The Washington times., 1917-01-26
lust Make Yourself Better
Known Than Kaiser, Says
Movie Magnate.
cHSSLIN WORTH HIS SALARY
Tells Legislative Committee
Mary Pickford and Douglas
Fairbanks Are Good.

NEW YORK. Jan. 26-The way to
earn a half million or more a year,
according to the formula handed down
ny William A. Brady. president Of the
national Association OF the Motion
Picture Industry, while testifying be-
fore the Wheeler legislative commit
techs simply a matter of making ones
self little better known than Wood,
row Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt Or
the Kaiser.
E It il scarcely necessary to menti On
the name of the comedian with the
timber cane and funny little hat who
- perhaps the only person who lives
up TO Mr.. Brady's simple but ambi.
tious recipe.
Popular In siam.
Charley Chaplin is just as popular
in SIAM" said Mr.. Brady, "as he is In
Sioux City, and is better known than
Woodrow Wilson. Theodore Roosevelt
or Kaiser Wilhelm. He Is worth every
cetn he is getting. too"
The salary, which, according to Mr..
Brady is not too much to pay for the
services of the famous comedian, -
reputed to me $4,000.
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fair
, banks are also worthy of their hire,
which amounts to almost as much As
Chaplin's, Mr.. Brady said.
Many Heads Turned.
Many Of the other stars, however,
have had their heads turned by the
large salaries in the movies and have
failed to deliver. The payment Of big
salaries to such stars, Mr. Brady said, fs
the great waste which makes the motion
picture business today unsound dnan-
cially. He is optimistic. however.
Il think there Ia a great future for
motion pictures. but there Is 10 money
IN them now" he said.
Mr. Brady told the committee that the
World Film Corporation, of which he is
president, is capitalized at $4,000. and
that his company had put about 81 .OOo. 900
In cash in the business in the last six
months.
"DisastFOus Expansion,
Much Of that money was your own.
was 1t not?' the chairman asked him.
No, sir; I've been too wise to buy
motion picture stock" Mr.. Brady an
swered
The business has been expanding. has
1t not?' insisted the chairman.
Yes. but In disastrous way" he re-
piled. The business looked 90 easy that
four times the theaters needed were
built and there has been a tremendous
overproductIon Of pictures"
Educational Possibilities.
Some day the motion pictures real
purpose VIII be realized, he said. The
motion picture industry is merely
scratching the dirt when 1t is usel solely
for entertainment purposeS- The day is
coming when education will be its prime
purpose and the neal NIIure will Sc mo-
ton pictures used In kindergartens and
colleges. Great operations will be filmed
for the benefit of education and pre-
served for future generations, Just as Ia
CsIuSo's voice"
Mr.. Bro ty's most startling state
ment of the day, however, was that
the public interest in pictures has
decreased rather than increased dur
ing the last year.
Toe Many TheaterE.
The trouble is too many theaters.
There's one on every corner" he said
"The entertainment business Is the
only industry in these times of
wealth that has not raised its prices.
but has found its production expenses
increased as much as twenty times
ShoWmen as rule are bad business
men, and the waste in the production
OF motion pictures 10 criminal and the
method OF distribution is a Joke.
Capital is not being invested in
the industry now" Mr.. Brady as.
serted. The Industry has first to
be reconstructed"
Mr.. Brady said the popular impress
sion that the tendency OF the business
Is toward big productions IL incorrect
The big productions Of this year can
be numbered on the fingers of one
hand. he said.
Salaries Half Water.
or the lesser stars, Mr.. Brady said.
some OF their salaries were half
water. On paper they may get $500.
but in cash money, he said-and he
ought to knoW-it is more probably
$3.50 3 week. The motion picture
bushes. will have to be established
on a more stable basis, according -
Adolph Zukor, of the Famous Play
ers-Lsskey Corporation, who was >
witness before the committee, before
the moneyed interests will be st
tFacted.
Too Well "Press ACCENTED"
The motion picture business has
been too well press ACCENTED" ar
cOrding to benjamin b. Hampton,
president Of the General Film Corn
psny, who was not called as a wit
ness before the legislative commit
tee, but Issued q statement in con
nection with the proposed plan Of
taxation. Rosy tales of hlm profits
have invited legislation. he says.
Special taxation, censorship, and
sunday closing are enough In them.
selves to wreck the motion picture
industry" the statement says. Amy
OF these items is sufficient to cripple
the business. 1t is difficult to specify
Inch Is the most dangerous, but
special taxation IL the most recent
attack on the industry. The tax ad-
VOcAtes are uniformed.
Efra n.