Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-02
MOVIE AND STAGE
,MAGNATES MERGE
GoIdwyn, Eminent Authors,
Shuberts, Selwyns and
Woods Join Forces

A major theatrical and motion pic
ture combination is announced by the
officials of the Goldwyn Pictures Com
pany and the Shubert, Woods and Sell
wyn theatrical interests. In the future
all attractions controlled by these firms
will be seen upon the screen, as we'll
as their productions successfully made
in the past. Philadelphia is interested,
as the Shuberts control four houses
here.
Not only will productions made in this
country find place upon the silver
sheet, but some from England and
France, where the Shuberts, Al Woods
and the Selwyns have plays under con-
, tract for early presentation. There is
also the possibility that the movie film
stories Of the Goldwyn company will find
another means of expression in the
spoken version which may be produced
by the "big four" forming the newly
organized company, whose increase in
capitalization is from So 900 900 to a
$40, 600, 900 corporation.
Under the new plan, when plays are
presented in the large cities. as they
are now, it will be possible for the in
habitants of the small towns, where the
companies never go, to see the play upon
the screens of their theatres. There
is also the possibility that the same
company will enact for the screen the
roles they created upon the stage. In
that case managers may rightly an
nounce n film as coming direct from
Broadway
Another thing which adds to the
hipness of this combine is the number
of theatres controlled by the legitimate
managers in it and their adaptablllty
for display Of the pictures made ny
them. In that way a greater number OF
theatres will be provided for the cXhibl-
tion of pictures, which, added to the
regulation movie houses, will bring the
cinema industry up to place where It
will command the attention of trade and
civic bodies. 1t would not be surprising
if an announcement were made in the
near future that interests in Europe are
to become affiliated with those i'll this
country.
Just what this combination means to
the scenario writer, legitimate play -au
thor and actors is yet difficult to define
1t may raise their salaries to compen
safe them for the extra work, or it may
mean n standard scale because OF the
merger II is hardly likely that the
present system of featuring players II
what is known as ''star series OF
pictures will be abandoned because thu
Goldwyn officials are announcing thu
exclusive services of Geraldine Farrar
Lou Telegen, Mabel Normand, PAULINE
Frederick, Madge Kennedy, Tom Moore
and Will Rogers.
Probably the greatest combination o
authors of popular fame who have We
written for the motion picture screen
is to be found in the Eminent Authors
Organization, which includes Mar
Roberts Rhinehart, Gertrude Atherton
Rupert Hughes. Rex Beach. Gouverneu
Morris. Basil King and Leroy Scott
. Recently were announced plans fo
, the purchase of the largest single studi
, grouping in the world by the Goldwy
, company at Culver City, Calf, nov
word comes that productions will also b
made in the East at a studio. planned
= to be the largest in the world, locate,
!, near New York.