Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-01-04
MOVING PICTURE INDUSTRY.
Educational Value Of the Movies
The Social Side the Art and
the Artist.

1t is the purpose of this department
TO give all a clear understanding Of
the entertainment value of motion
pictures as we'll as their educational
values-to give the latest news of the
moving picture industry.
The occasional visitor TO the photo
play shows receives only small
measure of the pleasure possible. The
photo play fan who INDUCES often,
who is familiar with the different
players and productions, receives the
full amount of pleasure and enter
tainmtnt. If you doubt our word
read this column a few nights, at
tend the show and convince yourself.
OBSERVATIONS.
The social uses of the motion pic
ture are emphasized once more by
the action of the Russell Sage Foun-
dation, which has just organized a
Department of Surveys and Exhibits.
This department was established
because twenty-six national orgaui-
cations of welfare workers asked the
Russell Sage Foundation to start an
agency for helping them in the gath
ering of exact facts and then explain
ing these tacts so that the citizens
of the re spective cities would carry
out the ideas suggested by the facts.
The cinemat0graph is to be used
as an illustrator and teacher of facts.
The directors of the Department of
Surveys and Exhibits recognize the
fact that motion pictures offer a
means of increasing people in the
facts about city life. Lectures are
to be used in connection with this
work of illustrating the purposes of
the department. A practical begin
ming in the use of the motion picture
as an agent for social betterment
was made at a recent convention of
Mayors and other city officials which
was held at Walla Walla, in the State
of Washington. The convention was
held under the direction of the newly
organized League of Pacific Northeast
Municipalities. Through the efforts
of a professor in the famous Whit
man College a large number of health
and civic films were secured and ex-
hibted.
The exhibition of pictues in the
great auditorium of the John Wana-
maker store in New York, on October
Ia, before an audience of more than
one thousand clergymen and their
wives was a great victory for and
compliment to the moving picture.
But two years ago this same audience
would have exclaimed with disdain,
Perish the thought" !" at the merest
suggetion of their attendance at a
moving picture exhibition. On this
occasion one of the leading men in
America, John Wanamaker, states
man, merchant and notable church
worker, granted the use of his mag.
nificent auditorium and its great
organ; a clergyman made the opening
announcement and one of the most
eminent city quartette rendered ap-
propriate music.
This means that something in the
way of great change has come over
the whole realm of the moving pic
ture. That this is so is undoubtedly
true. One does not have to look far
for the cause. The rapid advance
along educational lines is respon-
sible At this recent exhibition, the
subject shown was the gre at attrac-
tion, the cinematograph being but
the instrument of usage, even as a
means to an end. This is, in itself,
sufficient proof as to how the NOV.
ing picture may at once be made
helpful and valuable besides making
an ever-increasiug number of friends.
Scores of minister are, at the
present time seeking information
upon the cost and requirement of the
adaptability of the moving picture as
one of their auxiliaries to church, in
stitutional and neighborhood work.
This means that another stage has
been reached in both the onward and
upward progress for which many have
been striving. Thoss most intimate
ly connected with this recent develop
ment are feeling very satisfied that
both their ideas and labors are being
so thoroughly appreciated and sue
cessfHl, and do not hesitate to antici-
pate a still larger future Moving
Picture World.
COMMENTS.
The EssanAY Company will have a
branch studio and factory in Califor-
MIA within the next few months,
where G. al. anderson & Co. will be
located. On December party of
Vitagraph players started on e world
tour. They will visit Japan, Hong
kong, Rangoon, BUrmah, Singapore,
Calcutta, Bombay, Port Said and
Cairo. The party includes Mr.. and
Mrs. w. v. Ramos, Mr.. and Mrs. Jas.
Young, Hay Keiffe, w. S. Smith,
Mr.. and Mrs. Maurice Costello and
daughters Helen and Dolores. No
date is set for the return.
Names of nearly all the photo play
ers can be given except those of the
Biograph Company, who do not fur
nish information. Many people do
not know that all photo play pro-
ducers retain a permanent stock com
pany of reliable players. Those who
do know the players and have their
favorites, receive the greatest amount
of pleasure from the pictures. Read
this column each night and become a
photo play fan. It's fun.
NOTE-In this department we will
to answer any questions
relative to motion pictures, actors.
etc. Names of inouirers