The Moving Picture World (January 1908)

THE MOVING PICTCRE WORLD rise to the occasion and give the public what they ask for ?^ You know what the public wants, and you are just as capable of supplying the very best^as the very worst Comic subjects are needed, but they must be good laugh- raisers, as Biograph's "Dr. Skinum," Edison's "Laughing Gas," Melies "Channel Tunnel." Pathetic subjects, such asKalenfs "Days of 5 6i," Vitagraph's "Christmas Story,'/ Selig's "Two Orphans," Essanay's "Christmas Adop- tion." Historical subjects, as Edison's "Ride of Paul Revere," Kalem's "Red Man's Way," etc., etc. Subjects that travesty the good taste of a .people's religion, or of a race, should be debarred. It is not our sphere to in- struct the manufacturers how to conduct their business. We can only suggest, and if in the future we criticise the productions it will be done with a desire to elevate and instruct our readers. Advertisers and non-advertis- ers will come in for like criticism. We feel assured that if all will fall in and work on lines such as we" have indicated, very little fear may be given to the thought of panic or stringency, because the pubEc must have entertainment, and those who cater for it the best will have a prosperous year.' One word in closing. We have not touched upon the machine end of the business. This is necessarily slack, and will be so for another month or two, until the supply is.exhausted. Then again the demand will arise from other places opening, and also to replace those now be- coming worn out, and as soon as the/trade knows where it is, there will be again a wonderful impetus in every branch. *J=>r. DeatH ofMr. Hesary " jf." Miles. We are deeply sorry to report to our readers the la- mented death of Mr. Henry J. Miles, president of the firm.o£Miles Bros., and our sympathies are extended to the family in this their irreparable loss. We esteemed Mr. Miles as a personal friend. ^He was never so busy ;&***'- The following, article, which appeared in a leading Western newspaper, reflects..the'iopinion,©^■ a Igxge pro- portion of the community. It is the public-~the whim-: sical public—wbich^ forms the/nuicksand foundation upon which the fabric of this business is built. Straws: show wkidi way the^sind blows: For .the;ultimate wel- fare of all interested, careful- notice should be taken of every expression of public sentiment. As President- Lincoln said: "You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but yon can't fool all the people ail the time." Film makers, renters and exhibitors, sit up and take notice. ^Savedl The Associated Canities explains that it has no ambition to annihilate the fascinating- ma-ring picture shows in Los Angeles. The arrest of a couple of blonde ladies—proprietors of a nve- ceat theater in Sonoratowri—was.quite for another /purpose.. Their offense was admitting sbme~ dirty-facedurchins not yet fourteen years old^-merely a sort of Curfew proposition. The film shows are actually the most interesting theatrical problem of the day. The film show may be said to be a. loose bovine, liable to charge in almost any dh-ection—-capable; of almost anything— or-of mere extinguishment Daring the brief course of its career as.a los Angeles amuse- ment, the moving picture:show has completely changed its char- acter three times; and now seems to-be- entering on a soartb'-■' change. In its present status, it is, at once, an alrucst unmixed.good, -j an atrocious evil—and a source of much rmmiiiatJon to every one - bom in America. .'■■-.;• Its evil is simple; it teaches ■crime. But its good— . - For the first time in tiie world;- the - poorer^, and uneducated Americatt^people: have .a Ypeep: at real. French art Through the picture nun, those of us who.'speafc.norFr^cb: learn why Rejane is betEer than Leslie Carter, why Jack^^ London limps after_ Guy" de_ l^upaasant . ; -' -'-_'- Our humiliation lies.in -seeing our raw, cheap, vulgar, aimless but what we could always gain his ear, and only on Tues- pictured melodramas-displayed alongside the swift artfulness and A*v ™- ™a*. ,„ ^^^L+S,,^ -r„v. , r ~-,vM» u~,- ,f~ grace of the French.melcdrama- ,- day we made an appointment for a sociable hour-for Friday. His genial personality will ever remain with us as a memory to be cherished. Mr.rHenry J; Miles died at his home at Concord Hafi, 119th street and Riverside Drive, at 11.30 P. M.,"on New Year's day. - - , Up to a year and a half -ago he was actively associated with Mr. Herbert L. Miles irk the management of Miles Bros., hut at that time he was taken with a series of at- tacks of epileptic fits and since then has gradually with- drawn from the firm, doing less and less.of active work. At the time of his death Mr. Miles was only norninally interested in the business of Miles Bros., which is owned entirery by Mr. Herbert L, Miles.. Though always-Mri Herbert Miles has depended upon his brother: for advice and assistance in the mechanical department of the^busi- ness, and he feels that in the death of bis brother the business has lost an invaluable adviser and "one of its bestV friends. is* -?TT .?- ' V ' i' '' a " •' J. ■ ' ' ■>! -• :-■ * - m S?. John, N, B^In the case of the moving picture -shows whichwere prevented, by the police from being opened .Sunday, the proprietors pleaded that the Salvation Array had shovm re- ligious pictures at the Opera House on a Sunday, when Gen- eral Booth was here. Police Magistrate Ritchie replied that the Army might be given more, latitude than others because of. the nature of its work. The present attempt to have Sunday picture shows was the thin end of the wedge, and he would," therefore, impose afine, but would let it stand if no-further attempt Was made. A.fine against one of the showmen for throwing small handbills around the street was allowed to stand on the same grace - In short, we come to the-.conclusion that,we-Americans may be great for designing threshing machines and devising getei£b> quick schemes, but that art was left out of as. '•--.'' To'be convinced of this, you v inust..gc«^-'toa:moving -picture show. - ... The "film theaters" are scattered along Broadway and^Mani street The people who patronize thesaare of such varied quality that you could telhat,once, if brought hs blindfolded, hi jU3t which particular film show you were enjoying life: - From Chinese and,Mexican audiences by:the Plaza, they pro- gress to ctsjwds .where the. women -wear the new hipless corsets and get up in the middle of it and walk out,if bored. - ' Perhaps the quaintest of them'is oa Main street near: the old Pico House, and we might as weB go to tbafcS ' t'-'C , : .-It shares the building wish an tmdertakar.";- .Hiddea r h^i"of the white screen upon which jtfce pictures-of ^da?fegg:tea1^B' " and- wedding festivities are hashed, is the norrsbie xctxsi?- ihe;dead.are "feid out";.but of course. ih«y^Sliace do know "that. Ifs a little squahd, rarrot?: ; :,halli filled with tows of chslrtfc Along the wail, at mathematicaayregular-intervals,are grease spots/where delighted spectatozi "have"/leaned their enraptured heads. .. \ : .;^-iy : At the back of the hall is a crocked,;old piano which:jets jout the most diabolical noises ^t:-ever,sssanea'theVe^r ; b^flian,:.- It .plays""popular'? songs about two years after they, have ceased being popular.-;:'^ -.;* ; .' v - : ,."•. :---;' - i! When the other theaters • are playing: "Mariuchi at: Coney Island," thir old piano is wheesmg out "So Long, Hary, K inthe cadence and time Of a funeral dirge. It never, stops. . Pchcj'r ; otd joyless drudgery piano. .. - .-. At intervals around the walls are hung notices:''.-. "Se Quitan El Sombrero Y, No Se Fumau" "Favor de Quitarse el Sombrero no Funiar Y no Decir Malas Falabras." T -.W - ...