The Washington herald., 1909-07-25
THE MOVING PICTURE SHOWS.
A Form of Amusement for the Masses that Has Come
to Stay.

effects Is also included IN the business OF
the motion picture promoters
Has RevoIutIOnized AmDsements.
An interesting and significant fact
about the moving picture idea is the
revolution that has been brought about
in the means OF amusing the public. The
theater. as it were. is brought to the
very doors OF the people But few towns
and villages previously boosted OF thea
tiers, outside OF those OF a population Of
5000 and over. and many Of these were
old-fashioned. out OF repair. and alto
gether neglected. so FAR as adequate and
intelligent attractions were concerned.
The moving picture business has wrought
complete change in all this
Where formerly the poorer classes In
tho large cities, who had no means OF
getting 10 and from the theaters. which
are usually situated many miles away
from the homes OF the working classes
had no specific way OF spending an even
ing, the scent theaters have cropped
up by hundreds. mushToomlike, and
within easy access 10 the very people
who needed reaching on account OF the
former paucity Of attractive entertain
ment
II Is far easier TO pay cents for an
hours wholesome and instructive enter
tainment than II is 10 pay Is
or 80, and pay carfare 70 and fro into
the bargain. One can go I'VE times on a
quarter. instead Of only once. and still
save the carfare. This feature made a
strong appeal 70 the working classes
Moreover, the moving picture helps 20
keep the Idle young people out Of the
streets, or what IS worse. from the sa-
Icons and gathering places where they
must II seems, inevitably drift. unless a
diversion is offered to them. Thus the
moving picture has accomplished what
years Of settlement work might not hope
to encompass.
Enjoys Field OF It's Own.
A peculiar phase Of the situation IS
presented IN the question so often asked:
Does not the moving picture theater
cut down the attendance at the vaudeville
and legitimate theaters2"
The answer to this is emphaticaIly
NO"
The Scent theater enjoys a clientele all
its own. II also possesses a fCsI Of its
own Just as the would-be thbtergoer
can find entertainment Of a different class
in the vaudeville house from what he
seeks In one devoted 20 Shakespeare. so
he can find still another form IN the
moving picture show And whether or
not he attends the film show with the
avowed intention Of mental Improvement.
the fact remains that he more often dis
covers himself confronted with education
al advantages which he could not know in
the variety vaudeville house where no
attempt is made TO do anything else than
pander to depraved and degenerate tastes.
II the moving picture theater succeeds
in weaving growing boys and girls away
from cheap and tawdry variety shows. IT
will have accomplished a mission out Of
all proportion 20 what was ANTICIPATED
for IT, But so far as the legitimate the
ater IS concerned, there is 10 cause for
alarm.
In the first place. the moving picture
shows occupy localities where no first
class theatrical enterprise could possibly
thrive, owing 20 lack Of numbers 70 war
rant its support. and in the second place.
where the locality is contiguous 10 larger
places OF amusement. IL draws from an
entirely different class Of people. Then.
too, an evening at a regular theater IS
usually planned In advance. while the
dropping In at a moving picture exhibition
Is generally done "On the spur OF the
moment" The latter kind Of perform
ances catches q great many shoppers
during the day. Many people drop in at
lunch time 10 rest and be diverted. while
others while away half an hour or so
while awaiting various enga gements.
Tie Incidental patronage means much TO
the proprietor Of the moving picture the
alter. though, Of course. he. too. can boast
OF q regular patronage. II a house gains
the reputation Of being comfortable and
the abode OF excellent pictures. naturally
the spectator will come again, or tell his
friends about IL.
Vaudeville Features.
Many managers have added vaudeville
features 10 the picture shows and have
lengt 1ened the time Of the performances
duration TO an hour or twice that time.
This makes a hybrid. however. that does
not suit everybody, and the proprietor
who conducts his place on the level Of the
legitimate moving picture emporium S.
pretty apt to enjoy a steady stream Of
prosperity. The vaudeville feature IS
costly II the acts engaged are 10 be kept
on part with the tone Of the theater. and
either the price OF the show must be
raised or the profits OF the business suffer
materially. Patrons. however, can be
found for both classes
Washington caught the moving picture