Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
FLASHES


the street corner, studio and
parlor conversations OF Hol-
lywood and vicinity. This
slash in salary business may have
considerable effect on the motion
pictures of the next few months. al
though it is of very little concern
to the general public. The patron OF
the movies cares very little about
the entire matter. He is more inter-
ested in bigger and better pictures,
and he does not see how the latest
move of the producers is going to
boost his ideas. AS general rule,
he is of the opinion that fewer pic
lures would have solved the prob
lem; that the producer who is now
bringing out 81 pictures each year
could have cut this number III hall,
also cutting his expenses about the
same amount, and that the work
would have been more worth while
and affording better entertainment
This same movie patron holds to
the opinion that entirely too many
pictures are being produced in this
country, and that if they were fewer
they would be better-more time
spent upon them, more solid thought
going into their making, distribution
and exhibition.
The movies, growing in the past
80 years from freak shows in black
tents on vacant lots, have developed
into one of the greatest industries.
And, like other enterprises with sud
den growth and unusual prosperity,
the industry has practically run
wild" Money has been thrown
away by the thousands and even
millions, salaries have gone skyward
until there was hardly limit to the
amount a star could command from
his employers, and directors have
never stopped at expense. Press
agents Haunted large figures before
the cash customers, and if picture
did not cost i'll the hundred of thou
sands of dollars before it was ready
for screening, it was rarely consid-
cred worthwhile effort on the
part of producer and director.
One little story is told as an illus
tration of how money is spent in
photoplay production: A director
had charge of the filming OF an or
"
on Long Island. The script required
a bathing pool, and an assistant di
rector found the location" at one of
the fine shore homes. The director
came out with his troupe, glanced
at the swimming pool, and shook his
head. The pool lacked sex appeal,
or some other appeal, which the
public always desires" With a
shifting of horn-rimmed spectacles
and word or two to his assistant.
the director ordered a special pool
constructed for the swimming
scenes. Diggers. stone masons and
landscape gardeners went to work,
and the pool, when completed, cost
5000. 1t had all the appeals of an
appealing public. But. when the pic
ture arrived at the cutting room GER
tain scenes were chopped out. It
was entirely too long. And among
the scenes eliminated were those at
the swimming pool John J. Public,
who goes to the movies, never
viewed that joyous swimming party.
This is just story and an example
of what money has meant to direc-
tors and producers. Salary cuts may
aid in reducing expenses, but there
may be a bareback. The established
stars are the real drawing cards at
the box Offices, although we hear
that the story is the thing" Great
expense is entailed in the establish
ment of new stars and featured
players. Several of the we'll known
players of Hollywood have an
to the salary cuts-10 per cent in
most instances-and preparations
have been made to resist the en-
ployer-producers. Equity, the stage
union, is enrolling the photoplay
workers in its movie branch.
But the picture patron, caring lit
tie about internal scraps in the in
dustry, considers that the producers
probably stepped out with the
wrong foot. He sometimes wonders
about the great number of pictures,
good, bad and Indifferent; how many
dollars were wasted in their manu-
facture, and when he sees a really
good picture he thinks the star is
worth all the money his employer
has been paying him. He goes on
record as, being willing to view
fewer and better pictures, and he
thinks this would be an excellent
way to reduce expenses.
x X X X
d EGARDLESS of the reported
N statement of viii Hays that
Rain" would not be filmed, Gloria
Swanson is going straight ahead
with her production. Her new pic
ture has been titled Sadie Thomp-
son." Sadie being an outstanding
character in the tale of the South
Sea Isles.
K
LOW much salary is a movie star
j i worth? And what is the limit
for the jazz artist? These questions
are difficult to answer. but Paul
Whiteman, leader of orcheStras, has
just signed contract with Publix
for $4,000 a week. The rotund
ANhiteman signed on the dotted line
for his appearance in 40 Publix the
aters during the next season, and the
entire salary will amount to a half
million dollars. Performances will
total maximum of four week days
and FIVE week ends, and Whiteman
is also allowed to play for the pho