[Illustration: (_Edison_) INTERIOR OF A TYPICAL MOTION-PICTURE STUDIO] [Illustration: A-B-C OF MOTION PICTURES ILLUSTRATED] BY ROBERT E. WELSH HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK & LONDON HARPER’S A-B-C SERIES A-B-C OF COOKING. By CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRICK A-B-C OF GOLF. By JOHN D. DUNN A-B-C OF VEGETABLE GARDENING. By EBEN E. REXFORD A-B-C OF CORRECT SPEECH. By FLORENCE HOWE HALL A-B-C OF ARCHITECTURE. By FRANK E. WALLIS A-B-C OF HOUSEKEEPING. By CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRICK A-B-C OF ELECTRICITY. By WILLIAM H. MEADOWCROFT A-B-C OF GARDENING. By EBEN E. REXFORD A-B-C OF GOOD FORM. By ANNE SEYMOUR A-B-C OF AUTOMOBILE DRIVING. By ALPHEUS H. VERRILL A-B-C OF MOTION PICTURES. By ROBERT E. WELSH A-B-C OF HOME SAVING. By LISSIE C. FARMER 16mo, Cloth HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK A-B-C OF MOTION PICTURES Copyright, 1916, by Harper & Brothers Printed in the United States of America Published April, 1916 FOREWORD The marvelous development of the motion picture and the important place it has won in the heart of the entire civilized world have attracted an interest never before attained in so short a time by any form of amusement. The author of this volume has commendably explained the essential facts in the history of this popular art, and the principles allied with it of most general interest to the public at large. It contains answers to questions commonly and constantly asked, and I believe that its perusal will be well worth while. DAN’L FROHMAN. INTRODUCTION Both as a form of entertainment and as an educational force the motion picture now merits consideration in the front rank of the world’s activities. Conservative estimates state that twelve million persons attend the picture theaters of the United States every day. Were figures available for Europe they could not add any to the amazement of those who remember that the motion picture’s strides to its present popularity have been taken in a period of less than twenty years. Perhaps it is because of the rapidity of its growth that the art is still a mystery to the layman. In this book the author has set himself the task of answering the hundred and one questions that must occur frequently to followers of the motion picture. In a logical manner every stage in the process of making motion pictures is covered, while due attention has been paid to the historical and business phases of the subject. A studied effort has been made to use terms clear to the lay mind. With the task completed, it is the conviction of the author that the reader will find his puzzling doubts replaced by a clear understanding that should add immeasurably to his interest in the motion-picture art.