All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

346 All About Inventions itself in these islands. Plays suited to this system of handling are of special production, and must be of an exceptionally attractive and spectacular char- acter. The rights for a certain country are acquired in the manner of an ordinary play or novel, and it may be mentioned that high prices are realised over such transactions. Only a few months ago a British company paid £120,000 for the sole rights to show the productions of one American firm in these islands. The purchaser of the rights sends the film on tour in precisely the same manner as a theatrical com- pany travels from town to town. Theatres are rented throughout the circuit, the attraction is advertised in the approved manner, and it holds the building for the entire week or for a longer period according to its drawing power and the arrangements which have been completed. In America as many as twenty-five copies of one film have been on tour at the same time. It must be remembered that the revenue accruing from such tours is far greater than that achieved by sending theatrical companies around a prescribed chain of theatres. Travelling expenses are trivial, three or four representatives being adequate, while salaries are equally insignificant. The running ex- penses at the theatre are also considerably lower. All things considered, such ventures—provided the pictorial fare offered is a first-class attraction—are certain to prove highly profitable, and more than one big fortune has been amassed within a very few months from such enterprises. In these islands the system has not become pronounced ; it is just assert- ing itself. Thus we have had the picture portrayal of the well-known novel “The Clansman” presented