We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
THE LOBBY AND BOX-OFFICE OF THE VITAGRAl'II THEATER The Last Word In the Exploiting and Exhibiting of Motion Pictures By "THE PHOTOPLAY PHILOSOPHER" Since the appearance, in the March number of this magazine, of a full-page announcement of the Vitagraph Theater, and of the two- page announcement in the April issue, numerous readers have been asking for a description of the new enterprise, and of its aims and objects. While nearly everybody in the big city has been there and found out. for himself, and thousands from the suburbs and nearby towns have made up theater parties to satisfy their curiosity, there are millions re- siding in distant cities, States and countries who are eager to learn about the new venture. To these, this little, descriptive article is addressed. "While Broadway has seen many a photoshow, and had many of its reg- ular theaters temporarily converted into Motion Picture theaters, never, until the old Criterion at Forty- fourth Street closed its doors forever on the spoken drama, did New York dream that the photoplay had be- 91 come a dangerous rival to the stage. For, had not the drama prospered for over 2,500 years? And was not the Motion Picture but a mere toy only ten years ago? ■ Broadway has for years been the cradle of all great plays in America. Was it a Broadway production 1 — then it must be something superla- tive. If it had a run on Broadway, it must successfully run anywhere. In short, the word Broadway is a sort of magic charm that makes a play almost immune from criticism elsewhere. And what is true of the spoken drama may also be true of the silent drama—why not?—and per- haps that is why the Vitagraph people decided to challenge the former to a battle-royal and to beard the lion in his lair. For, if the theatrical world could be shown that a new form of amusement had ar- rived that was just as artistic, just as dramatic and just as entertaining as the stage, and at lower prices, and