Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

EDITORIALS BY OUR READERS. 119 To the Editor: I came across a copy of your magazine, and to say that 1 was delighted does not express my satisfaction. I am glad to see that the one-time prejudice against the much-reviled photoplay is rapidly dying out. The feeling against it has given place to one of entire approval and endorsement from all ranks. The managers of these motion picture houses very soon realized that the public wanted good, clean, and instructive, as well as amusingshows, and have devoted themselves, with praiseworthy energy, to the improvement of the scenarios, pleasing all tastes, and raising the general standard of photoplays. To such an extent has this been done that the best known educators and clergymen are now, not only in favor of, but are actually using them in the churches and educational institutions. The possibilities of these photoplays are infinite and can be adapted to suit the needs of church, school and university, as well as mere amusement seekers, with equal facility, while for those wishing a vivid representation of a Shakespearian drama or of the latest production of the theatrical boards with real scenery, there is an unlimited choice. Any Sunday-school teacher finds it easy to teach from pictures, and any clergyman knows that if he announces that a moving picture exhibition will be given in the parish house, that the building will be filled on that date. These lifelike presentations impress children and young people very vividly. The moving pictures convey a dramatic realization to the child; he sees the characters he has been taught to revere, in their best and most natural lights, as they actually were in life, and the persons he has been taught to despise, with all their evil qualities. The characters being vividly portrayed before him, he can see their faces, their expressions, and therefore sees the reason for his approval or disapproval. He can see the justice in it, and if he cannot, he will use his reason and find out the cause. At all events, these pictures make him think as nothing else could, and he will know what he is believing and why he believes it. The characters on the pictures carry their own conviction, for "Seeing is believing." Good luck to the Motion Picture Magazine. Columbus, Miss., Jan. 25, 1911. J. S. Langdon. To the Editor: Allow me to compliment you on the first number of your magazine which came to our home last Saturday. We have all read it thro, and I believe it has a great future. So have the moving pictures, from which your stories and pictures appear to be taken. The photoplay furnishes the poorer classes with a great deal of innocent enjoyment, and, for the thousands of persons who can rarely afford to go to a theatre, it is an especial boon, affording, as it does, an inexpensive method of seeing the actual representation of plays actually portrayed at the theatres. It is interesting to observe the wide variety of the individuals who patronize the photoplay house. The tired business man, the harassed physician, the wearied shopgirl, the worried mother with two or three children, the alert lawyer, are familiar figures in these places. They can be seen entering the building with the traces of care and worry only too apparent on their faces, and presently coming out with a lighter step and bright face, temporarily -cheered, at least, and betrayed into a momentary forgetfulness of their troubles. The motion play seems to be the panacea for the mental ills of a vast number of persons, and that it has met with the decided approval of all ranks of society is evidenced by the photoplay houses that are springing up with mushroom-like rapidity all over the country. As an educator and promoter of innocent and inexpensive pleasure, the photoplay certainly occupies a desirable and unique position in modern civilization, and I believe your magazine will fill a long-needed want. Camden, "N". J., Jan. 24, 1911. Clara M. Turnbull.