Wid's Weekly (1923)

They May Not Always Agree— But They Do Read “Wid’s” Everyone agrees that advertising is good. The derision is always one of how to reach the people you want to reach so that you are sure they see your announcement. W id has never claimed or expected that everyone will adways agree with his opinions. The important thing from the viewpoint of the advertiser is that every important personage in the film industry—executive, director, au¬ thor, player, technical artists and theater owners—does read carefully what he has to say. It is your job to sell yourself. That's good business. Everyone expects you to, because, after all, that's your job. Having ability is one thing, and selling that ability is something else. There are too many folks with ability who are selling their ability to the buyers for the buyers to worry about hunting up folks who don't take the trouble to present themselves for consideration. WHAT'S YOUR NAME WORTH? W id's (Quarterly goes to press this month. Have you arranged to be represented in this issue, which will contain every review written per¬ sonally by W id since returning to the editorial desk? The man who doesn't recognize uOhl Man Opportunity" when he meets him can properly complain to no one but himself. Yours for service, Business Offices, W id's W eekly 6411 Hollywood Blvd. Holly 1062 Upstairs over Levy's Many times it has been said that the screen must be kept out of politics. Person¬ ally, I think the screen will be in politics from now on, more or less, but certainly the screen (jJhfA. should be kept out of “party” politics. The only politics which the screen should be in is politics affecting the selection of men Weekly for office who are in sympathy with the needs of the screen. We need men in public office Vol. I. No. 19 Saturday, October 6, 1923 Price 25c who will permit us to present entertainment Copyright, 1923, by Wid’s Weekly without hindrance from a lot of poor saps. We Published Weekly at all know that most of the active reformers are 6411 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif. reformers because they make a living at it. Editor ---------- - Wid Gunning The only way to stop those birds is to get the Subscription $10.00 one year in United States; Foreign $15.00. screen into politics enough to shut off these Subscribers should remit with order. hypocritical leeches. Editorial and Business Offices 6411 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif. Recently Martin Quigley of the Exhibit¬ New York Representative: Merrit Crawford Room 1503, 25 West 45th St. Phone Bryant 4174. ors Herald suggested that Hays jump into the You will be interested in talking with Mr. Crawford regarding the fight for the repeal of the oppressive taxes combined circulation of Wid’s Weekly and Wid’s Quarterly. now being levied on film theatres. Editor Bob Welsh of the M. P. World stepped forth with The Industry Must Not Be the statement that he believed it would be a mistake to have Mr. Hays do anything about Labelled “Republican” the tax problem, because Mr. Hays, having I have never liad the honor of meeting been a politician, might mess things up if he the gentleman who was labeled the “Czar of got into politics at Washington and also be¬ the Movies”—Will Hays. cause the politicians would think that the film industry should be able to pay a terrific lot I have rather avoided Mr. Hays. I of tax if they were able to pay Bill Hays the haven’t gone out of my way to avoid meet¬ salary which he pulls down regularly. ing him, but I have always felt that possibly I would have a clearer angle on what he is I am inclined to agree very decidedly with doing if I stayed away from ear-shot of his Bob Welsh that Mr. Hays would be the wrong undoubted persuasive conversation. The Hon¬ person to send to the admission tax fight. orable Bill certainly must be a “persuader” I am inclined very decidedly to believe because he is ranked as one of our best poli¬ that Mr. Hays’ connection with the film indus¬ ticians, and I say he proved himself some try may be most embarrassing in any event “persuader” when he maneuvered himself in¬ to the position of picking oft' a very fat salary, as the presidential election approaches. which friend Adolph Zukor, more or less, com¬ mitted himself to pay. Anyone who can sell himself into that sort of a job with Mr. Zukor has a good line of argument. Reviews This Week Mr. Hays has gone to Europe with an¬ A WOMAN OF PARIS—Chaplin other remarkable politician, Ambassador Har¬ vey. They insist that Mr. Hays has gone on THE EXTRA GIRL—Sennett Assoc. a vacation, and that the trip has no political Exhibitors significance. STRANGERS OF THE NIGHT—Niblo- I have always said that it was a mistake Mayer-Metro to put Mr. Hays in the position that he has been in, because Mr. Hays is a politician. THUNDERING DAWN—Universal You might write all the denials that you LITTLE OLD NEW YORK-Cosmopolitan might care to write, but you will never be Goldwyn able to convince the Democrats in this country that Bill Hays has gone off to Europe with ZAZA—Paramount Ambassador Harvey for any other purpose than to discuss the next presidential cam¬ HELD TO ANSWER—Metro paign from the Republican viewpoint. Of course, if the boys who are paying Mr. help any to relieve the thought that Mr. Hays Hays’ salary feel sure enough that the Re¬ is very much interested in Republican poli¬ publicans are going to win the next time and tics. they are willing to gamble very heavily on I wouldn’t expect Mr. Hays to say that that issue, then that’s another matter. he intends giving up a very sweet contract It is going to be impossible to ever really with the motion picture interests, and I imag¬ plant the thought that Mr. Hays is out of ine that he will continue to collect until the politics. It so happens that a man can be in contract expires. Nevertheless, Will Hays’ politics up to his ears without appearing to presence in the position which he now holds be so, and for that reason a man can be definitely puts the screen in the worst kind thought to be in politics and unable to prove of politics, which is party politics. Before the that he is not, when he has absolutely no con¬ parties begin to get rough with one another nection whatever with political activities. in the next campaign, it would be advisable No matter what I ever might do in my that something be done about it. young life, I will always be known as the guy Mr. Hays in talking with me personally that runs a film paper and writes reviews could undoubtedly convince me that he is out about pictures. of politics forever. Unfortunately, he can’t No matter what Bill Hays may ever do personally visit everyone in this country that to attempt to divorce himself from politics, he will always be known as a Republican poli¬ needs to be convinced, and I don’t think he tician. could convince the Democrats or the other Going off to England with Ambassador good citizens who are not Republicans, even Harvey at this particular time certainly won’t if he talked with them personally. Opportunity Is the Big Word—Fight for Your Chance Seigmund Lubin, grand old veteran of the to go very far up the ladder in the ten years films, died last week. Mr. Lubin was 72 years to come. Fortunes can be made today in this old at his death. industry easier than they were made in the All of the ‘ ‘ old timers ’ ’ had a great regard days of the General Film. for Mr. Lubin. His death brings forcibly to There has been a lot of comment on the mind a thing which came up the other day in fact that many of the men who have made for¬ talking with George Ivleine about the develop¬ tunes in this business have afterwards lost ment of the industry and the possibilities of them. That naturally happens in any specu¬ the next ten years. lative or rapidly growing industry, but in The film industry today holds marvelous nearly every instance where a man has made opportunities for the young man, but the suc¬ a fortune and then dropped entirely out of cess of those who have really made big suc¬ the running, you will find upon checking up cesses in this industry point the fact that a that his fortune came more from opportunity man should not be counted anywhere near out alone than from any actual knowledge of the just because he may be fairly well along in industry itself. The combination of knowl¬ years. edge and opportunity cannot be kept down. Mr. Ivleine commented on the fact that If you have experience and ability, keep seek¬ almost all of the men who were associated ing your opportunity. together in the organization of the General If ever there was an industry in which Film, which organization absolutely owned opportunity means more than it does in this, this industry at one time, were men of ad¬ I would like to hear about it. Probably that vanced years. Most of these men began to make their fortunes after they had passed is what makes it such a fascinating field to what is generally termed middle age.

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