Artist Sense Prompts Work in the Movies

Carl Laemmle, Once a Humble Immigrant, Rises to Commanding Position in Movies

The eulogy of the self-made man from Wisconsin has been written frequently. native sons have climbed to so many different peaks of distinction that the stroy, even with new names, is an old one. In the case of Carl Laemmle, president of Universal Pictures, Inc. and now owner of the new Kenosha Theatre, who refutes the old proverb of the prophet being without honor in his home, there is an element of the unique. Not only has the former Wisconsin resident made good in the sense that the ownership of a property worth many millions of dollars implies, but, he has done that in an industry in which he was a stranger, one which offered no precedents for success.

Years ago (not very many at that, for the industry is still young), Carl Laemmle sold his part interest in the Continental Clothing Store at OshKosh, a successful business venture. He ventured his entire stake on a single gamble, won it and today is the president of the largest independently-owned motion picture company in the world- Universal.

There is no manipulation of stock in this concern. Wall Street has nothing to do with it. Carl Laemmle has the first and last word when it comes to plans for production, expansion, building, etcetera.

Quite a success, you'll grant. yet it rests modestly on the shoulders of the former Badger who has seen fit to set the choicest of all his theatre buildings, the beautiful Kenosha, at the very gateway to the state where he got his start in life. Traveleres to Hollywood find the magic word of "Wisconsin" an open sesame when all other means fail.

Every year Mr. Laemmle journeys bac to these parts, to visit his old cronies in Milwaukee and OshKosh and throughout the state.

Dan Lederman Supervised the Construction of the New Theatre

Daniel W. Lederman, structural engineer in charge of building for Universal Chain Theatres, is the man who sets the date for the opening of the enterprise's new theatres. He makes it a rule never to announce an opening date until the theatre under construction has reached a point where there will be no doubt that it will open its doors on the schedule time.

Mr Lederman started out in the railroad business. At one time he was shief clerk and assistant superintendent of machinery and building for the Santa Fe road at Omaha. He was acting as coast to caost man for the Rubber Trust when he felt the call of the theater.

In 1910 Lederman took over a movie theatre at Topeka, Kan, which was the forerunner of a chain of 37 theatres which he finally operated in the states of kansas and Nebraska. Then followed a period in the exchange, or jobbing end of the film business, during which he was located at Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha and several other points.

A jump to New York in 1915 place Mr. Lederman at the sources of production and he entered the home offices of the Universal Pictures Corporation. His official title was assistant to the president, Carl laemmle. When it was decided to open branches for Universal Pictures in foreign countries, Lederman crossed the sea to do the job.

Activities of one sort and another, all in the interest of universla, consumed his time and efforts until 1921 when he became building chief for the company, a position which led to the one he now holds with the concern