Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

258 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. VI, No. C. will give to the child in a few months knowledge that the written word cannot give him in as many years. And with the knowledge he will get happiness and an imagination made active, a desire to see and do and be something in a world so wonderful. Education by pictures is the live issue of the day. Before long it will be taken up by all the press and the people will clamor for it. The Hearst editors are to be congratulated on their ability to read the signs and march in the vanguard of the new movement. In a few years they will be able to say "I told you so." . VIEWS OF FOUR OHIO EXHIBITORS. THE News-Democrat, of Canton, Ohio, recently went to four theater managers of Canton with a request for their opinions as to what knid of films their audiences like best. The views they expressed are interesting because they give another angle to the old question of what kind of films should be shown. Manager A. H. Abrams of the Odeon believes that his patrons like good clear-cut drama best of all. Scenic pictures, the kind that can be recognized as a good substitute for globe-trotting, he believes are almost as popular. Next in order he would place Bible subjects. He secures them whenever they are available and everyone seems to enjoy them particularly. Films portraying historical subjects are deservedly popular, especially with children of school age. Mr. Abrams believes that there should be an element of comedy in every performance, but that it should not predominate. Comedy should be used more to lighten the program, to attract and retain interest, rather than to occupy the whole bill. What comedy is shown must be bright and sparkling without descending to the slap-stick variety. Mr, Abrams pays a pretty compliment to the moving picture enthusiast who, he says, is just as discriminating as are those of the highest priced houses. Manager George M. Fenberg of the Orpheum believes that the present day demand is for pictures that carry the spectator, in fancy, over land and across seas> to the homes of people he can never hope to visit, to witness their mode of life, their every day pursuits and all of their environments ; pictures that will show the budding of a rose and follow the processes of nature to the opening of the full bloom ; pictures showing the traits and habits of animals ; pictures that without a spoken word tell as forcibly as can the most talented actor, stories of intense dramatic interest, unfold a comedy of rare humor, or perhaps depict a series of adventures as thrilling as the most satisfying of melodramas. In a word, he believes that the demand of today is for pictures that embody high grade entertainment with instruction. Scenics come first, historical dramas he would place second. Mr. L. A. Hoberdier, manager of Sunday picture shows at the Grand,, says there is no doubting the tastes of his patrons. They all like — every one of them — a good, clean comedy or a series of humorous views — something that will provoke laughter. But this is not all they want. They seem anxious to be entertained along instructive lines, and travel and historical subjects are among the most popular that can be provided. First in the race for popularity Manager M. E. Hanley of the Majestic would place Western dramas. He believes they are deservedly popular, not only because of their plots, but also because of the horsemanship displayed, and to all true born Americans there is something fascinating about a man on horse back. Bible subjects are particularly popular, and are shown as fast as they are released. His patrons are manifesting considerable interest in industrial and scenics, films designed to explain the operations of important manufacturing concerns, showing the process from raw material to finished product; various phases of agriculture, including the germination of seeds, growth of the plant and the matured fruit, vegetable or grain ; animal life in all of its phases as a help to teaching biology, and travel pictures showing the homes, costumes and mannerisms of the people of other nations. This little symposium gives us a very good line on how representative managers view the tastes of their audiences, taking their cues, not from the way certain pictures impress them personally, but from the way they seem to impress their audiences, they are unanimous in placing scenics and industrials in the front rank. Anything in the nature of an educational film, and historical dramas may well be considered in this class, gets the undivided attention of their audiences. One fact upon which they are agreed and which may perhaps seem surprising to many managers, is the popularity of Biblical subjects. The manufacturers are evidently realizing this demand, for releases of Biblical subjects are becoming less infrequent than formerly. A THEATER SHOWING ONLY BIBLICAL FILMS. IN Minneapolis there is a theater, the Milo, that shows nothing but Biblical films. It shows all of them it can get, it shows them every night, and its patrons won't have anything else. "The Deluge," "Mordecai and Esther," Joseph and His Coat," "Cain and Abel," "The Life of Moses," "Saul and David," "The Marriage of Esther" have all been shown, and at the conclusion of each film the audience breaks into applause. A majorit)^ of the patrons of the Milo are Jews, many of them Russian immigrants newly arrived. They take their wives and sons and daughters to the theater, confident they will not be ashamed of what is shown. They believe in having their children see what their forefathers had to contend with and what kind of men and women their ancestors were. It is remarkable how proud' the older ones are — how loyal to their race history. The very appearance of Moses on the canvas is the signal for wild applause that ofen continues for several minutes. Enthusiasm is not lacking here. Like old friends the famous Biblical characters are greeted — Joseph, Cain, Abel, Noah, Esther, Mordecai. In the -drama of "Moses," for instance, the great Jewish leader pilots the chosen people over the Red sea. Moses lifts up his rod and stretches out his hand over the Red sea, and lo ! it divides, and the Children of Israel go on dry land through the midst of the sea. But "the hosts of Pharaoh," the Egyptians, pursue, and go in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen. As if completely in the dark as to the ending, the spectators watch with eager eyes. They follow the old story which seems never to become less thrilling in the telling. They always cheer the children o: Israel on, and when the Jews have passed safely through and the waters envelop their enemy, a mighty burst of applause breaks forth. "When we opened the theater," says the manager, "we had a couple of films of Bible stories, and we had packed houses by the end of the week. It surprised me. I believed it necessary to put on something sensational, something new. But I have learned better. I run as many Bible films as I can get — with shows every night. The people won't accept anything else."