The Growth of Moving-Picture Shows
The year 1908 was one of phenomenal growth in amusements. With the beginning of 1909, there were 10,000 moving-picture shows in the United States, with a daily attendance of 3,000,000. The estimated expenditure by the people was $57,500,000 for the year. At the present time fully 4,000,000 persons visit these shows daily, and the shows have increased to 13,000. There is paid out for their support by the public an average of seven cents each, or more than $102,000,000 a year. About $100,000,000 is invested in the moving-picture-show business. Last year $18,000,000 worth of motion-films were sold. The cost of obtaining motion-pictures is often enormous. To obtain one picture of a railroad train and an incident connected with the same, a company leased a small railroad near New York City, with all its equipment, for one day.