The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-11
TfisnsIe, Famous Players, and
Lasky Companies Have Dis
cussed Combination.
For JOINT DISTRIBUTION
New Concern Believed to Mean
Great Improvement In All
Picture Productions.

DEFINITE statements In made In New
York and Los Angeles Of the pro-
Z pose6 combination OF the Famous
Players and Lasky companies OF the
Paramount group, with the Griffith,
lhce. and senett companies OF the
Triangle group, into a motion picture
cooperation and distributing concern,
which will operate under large
&npitaI.
This is the first real statement
That has been made that has not
been Immediately denied. and as the
fesronsible heads OF each Of the or
kefsizations that are to be included
f, m the combination have each ad-
initted negotiations and have each
suit therefrom, the motion picture
patron can take II for granted that
the combination as agreed upon will
: be formed.
The last year has done many
( very big things to motion pictures.
The stick OF the skyrocket invest
fishts In pictures Is coming down.
and the business now has reached a
point where those who feel Mt are
striving nightly to survive .-.
The public has lost interest in the
novelty OF the picture. but its In
tsrest has Increased In artistic work.
Mill mot support pifps sah snst ARE are
three that tell a real story with
Scfors who can interpret the motives
epd emotions OF real people.
/. 81 Public Now DISCREPANCIES.
In other words the public has
, learned to discriminate between
( bhotoplays and Aim. And the gen.
Nsmen whose instincts for gain have
been wrapped up In ceHuloid film
solely and simply. with the idea that
the public was a boob that would
either 90 to Nsee pictures because
they moved or would buy stock In
the companies producing them. is
foingS back to the dray or looking
Tor his old Job with the section
tang, He made money while the sun
Eas shining. but he foolistly spent
most sof II. and has nothing but a
3eWildering experience to remind
The public VIII reap most of the
Gains that come In the picture field
pictures with one star-a star be-
tause the person DESIGNATED hap
pSnAd to come nearer being an ac-
TOR or actress than the seven or
eight lay figures used In supporting
parts. the directors will be compelled
% produce pictures with people fill-'
fnE all the parts who. can act.
VERY Nrapable actors and ACTRESSES.
Asnum6er or stage stars have found
cut they could act before the camera
and have become favorltes with nlm
patrons.
Directors will find it necessary %
~ Ia ~ -
n their plays-for all the parts.
Tho Triangle Company has done SO
IN one or two OF Its plays. The
Fariods Players and the Lasky
Company have seen the trend OF the
times and have also put out picture
Merger Helps Patrons.
The merger OF these three con-
Germs win give tho public an excel
TENT set of producing concerns un-
der a single distributing agency.
With the steady improvement that
has been In the V. l.. s.. e. COM
bination, the issuance of big feature
films from the World Film Com
peny's plant. under William A.
Brady's Sdirecting hand. the Metro.
studios. there does not seem to be
much chance for the lesser con-
Germs to do more than supply one
and two-recl productions.
Even these must show more and
more real ability on the part Of the
Actors and scenario writer's to sur
tive the feature competition.
The outlook Is very good for the
public indeed, and q period Of
healthy picture production may be
hooked for from now on that VIII
: stimulate legitimate amusement
both In pictures and on the stage.
. ~. G M.