The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-09-18
FILMS HIT OPERA
Germany Shocked at DeterIora-
tion of Public Taste.
People Are firing of the Diet Of Ideal
ism Portrayed on Stage and In
Music-Prefer the Movies
Americans Blamed.

Berlin.-Tastes change. The "mov-
les" have grand opera, classic and
heavy drama on the run in Germany,
the home of grand opera and the intel
lectual stage. Privy councillors, high
brow professors with long boards
and much learning, great musicians,
famed composers and playwrights
thunder" in vain in the daily press
against the deterioration of taste OF
the opera and theater going public. ;"
Learned psychological dissertations
are being written, seeking to explain
the "inexplicable preference of the Ger
mans for MOVIES 'operettas' and
trashy light stuff to grand operas and
classic dramas" Ell
Figures talk. They tell the story
of new bent and change In the Ger
man character. More than a dozen
theaters have failed, no less than
eight of them in Berlin. since spring.
Their places have been taken by elab-
crate movies" From many German
cities comes the wall that the NOV
les" are crowding the legitimate drama
and grand opera to the wall.
The Germans, at least that portion
which comes under the "peepul." want
to be amused And a goodly portion
Of those who consider themselves
above the "peepul" also seem to be tir-
ing of the diet of intellectualism, ideal
ism and mysticism, portrayed and
sung on the stage for years.
The German Is getting less seri-
Gus. In the gayety Of Berlin, Munich
and other cities which are initial
ing these he has discovered that in
letting go" of himself he has lot
of fun new to him. He Is acquiring
a taste for what the bespectacled pro-
fessors characterize as "evanescent
trash" He wants to be amused. He
is tired of being edited. And he
doesn't give a rap about the psychol
ogy Of what is causing the change in
his mind and character. He wants
amusement, not knowledge, and he
goes where he gets it. That place
seems to be the movies"
Intellectual Germany affects to be
more or less shocked at this tendency
to be less serious-minded. 1t Is ar
gued that this deterioration" does not
argue we'll for the future Of the ma
ton. "Deplorable Americanization OF
the German STAGE" is what some writ
ers characterize it.
The theatrical managers have de-
clared war on the movies" At con-
ference attended by representatives
| Of practically all the important the
aters and operas in the empire it was
decided that hereafter no actor, act
ies," under penalty of immediate dis
I mtesal. But that has not increased
the box Office receipts of the theaters.
An American invasion" of the mo-
ton picture theater field itself is TAX
ing place. Two New York men, A. H.
Wood and F. J. Goldsoll, have opened
eight in Berlin in the last three
months, and expect to have more than
a score in operation throughout Ger
many by fall. Several of the bankrupt
| theaters were bought and turned into
movies" They also built new one
adjoining the American church-a
beautiful unique structure entirely
windowless, which had a tremendous
run since it was opened, despite the
high admission, ranging from rs cents
to 800. That circuit is strengthen
ing it's drawing power by adding va
riety artists to the movies" which
is an innovation in Germany.
| The several variety shows in Ber-
lin are high priced, and the ordinary