D.W. Griffith at The Biograph Company

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Mary Pickford's billing as the IMP GIRL was augmented by advertising which put her salary at $175.00 per week.

This information led to numerous money battles at Biograph with Wilfred Lucas, who demanded $150.00 and Blanche Sweet who settled for a rate of $40.00 per week, being but two examples of the new problems besetting Biograph.

The practice of featured billing for the cast was becoming a widespread practice, but Marvin and Kennedy were still trying to hold that line.

More imaginative adventure and mystery stories began to be produced by the Griffith group of players, frequently utilizing a train as a convenient component of numerous chase sequences.

These chases employed a far greater degree of editorial sophistication than had been previously the standard, with a prime example of the advances being highly visible in THE LONEDALE OPERATOR.

Griffith had begun working on the development of moving picture narrative that had to be told in more than one reel. Biograph emitted their usual gasp when the idea was advanced. They held to their desire to see less costs and more profits.

In their mind, a longer show meant less audience turnover and consequently, less nickels and dimes at the nickelodeons.

Besides, they honestly felt that audiences couldn't sit through more than ten minutes of a moving picture anyway.

Griffith wheeled and dealed to effect the production of ENOCH ARDEN which had Linda starring in this landmark two-reeler.

Upon its completion, Griffith joins in battle with Marvin and Kennedy who want to release it as a two part film against Griffith's wishes to have the film shown in a single sitting.

This latest conflict, the proverbial straw, brings Linda to her decision to leave Griffith.

On the business front, the audience clamor for the second reel of the film to be shown gives his victory to Griffith and brings his production length up to a two reel level.

On the personal front, Griffith makes the last trip up to Cuddebackville, without Linda, to consider his loss by the banks of the Neversink River.

While there, however, he begins preparations for his Civil War production, THE BATTLE, whose authentic battle field depiction will be sure to bring yet another battle with the Biograph front office.

During the fourth show, Mary Pickford returns to Griffith and Biograph. Upon her return, the salary that she had been getting at IMP Co. was duplicated by Biograph.

This time around, however, Marvin and Kennedy were to make full use of Pickford's name as a billing for her appearances; at long last they had bowed to public pressure.