06-01-2017
The Stagnant Silent Movie Industry Doesn’t See its Savior . . . but the "Talkies" Come, 1927
by Benjamin Hampton
CONTAINS: Author paints a picture of an industry maturing . . . old ideas, although well produced, resulted in stagnant growth of the movie industry. Small theatres could not book first-run movies and even in large theatres, first-run movies failed to lure the public as they did in the early days. But a resurrection was in store . . . Warner Brothers was losing money, on their way out, but invested in sound film technology . . . then came 'The Jazz Singer.'

05-09-2017
Silent Film During the "Orgy of Extravagance"; Great Titles, but Great Production Expenses . . . Low Profits, 1927.
by Benjamin Hampton
CONTAINS: Story begins with the story of the giant Roxy Theatre of New York City . . . a man's dream . . . raising money by a thread. With this background we learn of the mid 1920's maturing of the movie industry; the movies, the stars and the marginal finances at the apex of silent film. Great, expensive movies like 'Ben Hur' and 'The King of Kings' hit the theatres but profits were becoming thin.

11-08-2016
To Combat Scandal and Shame, the Movie Industry Unites and Grows Up, 1922
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Divorce and death threatens the image of the motion pictures. Mary Pickford gets a divorce and quickly marries Douglas Fairbanks. Fatty Arbuckle is involved in prostitution and death. The competing companies get together and hire the man who helped elect the President of the United States, Will Hayes. Their mage is cleansed and the industry enters a modern form.

10-25-2016
Who Will Control the Movie Industry? Also a Dancer Named Valentino Debuts, 1917-1921
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Actors, producers, distributors and theaters: Who would grab control of the industry? Our author’s sarcastic style makes it fun to learn the changes that occurred in the business end of the motion picture industry. United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer were in formation. The article ends with a controversial decision to produce ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ where Valentino rose to stardom.

10-11-2016
The Battle to Control Hollywood: A Newcomer Challenges the Leader, 1916-20
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Exciting story of tenacity, deceit and blind ambition as newcomer, Lewis Selznick, boldly and [without class], enters the Hollywood producer’s scene. Selznick does introduce new concepts in managing film stars and makes big inroads but Adolph Zukor, with vision, power moves and deceit, aided by the suicide of a Selznick star, slowly crushes the Selznick’s advance.

05-19-2016
The Art Form of Motion Pictures Advances, ’Intolerance’ 1916
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Quick, interesting read: Three years before becoming part of United Artists, D. W. Griffith attempts to outdo his previous hit movie, 'The Birth of a Nation.' We learn more about Griffith as he produces a very artistic, multi story movie, 'Intolerance.' His art forms and photography techniques are too advanced for current society and the expensive, all-star cast, production fails . . . still the creative art form is advanced.

08-18-2015
Million Dollar Babies Part 2: Mary Pickford Thinks She’s Worth More than Charlie Chaplin, 1916
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Exiting account of the movie industry's pursuit of contract with Mary plus industry reorganizations with names like 'Goldwyn' and 'Paramount'. "5-reel feature" Mary Pickford's pride was hurt by the big "2-reel comedy" Charlie Chaplin deal and she thought that she was worth more. She got a much bigger deal than Charlie.

08-04-2015
Million Dollar Babies Part 1: Charlie Chaplin 1916
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Great description of how fame affected Charlie Chaplin's early movie career and how a new player in the industry won Charlie over. It also describes Charlie Chapman fandom, how he was received by the artistic types and how his movies captivated movie goers. He was a deep gold mine ... even Charlie's older movies produced steady income.

07-21-2015
Money for Stardom; Enter Charlie Chaplin at $1250 Per Week and Mary Pickford Earns $104,000, 1914
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: The motion picture industry was maturing from its early nickelodeon and began to pay big bucks for actors. Charles Chaplin was reluctant to leave the stage for the movies but once he accepted the move, a bidding war for his services began. Meanwhile the already famous Mary Pickford elevated her annual salary to $104,000. The industry was going through big financial changes.

05-26-2015
Movie Director D. W. Griffith Creates an Uproar, “Birth of a Nation” 1915
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: The movie “Birth of a Nation” was both a landmark in movie making and a controversial political expression of stereotyping and dislike for the post Civil War reconstruction. The 12 reel drama attracted record breaking audiences, promoted the KKK and the protests of its message by many orators only fed the curiosity of would be movie goers.

03-17-2015
Drama at Universal [Studios], 1910-13
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Much of the drama at Universal [Studios] was not on screen. Motion Picture Patents battles with Independents became physical but an even bigger battle was brewing at Universal, one of internal control. Article also illustrates buy-outs, stealing of employees and increased expenditures/wages of a growing industry.

03-03-2015
Our Motion Picture Producers Discover California, 1908-1910
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Author interweaves indiscriminate behaviors on different levels as he tells the story of the motion picture industries first moves to California. You will chuckle. The first destinations were not Hollywood; they were Los Angeles. The independent producer “IMP” would become Universal Studios.

02-03-2015
We Find Unique Style in D. W. Griffith’s New Films, 1909
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: We Americans wanted action films with cowboys, robbers and heroes but D. W. Griffith developed a style which gave dramatic expression to the silent films. Other producers started to develop their own styles and film would find its way out of the arcades.

01-20-2015
America Falls in Love with Movie Star, Mary Pickford, 1909
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Nice story. Poor 16 year old “Mary Pickford” knew her way around and worked in New York’s theatre scene. With her captivating smile, she forced her way into films … interesting because films were considered low class compared to the theatre.

01-06-2015
Censorship Checks Our New Passion for Movies, 1907
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Oh Oh. Some racy titles like, Cupid’s Barometer, A Seaside Flirtation, and Gaieties of Divorce appeared at the nickelodeons. Something must be done to protect our society from these works “of the devil.” The mayor of New York City attempted to close down the whole motion picture industry.

12-23-2014
Our Movies Tell a Story and We Begin to Want Movies, 1903
by Terry Ramsaye
CONTAINS: Plots, action and 1000 feet of film … a new art form is finally coming about. Our author does entertaining job giving us the stories of the producers, production, actors and most important, plots of the first sellable movies. Movies will be competitive with the 10 cent novels.

09-30-2011
Alvin Decker: A Farmer Turns His Love of Life, Nature and Scenery Into Paintings
by Stu Moment