The Washington herald., 1909-07-09


dicted that the conventional scenery on
the stage would be superseded by effects
OF light. and that It would soon be pos
sible TO reproduce on .hat surface any
previously performed play. not only with
every minute detail OF the actors move
nents. gestures, and expressions, but
every subtle shading OF the spoken
words"
The extraordinary development Of the
moving picture has proven true his pro
phecy. There is no amusement In Wash
ington or in the United States which at
tracts the people 10 such an extent as the
moving picture shows, such as may be
seen in Pennsylvania avenue. The vita
graph IN the last Six years has changed
the whole amusement field. II appeals
direNly 10 the imagination, and because
of its cheapness. and many times real
worth, represents the theater itself 70 a
great number Of the wage-earners, II
attracts thousands who never go 70 the
legitimate theaters. and affords genuine
opportunities for education
With its melOdrama IL thrills the heart
OF young America In brief. IL has be-
come a theater OF the people More than
60 per cent OF the theater-goers OF Wash
ingtOE are found IN the moving picture
shows. and new shows are being rapidly
installed
Usually Above Complaint.
The pictures shown are usually. as far
as the Constock side OF It Is concerned.
above complaint. Il Is the general opln-
ION OF the managers that a show that
appeals 10 the best classes viii pay, and
that II theater running only high-grade
pictures we're opened Up il would not
only prove a financial success, but would
force up the general average grade Of az
the picture shows. It Is estimated taat
100000 persons in the States attend the
moving-picrure shows daily. Like al
cold -bloOded statisticisns. however. the
estimator makes no mention of chsldreu
and babies who 90 10 the shows with
their parents or nurses. a reporter FOR
The Washington Herald visited five and
noted an average OF eight babies in each.
~ rule the moving pictures have a
/ hypnotic effect on babies.
The ''nickeIodeon" welcomes the popu-
lace with q huge megaphoue< horn. an
automatic piano, and plscsFds announcing
that the entertainment within is edifylng
educational. and amusing.
In general. the type OF show IS the
same. There is one melodrana. which oc,
cup!es about ten minutes: several comedy
/ scenes, and one, or perhaps two. OF ths
/ instructive order-factories IN operation
scenes IN the European cities. OF some
notable event which has occurred in oul
[ own country.
What seems 70 be the most popular /,
I the melOdrama and the pursuit OF IN.
malefactor. II one is built along the line:
Of a villain be viii learn moral lesson.
Sfrom observing the unfatling accuracy
with which the tall. dark villain come.
( 10 grief. Most astonishing OF al, how
ever. is the terrific speed OF the feeinr
criminal and The pursuing avenger O.
/ justice. One low-brOwed man. who haC
/ snatched a purse from a woman IN ful
! view OF the pOpulace. ran al least fOrty
miles before coliding with a fat woman
/ with an umbrella. who promptly sat upoI
T him and held him for the exhausted con
stabulaTy who followed Il took thi
I hardy thief about six seconds TO trave
i the first hundred yards. showing he wa,
/ an unusually wen trained athlete
\ stout policeman covered the same distanc
/ IN about six seconds.
/ IN another picture the scene was lait
/ at sea. wheR within the short spac,
I OF twelve minutes a band OF buccaneer.
/ scuttled a merchantmen. threw Il,
/ crew IN the brine and captured IN,
/ golden-haired maiden. binding her witt
a tWo-inch manila rope. The ruthless
/ pirate captain then loaded her Wit
chains and threw her IN the hold
/ where she covered. He then folded nj.
arms and gloated. Meanwhile. I'D OF
/ the deck the other black-haggers wer,
watching. Suddenly a sail appeared
on the horizon. and a vessel bore dow1
on them at the rate OF ninety knots al
! hour. There was g fierce and blOOd]
! engagement. the pirates were browne,
and the fair-haired maiden's nanc,
/ jumped into the hold. broke her clank
| ing chains with his bare hands, an,
carried her triumphsntly back to hi
own gallant bark
And all for cents.
First an Experiment.
! The ''uickelodeon" was first starte,
as an experiment, and was merely tn
individualizing OF the moving picturr
machine. II was an instantaneous sue
cess. IN a short time invading the do
main OF the regular theater and fur
nishing drama. comedy. tragedy. ant
representations OF mOmentous events Z,
the millions at small cost
Edison invented It six years ago. bu
did not perfect II. and more than 90
patents have been taken out 70 cove
! the development OF the machine as 1
stands to-day, The principle IS th
same in all It en:arges photograph