Moving Picture News (Jan-Dec 1911)

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THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS If ers do not realize — why I know not — that the moving picture is no longer a mere toj' for common folk, but an educator, as well as an amuser, to people as well educated as the manufacturer— in some cases if the him is the umpire — a long sight ahead of them. To go back a sentence, even if only shown to the "common people," the man who makes his ■■pile" out of them and their nickels, is a low-down scoundrel if he panders to vice. The crj' of some manufacturers is, as they squirm like a beetle with a pin stuck through their anatomies, it's only the ■'picture pounder'' who sees these things. Whoever says this is an ignoramus, so far as the audiences of movmg pictures are concerned. I'll show this b} giving a few examples of what highschool children and just ordinarj' common folk have said to me in shows, high and low: On one subject I cannot give examples, because thej would hll pages and that is the gross ignorance displayed in the spelling and grammatical construction of heads and sub-heads in films. "Gee whiz, look at her shoes" — high heels in the backwoods. "Oh" — electric lamp on a prairie. "What d'ye think of that?" — rats in an Indian girl's hair. "Say, how's that strike you?" — canoes left afloat that suddenly appear all snug. "What about that?' — telegrapher from Central Broadwaj^ office, when the General Manager didn't know the Morse code; "Jumping as a Park Row man saw a newspaper film; "Belay, there. Bill" — a sailor struck helpless at a sea scene and "Pardon Me ' as an ecclesiastic in full collar array rushed past me in a New York theater when a Biblical story, staged by an "expert," appeared. Manufacturers, say the films are not meant for critics. The sternest critics are not the "occasional scribblers" like myself utterly neglible; thej' are the people. They are no fools, and when the Stars and Stripes are shown in war time they know what's what. Alore than one paragraph of criticism under my name, has meant seeing a film two or three times in different theaters and sundry talks with the folk in the audience; sometimes this has meant revised opinion. In short, manufacturers, in manj cases, do not, or will not, recognize an undeniable fact that the audiences before whom their films are shown are rational beings with sufficient education to be disgusted with grammatical and historical blunders. I may not appeal upon literary or ethical grounds — such things would be swept aside — I can, not appeal, but demand, that ignorant nonsense be eliminated as if not, exchanges will not use such films, because exhibitors won't have them, for the simple reason their audiences won't "stand for'' them. There is not one manufacturer that can beat public opinion. No, not one. Advertising in press and poster deludes "suckers," but they get "wise." It does not matter what the maker yells in his house organ to delude the exhibitor, it's what the people think that counts. More than one firm of makers in America knows this, and more than one big theater is to-day turning down films because the people, the people, mark ye, wont have them. Alanufacturers' blunders and incapacity might pass in what they dub a "low class " house, but not where the uplift of moving pictures has now carried them. The demand for accuracy does not come from the magnificentlj paid critic, but from the great American public here and the intelligent folk elsewhere, who simply say to the manufacturer as in other lines of business, you produce what v.-e require or we get our goods at another shop. Remember, Mr. Producer, there are big open markets in other lands where Air. A. is no more than Z, so that what the critic saj's is not mere negligible nonsense, but the red light that spells danger on a very important line of rails — the one that ends in the nest where is the goose that lays the golden eggs. ADOPT MOTIOGRAPH FOR EDUCATION The popularit}' of the Motion Picture in educational work bas again been attested through the adoption by the Board of Education of the city of Chicago of a ^Motion Picture Equipment to be used in the nine school centers under the direction of Professor Voorhies. The first entertainment of this nature which the School Board will offer to the children and parents will be given this week in the Fallon School, at AVallace and Fortj'-second streets. The Board of Education looked into the matter of selecting an outfit with the utmost care, having appointed a special committee under the direction of Mr. J. D. Shoop, superintendent of schools, and they finally adopted the MQ'TIOGR.\PH Motion Picture Alachine as being the best adapted to their work and the machine on which the committee decided unanimously. If interested in buying machines, supplies, etc., the name of Harbach & Co., 899 Filbert street, Philadelphia, should not be overlooked. Good bargains are offered. MISS PAULINE BARRY A dainty young lady of petite figure, who looks well in her prettj' costumes. She puts over an altogether pleasing single act. It is not so much the way her numbers are placed as her sweet and cultured voice which wins for her the loud applause she gets and deserves. Miss Barry has a future before her and without doubt will be able to "make good" on the big time. IMay she have the success she merits! Opera Chairs and Arc Lamps for the South Air. J. H. Hallberg, "The Economizer Man," reports among his recent equipments of motion picture theaters the sale of flaming arc lamps to H. J. Paradis for his theater at Winston, N. C, and opera chairs for Paradis & Shanks, Caswell Theater. Kinston, N. C. The high-class quality of Mr. Hallberg's line has gained for him the perfect confidence of his customers; they rely on him for all their requirements. The Hardisty ^Manufacturing Co., of Canal Dover, Ohio, who are making theater chairs, report their sales increasing daily. Any of our readers who are interested should send for their circular W as advertised. MR. ELLIS COHEN IN NEW ROLE Ellis Cohen has been made the agent for the famous Cellit non-inflammable film; also edinol-hydro, the best developer for moving picture films, both products of the Farbenfabriken of Elberfeld Co. His office is now located at 117 Hudson street, New York. Mr. Cohen was formerly manager of the moving picture department of the Morning Telegraph. Bradford, 111. — Frank Warren has opened a new moving picture theater here. Indeoendence, Kan. — Messrs. Day, Compton and Glen Snj-der have sold the Joy Moving Picture Theater to R. R. Painter of Oklahoma. Philadelphia, Pa. — 'Mr. B. F. IMiller has plans underway for the, erection of a new moving picture theater at the corner of Third and and Fitzwater streets.