Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

December, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 277 Mother Goose on the Screen By Charles M. Ellerton AMONG the new and unusual offerings being presented by the film makers must be mentioned the Champion series, which should be placed in the front rank for originality. Its strong appeal is to children, although, since men and women are but children grown up, the parents get just about as interested in it as the youngsters. The new series is no more nor less than a dramatization of Mother Goose, the author of childish joy. We all remember the old Mother Goose rhymes. No one knows who wrote them or where they came from. They seem to have existed always, for our parents' parents, and as far back as you want to go, all seemed to know them as well as we do. We learned them all by heart — and yet how we would beg our elders to say them over for us ! Mother Goose appeals irresistibly to the mind of childhood, so it is almost a foregone conclusion that the new Champion series will be enthusiastically received by the youngsters who will be delighted to see, not merely in fancy, or pictured in the story book, but right before them in living, moving characters, the familiar features so dear to them. There is a tree. High in its branches is a cradle gently swaying in the wind. There is Mother Goose herself, holding a big fat goose. The old rhyme says "When the bough breaks the cradle will fall." Sure enough, the bough does break, and the whole outfit does come tumbling down. We are introduced to a modern household scene, with everything cozy and comfortable. Grandfather is seated in his easy chair while the younger father and mother sit by the bright fireplace. In :umible the youngsters, and the parents and the old grandfather are nearly smothered i n their embraces. Now they must ride on the crossed legs of father and grandfather. The old man is a child once more. His face lights up as he sings, "Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross to see a young woman ride a white horse, rings on her fingers, bells on her toes, we shall have music wherever she goes." The little ones are galloped up and down on their improvised horses until everyone in the room is beating time. What is going on in their minds? Do the children, or the grown-ups either, realize that it is only a play, and that the litle ones are simply being amused? No. indeed. In fancy, everyone is living in a different world and Mother Goose is the ruler. She appears in the back ground of the picture, with her fat goose under her arm, and waves her wand. Slowly there dissolves from our view the material world of those whom we had been observing, and before us on the screen splendidly caparis The Author of Childish Joy. In Its Branches Is a Cradle. oned steeds, ridden by bold knights, troop forth. In front of them, all bedecked with ribbons, is the white horse bearing the beautiful girl on its back. And she really has bells on her toes. So it goes through the whole series, which includes, of course, Jack and Jill, whose water-seeking expedition had such a disastrous ending. Another Church to Use Films Moving picture sermons Sunday nights and comic films at intervals on week nights will be the new regime at the Harford United Brethren Church, Omaha, partly to give the congregation a glimpse of the gospel in more vivid form, and partly to keep the young people away from the picture theaters downtown. For three .Sundays, the moving pictures will portray the Passion play, the first Sunday evening being given over to "The Childhood of Christ," the second to "His Public Work," and the third to "The Crucifixion and Resurrection." The explanation to the pictures will be made by the pastor of the church, Rev. M. O. McLaughlin. After the Passion play is finished, Bible events will be illustrated by the motion pictures and a sermon will be delivered to accompany the films. "We expect to be criticized for the innovation, but believe it will do good. Psychologists say impressions are received more quickly through the eye than through the ear and we hope that the pictures of the Bible will make our services more interesting and attractive, especially to the young people," said the Rev. Mr. McLaughlin.