Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

THE motion picture industry today
has the largest nui4.oer Of consun-
ers of any industry in America. win H.
Hays. president of the Motion Picture
Producers and Distributors of America,
Inc. told members of the board OF d.
rectors in his annual review of the state
OF the industry recently.
Investment In studio properties, stars
picture rights, raw stock. theaters and
goodwill as expressed in theater pat
ronage, make motion pictures unques-
tionably near the top OF Americas iarg-
est industries, he said.
Our product now reaches 100000
900 consumers per week" Mr.. Hays de-
clared, "Our exchanges handle $4,000
alone. We employ more men and
women than Ford and General Motors
combined. Investment in the motion
picture field now exceeds $4,000, 600, 900.
Advance reports from a nationally
known firm of accountants making
survey at Hollywood confirm that the
production end of the business gets a
dollar in value for every dollar spent.
This condition, plus the fact that law
suits between distributors and exhibit
tors have been virtually eliminated
through arbitration, has stabilized the
industry.
FINANCING for legitimate expansion
is available steadily at the general mar
ket rate for money. Motion picture Sc
curities. In relation to those of other In
dtstries, have been for many months
in a markedly healthy state.
Our own growth has reached the point
where we are of tremendous service 10
ali other business. The interests OF
other industries are so lnter-related
with those of the motion picture as to
make our detectives identical with
theirs. Increasing proof Is seen OF the
recognition of this economic fact, both
by business leaders and by Government
officials.
eiopment of the year has been the per-
fecting of talking pictures 10 2 mer-
tive any progress already made. any
more than radio abolished newspapers.
monographs ended symphony orches-
trag. or automobiles wiped out rail-
roads. This industry will use this new
contribution OF science without dis
tIrbance to further promote It's Tor
ward stride. 1t welcomes these new
aids In the pioneer spirit when mas
marked our vigorous span OF NE
The entire world To-Day, MI, hays
said. Ia In the market for motion PIC
lures, adding that American. pictures
are used In large numbers abroad by
foreign invitation"
"Ours is not foreign invasion al
all" MIR Hays declared. our pictures
90 abroad by invitation. The people
of the world want them, despite the
activities of foreign governments TO
! lessen the effectiveness or the Amert~
can film industry by practically sub
sIdizing indigenous film production.
| However, by revealing the need Tor our
| Aims abroad, and by proving our sim
| cerity in exhibiting worthwhile Tor
| elgn productions here, amicable al
| justnents are being effected In foreign
countries. which viii lead to happier
business relations In all European coiin-
tries
"For several years the industry has
been trying to employ only those direc-
tors, writer's and actors who have
ability to make always the best pic
| lures" MIR. Hays said Since acting,
writing and directing for the screen
are unique to this business, with a
technique Of their own, II has been
| necessary TO develop men and women
! To fulfil these duties BY creating
our own creative artists we have built
| up a considerable body Of men. trained
| workers, who think In terms of the
! motion picture art, Their effort Is
being felt daily In the product which