The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-15

| thrown out of work. But the moving
picture show marches on inexorably,
conquering new and broader fields.
1t is because the moving picture
show has become so firmly established
as national institution of amuse-
ment for the masses, that movements
are under way in many cities to i'm
prove the quality of the pictures
shown. 1t is now fully realized what
an immense influence for good or evil
the moving picture show can be made
to be. Some Of these movements from
public-spir citizens and organiza-
tions; others come from some of the
leading film manufacturers themselves.
There has been such tremendous de-
mand for pictures that naturally some
Of the subjects dealt with have been
of demoralizing character, while
others have been pure fakes. The
leading manufacturers OF films, how
ever, have realized the danger to their
business In this tendency and have
united to improve the character of the
exhibitions.
Not only in the trade itself but
among the civic organizations and mu-
tion is being paid to the quality of
moving picture exhibitions as a result
Of the tremendous expansion of the
business. The consequences is a win
moving out process that Is greatly inn
proving the quality and influence of
the pictures displayed. 1t is recogniz-
ed that depictions Of train robberies,
kidnapings and arson, drunkenness,
assaults and murders have anything
but salutary effect upon the minds OF
spectators, especially in the case of
youthful persons who attend moving
picture performances in great num-
bers. In most cases these views were
poorly posed-were faxed" to use the
term employed in the business-and
bore no resemblance to real life. They
are rapidly being excluded in favor ox
more artistic or genuine representa-
tions.
1t one time considerable portion
of the moving picture views made in
the United States were fakes, and
fakes of poor quality at that Scenes
sSpposed to show Beers and Britons in
deadly conflict really represented mobs
Of "supers" charging up or down Jer-
sey hillsides and such subjects as 'the
drunkard's home" and "the convict's
| escape" were posed with only the
crudest attempt at genuine realism.
To put an end to these offensive and
false views and to improve the moral
and educational standard of moving
picture exhibitions, nine of the largest
concerns In the United States and
Europe recently formed an association
to censor moving picture views and to
efface vicious features Of the business.
There are still a few Aim manufacture
ers not included In this combination.
These outside concerns call them
selves Independents.
Through the Motion Picture Patents
Co, which claims TO control the pat
ents for the machines and which in
| cludes the concerns manufacturing 80
per cent OF all the fiIms made, the nine
lbig manufacturers are introducing re-
forms calculated to remove public
criticism OF moving picture perform
ances and to place the business on q
permanent and substantial basis.
Through this association eighteen new
reels OF films holding one, two or
three subjects" and duplicated sew
erai hundred times. are released each
week. In this way new scenes can be
shown every day I'm all or the 1000
houses In tho country. All views
made BY these firms are submitted to
the inspection Of board or censors
selected from the organizations devot-