The Moving Picture World (April 1907)

102 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. you will find some excellent pictures which are in many cases sold for use in churches as well as five cent theaters. Taking those films in the list that are most open to criticism on account of their sensationalism, these form but a small per- centage of the total. Taking, for instance, "The Girl from Mon- tana," "The Spy," "The Double Life," and "Cheating Justice," these are on a par with the melodrama ordinarily shown in the cheaper cass of the regular theaters to which the Tribune gives a clean bill of health. The mystic films referred to are trick pictures wholly inno- cent in their nature, such as the "Haunted Hotel," "Magic Bot- tle" and "Hand of the Artist" We would further refer the editorial writer of the Tribune to its business department for further information as to the re- spectability and decency of moving pictures shown in these five cent theaters. The same curtain that showed the election returns Tuesday evening of last week at the Tribune corner, Dearborn and Madison streets, showed a series of moving-pictures of ex- actly the same subjects as have been seen in nickel theaters in Chicago. The Tribune's audience was enormous, including many thousands of young people of both sexes, and the Tribune will surely not condemn those pictures which were shown by itself. It may seem strange to those who have been misinformed as to the character of these nickel shows, that without exception they reject pictures which include any indecent, obscure or vul- gar performances, even such as are shown in the real and found on the stages of the more pretentious so-called "burlesque" the- aters. No manufacturer produces such scenes, but they arrive occasionally from Europe, and are at once rejected. We believe that an occasional picture showing sensationalism is not of vital importance, and no great harm is done, consider- ing that their number is extremely small, forming not five per cent, of the total output; and their entire elimination would not be fatal to the interests concerned But wholesale condemnation of a form of entertainment which is in almost all cases innocent and extremely popular throughout the country, is undeserved and unjust. Our estimate is that the attendance at all of the Chicago places combined averages 100,000 people daily; these include many fathers and mothers, respectable people who surely would not take their children to immoral performances. Very respectfully yours, Kleine Optical Company. Electric Theatre Mes& Form Organisation The owners and proprietors of the twenty electric the- atres in Atlanta held a meeting Monday night and per- fected the organization of the Atlanta Amusement Asso • ciation. Lon Daniel, of the firm of Daniel Bros., was elected president of the association, and a resolution was passed inviting the managers of the different theatres and amusement companies of the city to join the new organi- zation. The object of the association is for the advance- ment of the moving picture business, and for the mutual benefit of the members of the association. One of the members when seen Tuesday declared that there was not the slightest intention of the proprietors to increase the admission price to the theatres, but that they ex- peced to -put the business on as high a plane as possible, and would work to eliminate all gift tickets which in the past had been made by some of the companies. Houston Authorities Object to Picture of TShaw-WB&ite Tragedy- Houston, Tex., April 6.—The police to-night stopped a moving picture exhibition of the Thaw-White tragedy. The manager offered to cut out the mirrored bedroom scene, but the authorities would not permit any portion to be put on. An audience of several hundred got their money back. With two moving picture halls in operation in B town, Pa., a third one is to be started this week building whose front has been ornamented with m statues in imitation of some of those at the Graff paUa in Harrisburg. We are compiling a complete directory of every turer, lanternist, cinematograph operator, vocalist (i uses song slides), lantern slide maker and colorist in United States. WiH our readers help us by seni names, addresses and qualifications of those known them? Another moving picture show is to'be established Chattanooga. The new attraction will be located on I east side of Market street, between Hotel street and Ma gomery avenue. A permit was issued recently to T< Preston to construct a fireproof moving picture at a cost of $250. '.' * * * William Carroll and Frank B. Donahue recently tered into an agreement with the Sioux City Tr Company for a lease of the Riverside pavilion forj branch of their Fourth street electric theatre. The I will date from May 15, at which time the firm will to present moving picture shows every evening. * *. * Mrs. A. R. Lewis, of Salina, Kan., has sold out! half interest in the Nickelodeon to E. H. Brown, has been operating the company in this city for the | winter. Mrs. Lewis is preparing to open another 1 ment house here in the near future. Mrs. Lewis,! cording to plans, will have the most modern impn ments, fine music and fine singers. * * # A. J. Bodine, of Bridgeport (East End), Ct, recently embarked in a new business venture known as i Gem Moving Picture Theatre, which is located on T Washington avenue, near East Main street This he is running off pictures of the "Passion Play" acdj drawing excellent houses. He has engaged Miss Be '" Perrine, of New York City, as vocalist and piano I cialist. "•* * * " • William F. Barry, resident manager of the Wood R. I., opera house, was recently in New York inttet. terests of the local playhouse. The syndicate houses^ all to put in moving pictures during the coming sotns^ and the Woonsocket opera house will do this, witnj£ others. If the pictures are a success, vaudeville actsj? be added. It is the plan to have the films for the dbo^I' pictures the best and most up to date that'can be f cured. Mr. Barry made the preliminary arrange for this when in New York. * * * The other day we visited the factory of Nicholas I of cameragrapn fame, and found a veritable hive