Of the
most profitable motion picture ever filmed, The
Birth of a 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 as site for settings. Mr.. Grit
fifth to Los Angeles in January, 1914, and
leased lot containing bungalow Back of this
he built q stage and began work. Additions to
the producing staff were made so frequently that
no time could be given for future planning. AS
the result scores of buildings erected as
needed for workshops, developing and printing,
laboratories dressing rooms, etc, so that the
studio now has a hit-or-miss appearance, where
about five hundred people are employed, fully
two hundred being actors, actresses and writer's.
In February, 1914, livery stable in Hollywood
which had later been used for a garage was
leased by two men well known in the theatrical
producing world and they began making motion
pfc'Fire along lines. That their method was
successful is proved by the fact that five times
since they have found it necessary to lease ad-
ditional grounds. and their plant now covers
block $50 by 700 feet, and the studio is 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 Picture Play company,
and they, during the last year. introduced Amer
ica's greatest opera star, Geraldine Farrar, the
motion picture screen. Miss Farrar worked at the
studio twelve weeks in the making of three five
reel subjects at a salary of more than dollar
minute.
In a brief manner the foregoing describes the
producing plants of the largest makers of motion
pictures. There many other studios in Los
Angeles, with from one to four companies work
ing at each It would be impossible 20 go from
the center OF the business district to the city
limits in any direction without coming upon one
more motion picture plants.