The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

224 Cl)e C!)catre In an interview with Colgate Baker in the "Sunday American," William A. Brady gave expression to his theories as to the future of the photoplay, and as Mr. Brady invariably says just what he believes, his views are always of public interest and usually are widely quoted by writers here and abroad. "I am not against moving pictures," says Mr. Brady. "The one significant fact that will stand out in the records of this theatrical season is the progress that moving pictures have made. We have seen the last of the amateur scenario writer, and the professional photoplajrwright has arrived. The entire business has been given new dignity by reason of the fact that all of our leading theatrical producers have embarked in it." "Moving pictures," Brady continues, "are bound to change the quality of our audiences in the first-class theatres. The 'movies' are the real melting pot. Jews, Italians, Russians, Poles and other foreigners, who never went to any theatres but their own on the East Side, are patronizing the picture houses and getting acquainted with American drama. This vast foreign population will eventually become patrons of the best theatres. This is a mighty big thing." It is just that, the writer believes, and in previous volumes he has endeavored to impress the skeptical producers of the older field with the gold-laden opportunity they were ignoring. Even now, with practically all of the most prolific producers intrenched in filmdom, there are few "Billy" Bradys who grasp the significance of a new public of playgoers multiplied gradually through a natural desire to see the so-called "real thing." Mr. Brady views the vogue of photoplays much as