The Washington times., 1914-09-07
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
New Season Presents
Exhibitors w ith
Their Big ees t
Opportunity

While the annual recurrence Of
Labor Day brings with 1t the 1nau-
gural of the fall and winter season
of amusements, there has never
been a Labor Day that signalized
the beginning of a season that is so
frsught with possibilities for the
American photoplay as today. Never
before has the world been in just
such a condition as the first Mon
day in September, 1914. finds IT.
Practically every civilized country
that has been a producing center for
amusement enterprises, and espe-
dslly motion pictures. is in a state
Of war-all except the United States
and Italy. And a state of war means
paralyzation OF all industries.
called the combination of mechanical
Industry and art, and to the indus
trial side OF the motion picture the
closing down of manufactures in
Europe has dealt the heaviest blow.
The cutting out OF foreign competi-
hiOil Tie NIcdllOU VI OH tA-
c1usive market of world wide possi-
bilities for the American mauufac-
tgrer. But more important than
this is the fact that the necessities
of the producers to make the best
sort of pictures to meet the demands
and hold the new trade that is open
10 him creates the opportunity for
the exhibitor which Is unparalleled.
In Washington the situation is but
Q rejection of the condition that
exists throughout the country. Tn.
biggest Of the theatrical firms have
entered the motion picture business
with a great plunge this season.
This city is plas;ered with billboard
announcements showing .uch
men as Charles Froh ,rieI
Frohman, David BelasCL L.
Laskey. the Shuberts. X Err
LANCER, William A. Brady--III- the
names that have been made famous
In the regular theatrical world-are
Lending the best of their work to
the film. The posters outside of the
theaters announce the productions of
these managers with the best of
thei:- theatrical stars. We see the
names of Sarah Bernherdt. H. B.
Warner, Henrietta Crossman. Rerths
kalich, Dustin Farnum, John Barry
more. Ethel Barrymore. Marguerite
Clarke, James X. Hackett, William
Faversham. Maclyn Arbuckle. Ed
mund Breesc. Max F'igman. robert
These people are appearing in plays
written by such authors as Hall
Caine. Anthony Hope. Sir Henry
Arthur Jones. Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle, George Barr McCutcteon.
David Belasco, George AIDE. Jack
London, Stuart Edward White. Ed
ward PEBBLES. Harold McGrath.
Owen Wister, kirke La Shelle, and
others.
The mention of these distinguished
names in the dramatic world does
not in the least bslittle the work OF
the well-known photoplsyers and
playwrights. but rather raises then
TO equal rank with the theatrical
stars. With all these to pick from
the exhibitor of the photoplay-house
will be a very poor business man or
business woman II the opportunity
to establish an important place in
the life of the seeking public amuse-
ment is overlooked. The Times has
been fighting steadily and consistent
ly for the best there is in motion
pictures and those exhibitors who
EdNc dCCcpteu lHc COIllIIleIil lndl mas
been made in this column in the
spirit in which 1t was written have
realized by this time that the sugges-
tons were entirely in the interest
Of their business and for the uplift-
ment OF the motion picture industry.
One OF the hopeful signs OF the
bueiness-one among many-is the
number of women who are engaging
in the management Of theaters. This
isn't taking the suffragette point of
view, but is meant as a commentary
on the high chartecer of the ex-
hibitors. of This community es-
pecially. as a whole. II the char
acter OF the exhibitors was not so
high II would not be possible for
the woman to take so active a
part in the business.
One of the newest theaters to be
opened In WASHINGTON. for instance,
the Regent. is managed by a woman.
She is a woman who has earned a
very high place in the business
In her theater she intenrs to pro-
duce only the very best of the pho
toplsys. and it is her purpose to
select her programs with the great
est care and with the desire 10
please her clientele. She realizes
that the success Of her theater as
business enterprise, as an invest
pleasing her patrons. And she has
started out with the intention Of
making the wishes of her patrons
the commands of her employees.
n is this spirit which now seems
TO pervade the entire motion picture
fraternity in Washington-a spirit
of watchful interest in the wishes
Of the photoplay patrons. In this
Is found the essence of good business
policy. The new season opening to-
day presents the greatest opportu-
nifty the photoplay exhibitor has
ever had in the history of the bust
ness and the best promise that ad-
vantage will be taken of that oppor-
tunity lies in the evident desire of
the exhibitors as a whole TO work
whole heartedly to please the public