Moving Picture World (Dec 1917)

1938 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 29, 1917 or their boys ; to exchange experiences and help each other in every way possible. At the Brat regular meeting the question came up, "What can we do llrst to be of real help to our boys and girls?" and the vote was unanimous to ask a night at a picture show suitable for our young people. Information and lists of suitable lihns were secured. A petition was drawn up requesting that one of these pictures be shown one night each week, which was signed by the ministers of our churches, our school board and teachers, and, with a very few exceptions, by oar business men and citizens. The ministers gave very nice announcements of the movement from their pulpits; the school superintendent gave notices of our Family Night Programs each week in the school, and valuable nice was also given by the school teachers and our newspaper. Our Family Xight has been established for six months, Conquest prograins having been given for the last five weeks. Too much cannot be said in praise of these programs. They fill the need of an evening's entertainment for the entire family. Already our young people have shown a decided preference for their night over others. Our picture show management has given us its hearty co-operation. Judge Brown as Producer Children's Advocate to Release Characteristic "Stories of Youth" Through General Film. ONE of the most interesting acquisitions in many months is announced this week by General Film Company. It is a series of two-reel stories by Judge Willis Brown, the great children's advocate and author ot numerous successful film features. Beginning about Jan. 1, this new series will be distributed at intervals by General Film Company and will constitute an important advance in the presentation of photoplays, appealing to young and old alike. The California Cinema Company at Los Angeles, recently incorporated, is sponsor for the productions. Judge Brown is the country's foremost authority on juvenile matters and has originated many unique and worthwhile legal and educational methods in behalf of minors. He originated and was the administrator of the Parental Court of Gary, Indiana, the first of its kind, and was the founder and first judge of the Utah Juvenile Courts, said to be the most advanced juvenile court in the world. He also originated the Boy City movement at Charlevoix, Michigan, and devised the Boyville civic plan, an educational system of boys' work based on preventative lines, and has done more than any other authority to improve and advance conditions with regard to the status of juvenile cases in and out of the courts of the land. Judge Brown's appearance as a film producer is not casual nor experimental. As a writer of photoplay stories of youth he is already a sensatjonal success. Three of his most recent film successes are "The Saint's Adventure," featuring Henry B. Walthall; "The Girl Who Won Out," featuring Violet MacMillan, and "The Spirit of '17," in which Jack Pickford is starring. For some months he has had in preparation the new screen material written in his characteristic vein to be known as the "Judge Brown Stories." For the most part juvenile actors will be featured in these new stories, and they will be rich in the sympathetic human interest element which the author so charmingly picturizes. Judge Brown's talent needs no introduction to the exhibitor and public and it is predicted that his new photoplays will receive an eager reception. Prison Reform in Mexico Interesting Series of Views Calling Attention to Mexican Reforms Snapped by Universal Cameraman. WITH the bulk of public attention centered on war-ridden Europe it has been easy for the moment to forget that under the natural law of constantly changing conditions something has been going on for better or for worse in that country of our Southern border, so recently in the throes of bloody revolution. The Universal Screen Magazine No. 52 has something of especial interest regarding Mexico to tell American audiences, something of cheerful outlook, and something beyond the dreams of those who have known the Mexico of old. It tells us by means of realistic illustrations that the Carranza government has remodeled the whole prison system of Mexico, that capital punishment has been abolished, and that the Juarez prison, Merida, Yucatan, lias become a splendid reformatory under Governor Salvador Alvarado. Under Porfirio Diaz, we are told, about 3.000 prisoners were confined at the Juarez prison, that sometimes as many as ten men were thrown into one cell, and that they were subjected to other frightful cruelties. At the present time the prison, which is patroled by guards night and day, has 98 inmates. The Maya Indian Guard, by the way, is inspected daily. Among other reform measures instituted at the Juarez prison, the profit from sales of furniture made by the prisoners is given for the support of their families. Each day these prisoners are required to attend a school which is maintained at the prison, for several hours each day. There is also a complete modern hospital ward there, where ailing prisoners receive the best of care. Nourishing food, which is daily inspected by Warden Posada, is served in the prison ; and in the main corridor of the prison friends and relatives of the prisoners may visit them between the hours of 10 A. M. and 3 P. M. The chief occupation of these prisoners is the making of rope and hammocks. The Universal Film Company is to be congratulated on being able to give the public this hopeful morsel. Interesting Physical Culture Number Second Issue of MacFadden Physical Culture Magazine Holds Interesting Material. IN the second issue of the Physical Culture Magazine, which is being prepared by Bernarr MacFadden for the General Film Company, will be found considerable to interest. Bernarr MacFadden, himself fifty years of age, illustrates a method of arm movements by which the shoulder and arm muscles may attain marvelous power, reducing flesh and adding symmetry to that part of the body. The swimming pool is another interesting and attractive feature, where athletic, well-developed young women prove their ability to swim and dive. This includes closeups, in which the movements of the body can be clearly discerned. "Waterloo Tag" is just a bit of play in which these same 3'oung women and the water hose play the principal parts. A simply contrived gymnasium for children, erected on the lawn, will interest parents, and it is here that we are privileged to see the eight-year-old daughter of Bernarr MacFadden chin the pole fourteen times in succession with evidently little exertion. As this "magazine on the. screen" develops we may hope for many useful hints with regard to keeping in good repair the muscle machinery of our bodies. Strand Exhibits Beautiful Scenic Wonderful Colored Views of Yellowstone National Park, Its Terraces and the Grand Canyon Photographed by Ralph Earl and Presented by Pathe. ONE of the most beautiful specimens of colored film that we have seen recently is contained in the viewsof Yellowstone National Park, with its terraces and the Grand Canyon, in the bottom of which runs the Colorado River, and which was exhibited at the Strand Theater the week of December 2. The vivid colors of the Canyon, for instance, have never been copied more accurately, and the waterfalls and other beauties of Yellowstone are almost beyond description as they appear in the Ralph Earl scenic, which is being released by the Pathe Exchange, Inc., as a part of the series entitled "Our National Parks." This series of scenics may be truthfully recommended to the exhibitor as a feature of his program. Film for Roman Catholic Propaganda "The Victim," Multiple-Reel Production, Idealizes Priestly Character as Proving True to His Trust in Confessional. FOR those of Romanist faith a film produced and presented by the Catholic Art Association, entitled "The Victim," will be found pleasing and interesting in theme. The picture was directed by Joseph Levering and has a strong human appeal, as well as containing authentic church scenes. Special attention has evidently been paid to the proper costuming of church officials, and to the maintaining of the dignity due the portrayal of the ceremonies of any religious body. A review of this picture will be found on another page of this issue, where the story of the priest who placed his right to live second to the trust placed in him in the confessional, will be fully told. ITEMS OF INTEREST. According to the December Bulletin of the Affiliated Committee for Better Films, the following longer dramatic pictures have been used successfully for special programs. Artcraft — "The Woman God Forgot," "The Little Princess," "The Silent Man;" Fox — "Les Miserables," "This Is the Life;" Famous Players-Paramount — "Arms and the Girl," "Bab's Burglar," "Bab's Matinee Idol," "The Antics of Ann," "The Clever Mrs. Carfax;" Goldwyn — "Spreading Dawn," "Nearlv Married ;" Ince-Paramount — "Son of His Father ;" Ince-U. S. Exhibitors— "The Zeppelin's Last Raid;" K-E-S-E (Essanay)— "Two Bit Seats;" (Edison)— "Courage of the Commonplace ;" Metro — "Draft 258 ;" Mutual— "A Game of Wits ;" World — "Adventures of Carol."