The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-03-02
Theatres and rheir Effects UpoA
Young People
By Miss Marie Jensen. Delivered at
Meeting of the Norwegian Lutheran
Young Peoples Society.
Published by request.)

any idea or impression brought into the
mind in such way as to get beneath
present thoughts. desires and feelings by
introducing others of different nature.
The performance behind the footights
appeal directly to the feelings and emo
ton of the audience; and it is when man 8
emotional nature is crossed that he be-
comes the most susceptible to suggestions.
Every play gives out impressions and
suggestions by the hundreds at every per-
Torrance and as all those impressions
correspond with the nature of the play it
self, it is easy to understand what the
effect of each particular part of the play
will be. How often this is shown in
children. They go to the theatre to SEQ a
performance whether the miracle be high
or low, does not the child usually see
every item of evil rather than the good.
And is it not more fun for him to act out
this evil when he gets home, rather than
to try to follow the good suggestions
1t seems that audiences often enjoy on
the stage what they would shun in real
life. and though it seems impossible to
believe that our American Public enjoys
crime. this is evidently the case. The
hero of the play may be out and out a
swindler and a thief. The audience is
perfectly pleased and he always receives
lowdest applause if he gets the better of
the detective in the play. From sympathy
with crime to commission of it is but a
short step. Unquestionablly. stage crime
| has tendency to inspire crime. Utmost
cases stage crime is committed with much
detail and emphasis. under the eyes of the
spectator.
Although in large cities there are good
theatres how many young people attend
themp In most small cities there are no
large theatres and people have to content
themselves with cheap shows. How can
the morals in such place DE the kind to
set before young people as good.
In most cities the moving picture
theatres take the place of expensive ones
for the poorer classes. and are not these
often the very people that need to be led
to see high moral standards Of living. In
the larger cities these moving picture
theatres are called canned theatres.
| The admission to these places are FIVE or
ten cents, of course the father can easily
afford that much for a little pleasure for
his family. but when nothing is learned
or no lesson taught. how much good has
it done the father and his familyl Nine
times out of ten their moral standards
have been lowered. In New York and
Chicago there are six hundred of these
canned theatres. In St. Louis two hun
dred and in Philadelphia one hundred
eighty six. Seven thousand in the United
States. This is a large number consider
ing the length of time in which they have
had to grow.
Our modern manager cares little tor
the really and TRULY artistic in modern
representation. He is all the time out
for profit. One cannot fail to note one
phenomenon resulting from the selfish
ness of the manager. people are rapidly
loosing interest in the really intellectual
drama, and are cultivating taste for the
Vaudeville and music Hall.
Of twenty seven shows that visited one
city in a year. FIVE of them were clean and
good and had some definite lesson to
teach without syllable or ascene through
out that could offend the most fastidious
person. Seven of them were of the doubt
full character that is they were for the
most part good as to acting and such
matters. but contained a suggestive do
logue questionable ethical teaching. The
remaining fifteen were what could truth
fully be called bad for the theme of the
play itself resolved about some phase OF
frailty, the discussion of which by the
theatre does not help to better conditions
1t is not hindrance to evil but rather an
incentive to vulgar things. leaving in the
mind brown deposite which gradually
coats the finer qualities of nature.
The theatre seemsto create an artificial
atmosphere. Young people who are
caught by the fascination and nightly at
tend the theatres and they become dis
satisfied with real life. They even be-
come so infatuated in the theatre that in
cities where the theatres are open on Sum
days scores of young people are seen
coming from the theatres as others OF
their age are returning from church.
The atmosphere of the play effects
them net as an incentive toward cleaner
and more ambitious living but rather acts
asa bad stimulant.
lido not mean to say that there may not
be any benefit derived from seeing good
play as in reading a good book. do
not think that doors of all theatres should
be closed to young people but
do think there is distinct line to
be drawn at the kind of play which
young people should be allowed to see.
There are very charming plays which
which are noted for their high and clean
morals. For instance the play. What
every woman knows" in which Maud
Adams figured last year held the audi
ence spell bound. A play such as
"Chanlicler" and the "Bluebird" devel-
opes to the highest extent our imaginative
powers. 1t appeals to our artistic nature
and leaves with us high. noble thoughts.