The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

ness 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 municipal au-
thOrities considerable attention is being
paid 10 the quality Of moving picture ex-
hibitions as a result OF the tremendous
expansion Of the busisess. The conse-
quence is a winnowing out process that
is greatly improving the quality and in
fiuence OF the pictures displayed 1t -
recognized that depictions Of train rob-
berries. kidnappings. and arson, drunken
ness, assaults and murders have any
thing but a salutary effect upon the
minds Of spectators. especially IN the
case OF youthful persons who attend
moving picture performances in great
numbers. In most cases these views
were poorly posed-Were faxed" 70 use
the term employed ia the business-and
bore no resemblance to real life They
are rapidly being excluded IN favor OF
more artistic or genuine representations
At one time \ considerable portion OF
the moving picture views made IN the
United States were fakes. and fakes Of a
poor quality ar that. Scenes supposed
10 show Beers and Britons 81 deadly
conflict really represented mobs OF
"supers' charging up or down Jersey
hilisides and such subjects as the con-
vict's escape and the drunkard's
home" were posed with only the crudest
attempt al genuine realism. To put an
end 70 these offensive and false views
and 10 improve the moral and education
al standard Of moving picture exhibits,
nine OF the largest concerns IN the
United States and Europe recently
formed an association 10 censor moving
picture Views and 20 efface vicious fea-
lures OF the business. There are stil a
few film manufacturers not included in
this combination. These outside con-
Germs call themselves independents.
Board OF CensOrE-
Through the Motion Picture Patents
Company, which claims 10 control the
patents for the machines and which in
cludes the concerns manufacturing 90 per
cent OF all the films made. the nine big
manufacturers are introducing reforms
calculated TO remove public criticism Of
moving picture performances aud 70
place the business on a permanent and
substantial basis Through this associa-
ton eighteen new reels OF films. holding
one. two. or three subjects and dupli-
Gated several hundred times, are released
each week. In this way new scenes can
be shown every day in all OF the 7.o00
houses 10 the country. All views made
by these firms are submitted 70 the In
spection Of a board OF cens0rs selected
from the organizations devoted 20 civic
progress and acting Independently Of the
manufacturers. All pictures must receive
the approval OF this board before being
exhibited in public. In case any exhib-
itors display views that DO not conform
TO the standard set by the eens0rs they
are denied the use OF any further views
made by the firms that control the
patents. The result Is that Objectionable
views are rapidly disappearing.
More and more emphasis is being placed
upon the educational value OF legitimate
moving picture views. The proposal has
been made by the head OF the Peoples
Institute in New YORK 10 introduce them
in the public schools in order 10 instruct
the children IN such subjects as the
growth Of plants. the habits OF birds or
historical events which can be impressed
upon their minds by this means better
than IN any other way. Altogether there
seems to be a wide and permanent field
opening before the moving picture. as a
means both OF popular amusement and
instruction.