The sun., 1919-02-16

With the public announcement that
William G. McAdoo has affiliated him
self with certain prominent factors in
the motion picture industry, It is only
natural that some of us who have been
IN the business since its inception should
take thought upon the possible signifi-
canoe and ultimate influence of his ad-
v"nt as to the industry as a whole" said
W. w Hodknson in an interview.
Except in a general way the public
Goes not know that the motion picture
Industry to-day is in an exceedingly pre-
carIous situation. The producing inter-
ests have up to the present been able to
dominate the business. This domination
has been accomplished through coDsoli-
'dation of interests. and has been largely
built up around the personalities and
abilities of certain actors and actresses
whom, through publicity and other
means, the producers themselves have
helped to make stars. A few of these
stars, as every one knows, have thus
achieved valuable popularity.
'srhe direct consequence was that
some time ago the producer began to
realize he had constructed an engine for
his own destruction. The possession of
this or that star helped him to sell his
pictures, but he had to pay the star such
y dsproportionate amount OF his earn
ings as a whole that he was forced to
economize heavily on the rest of the pic
lures he made.
ITO compensate for this the producer
evolved simple enough scheme. He
would exert pressure upon the theatre
owner or exhibitor to force him to take
his poor pictures in order to have the
privilege of showing his star pictures
II the producer were big enough and
strong enough this would be easy.
Because Of these facts a number o.
important exhibitors Joined forces about
a year ago and formed a powerful or
Eanization to meet and fight the pro
ducer on his own ground. The warfare
which had been designating the indus
try for years now became an open strug
gle. This exhibitor organization coulc
Outb,d the~ prA Icers faA.< few OF th'
most prominent~ stars in the screen
world and +s-< seemed 10 them the anl,
direct way to deal the first blow in tn,
.ht without fully considering wher'
the move would lead them.
1.-THE battle could have resulted onl!
in one of two things: either further dis
organization of the entire film industr.
and consequent closing of many picture
theatres representing large Investments
Or an agreement between the two war
ring factions which in the end must hav
caused the forming or a dominant typ
NJ organization to control the industr,
itself,
This latter possibility naturally fright
oned the stars, who on their part say
the need Of uniting In self-defence 70
the protection of their own particula
Interests. The exhibitor pays up {
tAree times as much for his star picture
n he did three years ago. and to ge
these pictures at all he has to make hi
audiences sit through pictures of tn
cheapest sort. Now the remarkabl
thing about 1t Is that the burden i'm
posed by the star system Is the yer
thing which has caused not only IN
plight OF the exhibitors, but also the re
Volt of the stars themselves. The latte
nave joined forces to perpetuate the
eNorhitant salaries And now when VI
-icAdoo comes into the industry to rel
rsent The star element every intelligel
'Shioltor wants TO ask him this doub
question;
Mr., McAdoo, whatever Won do
THIS lnnuSiIN is going to be L,ighty haI
10 undo, You have an cxtraordinoi
power-and an extraordinary respons
bility. Are you going to use this pow