The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-02-21
FILMS BROADEN
VIEW OF LIFE
Pastor Declares Moving Pictures
Are Boon to People

oTrc moving picture theater is the
no,,t democratic thing which we have
in American life today except the
mills And no student of social condi.
tiops can afford To he in ignorance
either of It's extent or its power for
moulding character. This new force
has entered into the educational pro-
cram of modern American life. You
may call ii the scent motion picture
university or the dime civillzer.' but
IFS influence is real and sure just the
same
I'm these words the Rev. Herbert \,
lump pastor OF the First Congrega-
tiona church in Oakland. Cal. spoke
at the University of California under
the direction of the department of ed
ucation The Rev. Mr.. Jumps sub
;cc, was Tho Motion Picture Five
cent University"
continuing, The speaker said
out of every 23 persons whom We
meet on the streets tomorrow one per-
son has been attending a motion pic
lure thcater. The 10000 theaters In
the country, If stretched along side by
side. would make n street of 10 miles
If white way Five times rs many
people patrunize the motion picture
thcatcrs as so tu the regular drama.
\ new film is published every go min
utcs of the working dav; il comes out
like % certain brand of candy, fresh
every hour
People like pictures and they like
stories. and the notion picture drama
being picture story. therefore has n
double reason Tor its popularity. 1t
is the latest i'm the series of mcchani-
cal inventions which have made hui
man history.
Boon to the Poor.
as the club in the hands of the
primitive savage gave chance To the
brave. aud as the compass in the pos
session of the mariner gave an oppor-
tuuity for the human spirit of cXplora-
lion. ana as the printing press gave
the chance To the common man 20
learn 50 the motion picture gives Il
chance to the poor man to have clean
fun The canned drama has trans
formed the existence of the moderate
~ Vcll-ulf wage Garner. lie now has
his shakespeare rccled off a spool. he
learns human life at the end of n
crank He travels over land and sea
without leaving his seat. ana the great
THINGS the great pcrsonaecs Of the
world do him the honor of rc-acting
their miehty deeds before his vision.
6roadens View Of Life.
We unconsciously derive notion of
life and knowledge of the world which
affects our whole point of view. Every
time YOU see n film II makes a differ
cucc \ story is written on your brain
and the brain translates that story
in some respect upon the soul. The
scene of cruelty, vice or brutality
makes it easier To believe that the
world Is cruel, vicious or brutal;
whereas, ON the other hand, scenes of
tenderness or heroism or love have Il
positive effect in the same proper"
lions
And an especial service rendered
hy lhc motion picture is to the for
cigucr who does not yet know the
English language.
Blame Not Deserved.
The evil effects of the motion pic
lures have been grossly exaggerated
Whom any act of violence has been
done by some youngster the first eN-
PLANTATION by the police has been to
the effect that the motion picture ~
To blame, AS matter of fact we are
no more justified in eliminating tho
motion picture because of these occd-
Siona unfortunate occurrences thah
We would be Justified In giving up our
public library because the story of al
venture contained therein has occas-
sioualy moved nervous youngsters to
unfortunate imitation thereof. The
moral standard of the motion picture