Volume I: Narrative History

Chapter 7 (1914): The Trust Flexes Its Muscles

The Motion Picture Patents Company reared its head and in July commenced an action in the United States District Court against Thanhouser, seeking to enjoin the firm from manufacturing and selling its films, on the grounds that a camera employed by the company infringed on the Edison reissue patents controlled by the plaintiff. Note This camera had been used for the preceding several months, the action asserted. A similar suit was filed against the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, which had been enjoined recently from using the Warwick camera, which was said to have infringed on the Edison patents. An appeal had been filed by Universal, and a stay of the injunction was granted against a bond of $8,000. Soon thereafter, additional defendants were named in the suit, including Crystal, All Star Features, Ramo, Ryno, Victor Motion Picture Manufacturing Company, and the Life-Photo Film Corporation.

On July 29, 1914, a settlement Note was reached between the Patents Company and the Mutual interests, including Thanhouser, Majestic, American, Reliance, Keystone, Broncho, Carlton Motion Picture Laboratories, Domino, and the New York Motion Picture Corporation. Note Mutual acknowledged the validity of Reissue Letters Patent Nos. 12,192 and 13,329, for motion picture film and camera respectively, and expressed the desire to settle. A payment amounting to an initial $10,000 followed by four like amounts payable 45, 90, 135, and 180 days later, was agreed upon. The agreement also affected numerous exchanges and individuals, including among the latter, Addison E. Jones, Wilbert E. Shallenberger, Jessie B. Bishop, D.W. Griffith, the Aitken brothers, Charles J. Hite, and several dozen others.

A special meeting of the Thanhouser board of directors was held on July 27th and subsequently detailed in The New Rochelle Pioneer: Note

CORPORATION TO RAISE CAPITAL: At a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Thanhouser Film Corporation, July 27, a resolution was adopted whereby on September 1 the Corporation is to be dissolved and will immediately be reorganized as a $1,000,000 concern, although it is believed that no change will be made in the following list of officers: Charles J. Hite, president; Wilbert E. Shallenberger, vice-president; Miss Jessie B. Bishop, secretary, and A.E. Jones, treasurer.

The increase in capitalization from $400,000 to $1,000,000 is for the purpose of enlarging the plant, increasing the number of acting companies and keeping pace with the demand for the Thanhouser pictures. It is the intention of the Corporation to enlarge its scope by entering the field of education, embracing scientific and research work. Since its establishment here a little more than four years ago the Thanhouser Film Corporation has grown and its output has increased with great rapidity. At the studio it was said that the educational work will consist of the drama of life among bugs and insects. The larger species and even the microscopic forms will be photographed in their natural habitat with the aid of powerful microscopes so that motion photographs of them may be projected on the screen for scientific study. By this means the most repulsive of animal and insect forms will become interesting and people will have an opportunity to realize the wonder and beauty of their structure and perhaps discern the reason for their being. In order to accomplish this properly expert entomologists will be engaged for this department. Such films will be valuable in the high schools, colleges, and schools which specialize in the study of insects and insect life. There is also, the possibility that bacteriology will be taken up. Note

It is likely that there will be a department of submarine photography, as the submarine films made by Carl Gregory in the Williamson tube were finished at the local studio. In order to carry on the increased work new and larger studios, dark rooms, finishing rooms, projecting rooms and shipping rooms must be erected. More space will be needed, it is said, because hardly a foot of the ground now used for stage settings can be spared. In fact, more will be required by next spring. Even at the present rate of production the outside settings are in use nearly every day. As soon as the recapitalization is complete, it is said, work will be started on the expansion of the plant.

The next month Charles J. Hite commented on the expansion: Note

With the new reorganization plan New Rochelle will have renewed cause to be proud of its biggest industry. Our films go around the world carrying the name of our home city to the far northern cities of Alaska and to the sub-tropical coast towns of Madagascar. The world is our market and we are very proud indeed to tell the thousands of every color, race and creed that New Rochelle is our home. We look for a big year in spite of unsettled conditions abroad, and it is upon this that our reorganization and building plans are predicated.

On July 26, 1914 From Wash to Washington, a one-reel comedy, was released. Carey L. Hastings was seen as Diana, a washerwoman, while Marguerite Snow was the Diana of the washerwoman's dream. James Cruze appeared in the film and also directed it, the first directorial effort of his career. Reel Life Note told of events surrounding the production of this picture and also an episode of The Million Dollar Mystery:

Marguerite Snow - "'Countess Olga" in The Million Dollar Mystery - recently spent a week in Washington, where she was photographed with Secretary of the Navy Daniels Note and with Admiral Fletcher, the hero of Vera Cruz. After the picture taking, Miss Snow was favored with many invitations to official functions. She attended a reception at the home of Speaker Champ Clark, where she was honored with a position in the receiving line. One of the most important episodes in the story takes place in Washington. Miss Snow was accompanied thither by James Cruze and Lloyd F. Lonergan.

The Moving Picture World reviewed From Wash to Washington: "A beautiful travelogue of the Capital City in which, in a dream, a washer-girl (Marguerite Snow) dreams that she and her sweetheart (James Cruze) take a 'flying' to Washington. They just jump about from here to there in the city and we see the sights that they are looking at. It ought to make a good offering. The photography is perfect."

Next on the regular Thanhouser schedule was The Messenger of Death, on July 28th, followed by The Target of Destiny, a Princess film released on July 31st. Then came The Butterfly Bug on August 2, 1914, after which The Guiding Hand was offered on the 4th.