The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-25
PoUerS State S Best
Film Made Can Be
Exhibited For
Five Gents

One of the several big questions
that have agitated the makers OF
motion pictures during the past few
months-and one which will be much
discussed during the early months OF
the coming year-is the matter Of
admission prices. The scent show
is being heartily condemned by the
manufacturers and by many pro-
Eressive exhibitors. The statement
has been repeatedly made that the
best pictures cannot be shown for a
scent admission rate. And that has
come to be our own opinion. We
have stated that the small neighbor-
hood house, the house on which the
manufacture must depend for his
biggest returns in the long run, can
not show big feature for a scent
admission and he must show big
features from time TO time. That
there is question. however. is
proved By long argument which
has been advanced by p. A. Powers,
the maker of the Powers projecting
machine and one of the earliest
and best equipped of the manufac-
turers. There is no question but
that Mr. Powers is fully informed
on his subject and has the facts at
hts fingers tips. Doubtless he is not
considering the neigh borhood thea
Ter, but the larger establishment.
At any rate it Is only fair 10 Mr..
Powers and the large clientele who
are OF the same mind. that his
IDEAS in the premises should be given
as full publicity as those Of the
other side of the question. Mr..
Powers is quite as well informed as
ny of his opponents and his state
ments can be accepted as quite as
reliable. He states:
The best picture made can be
shown for nickel, with a good
profit accruing 10 the exhibitor.
That is not the rub. The trouble
with the motion picture business is
harmful competition. That is the
problem which needs attention, and
the wrong way to approach the mat
Ter with an eye to its readiustment
Is by attempting TO raise prices.
Such a move Is a risky step, and
while large capacity and big volume
Of business may dictate an increase
n the figure charged for seats in
certain photoplay houses, the mo-
. scent proposition, and will so re-
mein
Can the picture drama cope with
the drama of the so-called legitir
mate STAGE Can il usurp the
olace OF the spoken drama? That
seems 10 be the question that is
ootherinE some producers. II never
VII; it cannot II is an entirely diff
'erent sort of entertainment. Thu
sooner the men who are trying to
make OF IL a big show get back
% basic princ.ples-to the truism
hat the film play Is minimum priced
amusement for the masses-so soon
III the cost of admission problem
Dc solved.
The nIckei-man is rssponsY1'e
or the establishment of the bust
ness. He grew rich charging nick
Is. He grew poor charging quar-
0rs. take IL from me. Get back
mtg the variety classification; drop
'uord!nate ambitions to overlap the
boundaries Of A branch OF diversion
designed to fill a certain want.
ana stick 10 the original program
Tngle reelers. with an Occa slonai
~ subject. Where short reels are
flashed on the screen. il Is a safe
bet that one OF the usual three
shown Tor A nickel will please the
patron. on the other hand where
"Ou attempt to impress with loudly
herslded all-feature shows. YOU will
discover, and are discovering. that
The nve-reel or siX-reel subject pre-
empting the entire evening, Will fail
% please the moods OF many Of
hose present
7 do not believe IN exclusive
feature shows. ] think II can be
rufhfully stated that the biggest
actor N the vogue attained ny the
motion picture has been convent
ence. BY that mean the absence
~ the preparations attendant on
pending night II tho thcate--
playing theatrical attrs ctions and
INC Gas, proximity Of the 'mogl-
enterprise To- tho homo. due to tg
-ncros chment on residential neigh
oorhOOds. In billing lectures -
his regular picture fare for his eli
ontele. the exhibitor strikes at no
very foundation on which the film
bUiIdsd
why the picture purveyor should
lake Il on himself 10 seek q division
= the field with the thea trical man
ayers is inconcelvable 10 me. There
.- no bond Of sympathy. no relation
bStween the two. Even TO the act
uR the methods are different. As
aid before. the motion-picture hLsi-
ess IS primarily scent sort of en-
r"rtainment. filling a niche that il
snnot get away from, and as soon
- this fact is realized and the bub-
bio methods Of exploiting and ex-
landing ths picture business into
something n can never Oe are drop
u"d. SO soon will the exhibitors trou-
sl"s cease. In the meantime. he
-iands a fine chance 10 lose all he
has eyer made by listening TO The
sneci"us arguments OF the man who
would work wonders"