The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-21

my long trip around South
America. some eighteen months
ago. a man called upon me at
the Technology Club. New York. where
! was staying. lie introduced himself
a. the president Of a moving picture
company. Said he:
II hear you are going around South
America. | wish TO send a man with
sou TO take moving pictures Of the
trip
But the time IL too short" said l.,
'to orange anything like that.
Besides cannot afford 10 take "a man
along"
Will supply the man and the machine
and will pay all expenses. All ! ask
o. you is that when you interview a
president in one Of these countries you
permit our man to accompany you"
i told him that this Was satisfactory
a. far as ] was concerned. but that
he must arrange with Charles IL.
Gates, who had charge OF everything.
Then I though, nothing more Of the
matter.
When the time OF sailing came. how
sver, a fat and jolly movie operator
stood on the dock taking the ships
picture as 1t left the wharf W"
naturally wondered why he was not
aboard. A room had been engaged
for him and we had beer told that he
would go with us. But We went on
and LEFT him. although a rumor was
about TO the effect that he would join
the ship at Havana.
Imagine our surprise. however on
sntering Havana harboi four days
later TO see that same fat and Joli!
operator perched on the wall OF MORO
Castle taking our picture as we sailed
IN. He had gone TO Florida by raj!
and crossed over ahead of US. lpon
our asking him why he did not come
with I'D on the steamer from New
Yo-ii he replied;
"W,ell. YOU know the ship sailed in \
driving snowstorm. Ii was too good
q picture not to get. Ii occurred 10
mo .nat the contrast between leaving
cod New York in that snowstorin ana
entering sunny HcvaC,a ha"hor. with
It's pa!my shores. four days later was
too good to miss
A. Havana he boarded our ship and
Ven, with us $4,000 miles.
This was M. frs acquaintance WIN
the movies. and Il opened ms eyes
From that day to this ! have been
studyirg this wonderful development.
trying honestly to answer the ques-
t!ons: What is the failure Of the movie
business? Is il still n it's infancy. or
Is IL nearing maturity? Is ii a fad or
has It come to stay" WIZ h great
work of the movies alwa!'s he mainly
along amusement lines or will It's great
= future he in connection with commerce
and industry?
Every month that | have studied
these problems ! have been more and
more astounded at the magnitude OF
the business. One who has not had
business in that part of New York city
bounded by Fifth avenue On the east
Forty-second street IN the north
F'ortieth street on the south and the
North River on the west can know
nothing OF the wonders of this great
moving picture industry. Just think
Ten years ago il stood AT the bottom
OF the Nifty leading American bust
nesses and to-day it Is one OF the lead
ers. Ter years ago perhaps 100000
people a week attended moving picture
theatres: now 49, 600. 900 people attend
each week. Ten years ago 81 900 ,0Ot
represented the entire years income
while to-day $1,000, 900 is taken in in q
single hour every night in the year.
But the really great changes have
come by leaps and bounds during tn,
past Ave years. During this shor
time more than a billion dollars ha.
been invested in the business, whil'
the capitalization Of the various movi.
companies to-day exceeds tina of tn
United States Steel Corporation anc
It's allies.
Five years ago a friend Of mine
While calling upon Robert B. Mantel