Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-08-26
CHEAP THEATrERs AND SHOWS

sS{ In view OF the large number OF cheap
theaters that flourish in this City, 1t be-
comes worth while to ascertain, If we
can the effect Of attending these places
5gof amusement. Young boys and girls
4 are said to be the chief but by no means
THE only patrons of these places.
at would be we'll for some special
committee Of citizens to visit all the
theaters and report what they find go-8
Ing on in them. We are informed that
4 with rare exceptions the ordinary pro-
gram of moving picture shows includes
some Representation Of burglary or
thieving,some suggestions Of the flirta-
tons of a husband or wife, and some-
thing grotesdue, with preference for
representations Of satanic magic. For
tunately, there Is also much that is
healthful and Instructive, like repre-
sensations or cavalry drills, or the de-
parture of an ocean-liner, or the max
u ing Of pottery. Undoubtedly the future
= Will showa gradual improvement in the
pictures offered. Nevertheless it still
remains true that the public instinct
for representations OF what is criminal
is very strong and win be catered to by
commercial managers.
The effect of pictures of crime must
be to fill the minds of boys and girls
with morbid .fancies. If it be claimed
that some of these pictures are elu-
cationa, the answer is ample that
crime does not deserve a place as a
teacher.
AS to the exhibitions called vaude-.
VILE shows--and SHOW is the vulgar
ly appropriate title-it is admitted, we
believe. that these are a mixture OF
clever acrobatic feats, performing anil
mails, and many types of pleasing or
amusing acting, with suggestions and
sensational scenes which blunt the finer
sensiblities OF those who are suscepti-
bic to them. Mr. T.. Fl Chandler, sec
retary of the Twentieth Century club
or Boston. reports that, in his opinion,
there Is much that is coarse and de-
grading in the talk of the vaudeville
stage. There is a cheap Wit he
\ says, (which boys are fond of initiating
and which dulis the capacity for real
hunor. Many children who have learned
much from the vaudeville stage lose
their interest in simple and healthful
forms OF amusement. They are con-
stantly craving the sensational They
easily lose the power for serious. intel
lectual work. In many cases this re-
suits In leaving school before the age
Of fourteen because of the lack of in
terest in anything that the school has
10 Offer Mr.. Chandler even declares
that this social influence of the chear
SHOW is destroying in many boys
Z and girls their capacity for future eff
cheney as men and women and that tbs
problem has therefore becorne serious
Nearly all teachers in high school:
have noticed that in recent years tbs
wonders. the beauties. and the mys
teriea of physics. chemistry, astronomy
geology, botany, and physiology whicl
only a few decades ago set the think
ing world and especially the young stu
dents atlatne with enthusiasm, no long
er5even interest boys and girls. List
iessness. Indifference, and lack Of an
probation of the realities and a morbi
craving for the fantastic and emotiona
characterize many of the young people
Are the cheap Shows responsible?
The mere physical effects upon tn