ROMANCE OF FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 22 (Supplement)

ROMANCE OF FILMLAND.

BOY IMMIGRANT'S SUCCESS. ]; NOW A MILLIONAIRE. * : *-' FOUNDER OF THE CINEMA. ' VISIT TO OLD HOME. ' ? A real romance of filmland is provided by the career of Mr. Albert Edward Smith who left his native town of Faversham, Kent, 36 years ago, nad emigrated to America with hut a few pence in his pocket. A few weeks ago ho returned to England a millionaire, and with the dis-'"" Unction of being the virtual founder of the film industry. The boy Smith was 14 years of ago when he, left the ' little cottage in Park Road, Faversham, ' with his father and six brothers and a sister. His father earned a precarious livelihood v a Whitstable oystcrman, and 'i «vas to give his lads a chance to ,uake good that he decided to immigrate. The. entire family travelled for £3 a head. Albert Edward, the fourth son, returned to England in the Berengacia,. occupying tho most luxurious suite which that ' luxurious liner can afford. Mr. Smith, senior, is too old to make tho journey. He is 86, but still hale and hearty, and enjoying the affluence that lias come, to him as a result of his son's wonderful success. The Smith family, including immediate descendants now numbers over 80. Wife as Leading Lady. Other members of the family "have shared in Albert's rise, to fortune." Throe if them hold important posts in the Vitagraph Company, of which Mr. Albert Edward Smith is president. Mr. George, Smith is managing director of tho British blanch, Victor is assistant-general manager in New York, while David is a producer, and directed "Captain Blood," tho Rafael Sabatini photoplay. Mrs. Albert, Smith is known on tho screen as Jean Paige, and is the leading ' lady in the films produced by her bus* ] band. The story of their nwriage is another romantic chapter in tho life of, the millionaire film of their marriage is . another romantic chapter in tho life, of the millionaire film magnate. Mrs. Smith's maiden name was Lucilo I O'Hara, and she was a typical Irish beauty. One day she was -playing lead in a, Vitagraph film, "Black Beauty." Albeit Smith was watching the filming of an outdoor scene, in which the leading lady gave a magnificent display of riding. Bo*. ing keenly interested in riding himself, the president introduced himself to the fair rider, who in 1921 became his wife. Getting Kid of " Flicker." As a boy Mr. Smith wanted to be a watchmaker. One of his : first problems as a moving-picture producer was to find out how to eliminate "flicker" and to keep the film on the sprockets of the apparatus. His mechanical bent stood him in good stead, and, by dint of much experimenting and hard work, he was able to solve his great problem. Mr. Smith's first job in America was in a bookbinding firm but in 1892 he forsook his occupation to become a musichall entertainer with Mr. J. S. Blackton, who is vice-president of the Vitagraph Company. One day Mr. Edison showed Blackton the first crude cine; iatograph machine, and in 1896 the partners started experimenting with films. Their first film which "told .-:, storv " ; was made .in 1899. It was 100 ft. long, and lasted one and a half minutes. From that film sprang the Vitagraph Company.