Busy chatter about the pictures, every one raving over Mary Pickford’s work in “Ramona,” when Mary, quietly, but with considerable assurance said, “Some day I am going to be a great actress and have my name in electric lights over a theatre.”
I turned pale and felt weak. We all were shocked. Of course, she never meant the movies, that would have been plumb crazy. No, she meant the stage, and she was thinking of going back. The thought of losing Mary made me very unhappy. But just how had she figured to get her name in electric lights? What was on her mind, anyway?
This summer of 1910 Mr. Griffith signed his third Biograph contract. This contract called for a royalty of an eighth of a cent a foot on all film sold and seventy-five dollars per week, but the name “Lawrence” which had been signed on the dotted line the two preceding years, was this time scratched out and “David” written in.
“David” had gone into the silence and decided that the movies were now worthy of his hire, and couldn’t dent his future too badly, no matter what that future might be. David W. Griffith and Mary Pickford were certainly growing bold.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE FIRST TWO-REELER
Though the licensed picture companies—The General Film Group—kept a watchful eye on one another, each had pride in its own trademark and was satisfied with the little company of actors bringing it recognition.
But the independent companies, now beginning to loom on the horizon, were looking with envying eyes on the rich harvest the licensed companies were reaping, and they figured that all they’d need, to do as well, would be some of their well-trained actors, especially those of Mr. Griffith’s quite famous little organization. Surely D. W. Griffith had less to do with Mary Pickford’s success than Mary Pickford herself! She it was the public came to see; so they were out, red-hot for Mary, and offering publicity and more money. The little war was started.
Actors in the companies that comprised the General Film Company could not be bargained for except by the Independents. For instance, if an actor of the Biograph Company were discovered offering his services to Lubin or Edison or any of the General Film, that company promptly reported the matter to Biograph and the ambitious actor found himself not only turned down by Edison or Lubin or any other but his nice little Biograph job would be gone as well. That had happened to Harry Salter and Florence Lawrence. An actor in one of the General Film group would have to resign his job before he could open negotiations with any other company in that group.
* * * * *
We did grind out the work this fall and early winter. The promise of California again was a big incentive. We might stay longer and have a new studio, a regular place.