The Moving Picture World (1908)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 5i3 SUGGESTIONS FROM AN EXHIBITOR. Columbus, Miss., June 3, 1908. Moving Picture World. Welcome advisor, to the portals of our domicile; the counsel whereof we digest, even to the flattering advertisements of the film renters, as per compe- tency and determination to promise what they never intend to perform. Also we are attentive students of the film makers' flattering advanced data, regarding the drunken epi- sides of "Bill, the Billposter, and Pete, the Paper Hanger," "Who Needed the Dough," etc., etc., of like ilk; bearing headline flourishes, on which we banked and billed the town. prior to proving the picture, and for which we winced under the criticisms of our patrons for having so played with their credulity. While we make no pretense of being a prophet, the hand- writing on the wall, evidently to the observer, is exempt from ■hieroglyphics regarding the maintenance of interest in the moving picture snows. Surely it is high time for film makers and film renters to realize Lincoln's adage of fractionally fooling the people for a while. We are paying for our service the highest scale, six changes a week, and gladly commend about one-half as worthy of their. calling, while the remnants are only tares, sapping the life of the worthies. From the exhibitors' view, and from whose focus the pulsations of life for both maker and renter of films depend, more sensible and educational demonstra- tions should obtain, both as regards subjects and actors. The novelty days of animated pictures are past, and the people have settled down to an approval or disapproval re- garding comic, historical or scientifically dramatic, manifes- tations, which, to merit their approval, must be susceptible of a minute (though brief) description as the pictures are projected, and too often our demonstrator merits sympthy while plying his contortions in an effort to convert the flimsy, drunken super effects into a worthy entertainment. In con- clusion we will recount our observations regarding additional abuses to which picture shows are now yielding their pres- tige. " One serious foundering effect is running two reels, repeating one shown the previous day, thus paralyzing the audience, should the repeated subject (which is often the case) be an eyesore. Following hard in the wake, is the free park shows, launched and maintained by the street rail- road people for the enhancement of their coffers by traffic receipts, leaving the worthy film patron to close his doors, while the park maintains a debauching, butchering display, calculated to soon palsy the interest in moving pictures. In order to safeguard this, the grandest of amusement arts, renters should draw the lfne regarding free exhibitions. Otherwise the indications are evident that the exhibitors will not be the only sufferers. Respectfully, THEATER VAUDETTE, ANNOUNCEMENTS ON FILMS. I would suggest to manufacturers of such films as show actual scenes (not magic, fake nor "dramatic" subjects) that the interest of the picture would be greatly enhanced to all intelligent spectators by making the "announcement" deserve its name; giving not only the mere title of the subject but some actual information about the scene or event pictured, its location at least. The style of announcements now used, leaves the audience in the dark in more ways than one as to the who, what and where of the picture. I remember with much pleasure the announcements that were used some years ago by the Biograph Company. Each announcement was a brief but interesting description of the picture to follow. In many cases the names jot the actors or the date of the event were given. The effect was very pleasing. Last Winter the writer saw a motion picture having on the film a mere title "The Great Derby," or the like. It was in fact a picture of the English Derby of 1907. How easily the words "English" and "Epsom Downs" and the name of the winner and his jockey could have been included, and how much more pleasing to tne spectators. Other announcements of the Biograph Company that seemed good to me were those giving the names of the per- sons who acted in some of the pictures. The mere title of a picture is no doubt sufficient for a pro- portion of those who patronize the five and ten-cent houses; but it should be considered that moving pictures are al60 exhibited to the most intelH«*nt people as well as to the other kind. K. M. IMBODEN. CLIMAX WIRE, FOR Does not become brittle Three times the resistance of German silver HIGHEST EFFICIENCY—LOWEST COST DRIVER-HARRIS WIRE CO. HARRISON, N.J. (6 EiL" SONG SLIDES By HENRY B. INGRAM, 42 W. 28th St. New York Where the Catskills Lift Their The Holy City. Summits to the Sun. The Little Old Bed Schoolhous* Monoy Won't Make Everybody on the Hill. Happy. There Stand* a Flo*, Let Them Mollie, Come Jump on the Trol- Touch It if They Dare, ley- The Old Mew England Bomeetead Among the Volley* of Hew Eng- in the Dell. land. Whan the Autumn Leaves Are Anchored. Falling-. Love's Old Sweet Sons;. Memories. I'm Longing; for My Old Green Where the Tall Palmettos Grow. Mountain Home. In Old Illinois. Lenore. What* Poverty's Tears Ebb and On Bunker Hill, Where Warren Flaw. Fell. Sweetheart Days. On the Banks of the Wabash. Lexington. I BUT AND SELL SLIDES. ALL SLIDES SS.00 FEE SET ir® Film pvice That increases the Box Office receipts. Letters from our patrons will convince you that we give the best service at the minimum price. Write for our New Catalog and Film Prices to-day. O. T. CRAWFORD FILM EXCHANGE CO. Crawford Ttae.tr. I4ttl Md L^ 08 * St *» 214 l*vy BulULg BLPASO.TBXA5 St. Louis, Mo. HOUSTON, TEXAS VAK1 ALLflKI ©O.'S " SENSATION " fe)©[fD S5.C© PER SET Recognized everywhere as the highest standard • Unequalled for brilliancy and stereoscopic effect GET OUk LATEST LIST Wo BM«»*ffaft© ©rJE/E' S3ra© &«>»« aos&tf. THE VAE3 &LL8P3 GO. IS43 Broadway - - - - New York