The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-03-09


Go West" became the s1ooan of n,.Lors of
canned amusement and one after another es-
taoilshed plants in or Los Angeles
BESIDES the advantageous climatic conditions
tnere are other reasons for film producers going
to California. Within radius of fifty miles of
Los Angeles practically any kind of a scene de-
sired may be Shot"
1t was not until during the last year or eighteen
months that manufacturers came to realize fully
that the producing end of the industry should
be located in California, and now that some fully
appreciate the economy of such move thew are
building expensive permanent plants
Before decisions for this move were reached
however, every excuse offered for continu-
ing In the East, and attempts made to prove the
correctness OF each one Of them; for big ex-
pense Is added when the selling department of
concern is located in New York city, three
thousand miles from the manufacturing plant
New York ctyHhas always been, and no doubt
will for remain, the theatrical center of this
continent. There it is that all big theatrical
producing organizations have their Headquarters
and as the motion picture has to very great
extent taken the place of legitimate stage drama
comedy and musical shows, and is conducted
largely by former theatrical men, its headuuar-
ters should, the managers think, continue in this
eastern METROPOLIS
With the offices and selling force at one side
OF the continent and the manufacturing at the
other additional expense is caused by the need
OF each keeping in touch with the other. Prac
tically all of the communications 20 by wire and
the Geographic expense of some companies ex
ceeds thousand dollars per month. In one or
two instances wires across the continent are
leased from the telegraph companies and opera
tors maintained at the New York office and the
studio, in the same manner newspapers lease
wires for news received. This has materially
lessened the expense and at the same time added
speed and efficiency to the service of the COM
panies.
AS the manufacturers come to realize the eco.
nomical need of continuing permanently the max
ing of motion pictures in California they have
gradually improved their properties there
The first Universal producing company arrived
In Los Angeles Thanksgiving 1911 and the man
ager, director scenario writer scenic artist
property man. laboratory superintendent and
Actor AL. E. Christie with his band of thirty
leased barn. To the cost of buying muslin
to use as cloths, that there would be no shadows
In the pictures and all faces and images be plain
he caused the stage-whch consisted of mere
fiat platform-to be built in the north side of the
barn where the players could work all day in the
shade without the sun spelling a single scene
From this very humble beginning has grown
the only municipality in the world devoted ex-
clusively to the manufacture of motion pictures
Universal City, four miles north of Los Angeles
This mammoth plant consists of almost four
hundred acres, contains a river valleys hills
and picturesque hooks suitable for filming scenes
The grounds divided into two sections he
cause of foot hills extending through the center.
with fiat valleys on either side In front are the