The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-08-19

A great ado Is made over the pros
pective exhibition Of moving uietures
the fight between Jack
Johnson and James Jefrries Tor the
boxing championship OF the world at
Reno. New, on the Fourth Of July
According to reports the pictures Of
this fight are to be made the main pre-.
text to iniure an industry that prom.
ises far greater benefits than the
fanatical agitators aud jealous oppon.
ents, who are instigating this clamor
and persecution are capable of bring
ing about
During the past ten years the NOV
ing picture industry has developed
from its crude experimental stage as
cheap amusement for the populace
into a form Of entertainment that ap
peals to the most intelligent classes
of people in all civilized countries
After nearly forty years connection
with the press, during which time ]
have had an abundance OF proof that
the great leaders in the newspaper
neld are sincere In their assertion
that they offer 70 fair field and no
favor" / do not hesit te to ask for
space enough to make a statement
that wiz help fair-minded men TO a
rational conclusion as to the right Of
rabld reformers to cause trouble and
immense loss without further warrant
than bare assertion based ON distorted
and grossly exaggerated reports OF
evll being, aud further 70 be wrought
by the exhibition Of series Of pic
lures that show what man can dc
with the weapons nature gave him, in
stead OF using the towards knife ol
pistol
The cause for the rapid and tremen
dous expansion of the moving picture
Industry Is obvious. A man can take
his entire family to such an entertain
ment for the price OF one seat in In,
gallery Of a regular" theater Thou
sands upon thousands Of men who hat
spent their leisure hours and money
lin saloons and gambling houses. whom
the reformers could not bring to
realization Of their wrong-dolng, nov
find # more profitable and agreeable 4
spend their spare time and money Il
the picture houses with their wiye
and children
The usual program Of pictures pre-
sented at all the moving picture the
aters OF the better class consist 0
three reels OF 1000 feet Of film each
one reel Of rdrama@ the second
scenic or purely educational serie
Of pictures, and the third comedy
Whoever will take the trouble to II
vestigate the moving picture theate
without prejudice and talk with man
Of its most intelligent regular patron
as l have done. for the purpose {
ascertalning the truth as to its Il
, auence, will be greatly surprised
!. the indisputable good done by tn
, viciously lampooned industry
The dramatic part frequently Il
] religious subject that "a far more Il
e pressive and inspiring than the pr
2 ponderance of sermons heard Or
4 may be an historical production th
!. gives a much better conception Of
r race Of men. or Of events and the cu
d toms Of period. than Is fixed IN Il
o mind by the forced cramming Of a.
IS text. or It may be scenes that arou
t patriotism: a more ehivarle spirit
Il men who have found no such emu
3 ti0n in their earlier envIronmei
other OF these dramas depict soc
il conditions true 20 life that impre
Ie one strongly that eyil-dolng IS an err
10 that sooner or later leads to mise
IS land a disastrous end, while good /
Is pulses and noble deeds bring hap
n ness and other rewards
lg The so-cailed regular stage a u
ious times has claimed TO exercise
6. salubrious moral influence but IN Yi
III nf the long cogue of les devotion
it adulterous filth even its most part
il. supporters have not had temerlty
ough 10 continue that pretentlon
is More good, wholesome plays Il
IF teach the advantage Of pfaisewort
It moral conduct have been shown
in the traduced screen during the p
II two years than have been seen on
IS. regular" stage IN half century
ic. Taking the Scenic Industrl
ne and Educational" films az grC
ad there Is no gainsaying the fact y
re- they impart q general knowledge,
*. few nickels. that would cost mi
dollars and many days of study
la acquire, let alone such expenditure
lst would be entailed for personal obser
ed ton. In this group we find mary
N. Of nature otherwise accessible only
the adyenturer Of unlimited mea