Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-14
Tuo-thmds Of Films Shown
Are Objectionable" For
One Reason or Another
PROBLEM WILL SOLVE
ITSELF. HE CONCLUDES
Vast Possibilities For Good
Lie in "The Figures Dane
ing on the Screen"

In his Investigations as representa-
tive of the Department of Justice at
Washington covering the white slave
traffic In this city J. Clarence Funk.
one OF the most prominent of the
younger lawyers of the local bar, gave
considerable attention to the moving
picture problem and his conclusions
after a thorough study of all the oues-
tons involved are most interesting.
He looked into every phase of the
moving picture controversy and after
g. personal investigation has submitted
his observations and conclusions as fol-
lows under the general heading, The
Movies-To-d day and Tomorrow:
Comparatively few years ago the
moving picture was projected upon u
screen amid a binding glare and was
viewed by the theatergoing public
alone. To-day nearly one-fourth of
each city's population throughout the
land daily sit before a mute screen and
worship pantomime mechanically per-
feet. From an incident in q few the
aters the pictures have developed into
monopolies housed in their own build
ings and represent the most popular
amusement in the world.
There is no diversion in existence
for which an admission is charged
where one apparently receives so much
for his money as in the picture show.
4 nickel. gives one an average per-
formance of an hour and a half, in
Guiding music. And II is a poor per.
son, indeed, who imagines he cannot
afford cents for such prodigal re-
I,tr.
the cheapness of the attraction is the
universal appeal of love for excite
rnent, crowds and the desiye TO be
amused;. with the result that the audi
ence represents absolute democracy.
Here one finds rich and poor old and
young, white and black. good and bad
---all under the hypnotic spell of the
figures dancing upon the screen.
'sMovies'' Here TO Stay
Some popular magazines, as dis
tinguished from trade journals, are de-
voted to the movies; the daily press
gives news space to accounts of cur
rent films and those appearing in
them; and the names of many movie
actors and actresses are now house
hold words. In short the moving pic
ture show, whether good or bad, is
here-and here tremendously. 1t is
obviously quite impossible for such a
proposition to remain neutral in it's
influence.
'"rhe question naturally arises, then
what is the public viewing that so
compels its attention and wrests mil
lions of dollars from 1t each month?
Three Services control the moving
picture production activities in this
country. The manufacturers belong to
these delivery trusts and release only
through the one to which they are
attached. In addition there are 'fea-
ture companies that specialize on
elaborate drama, comic and educa-
tional subjects, but their output is
comparatively limited and distributed
through their own agencies. 1t is
quite evident, therefore, that for what
ever may be good or evil in the bust
ness. the local manager Is entitled to
neither credit nor discredit He must
take what the trusts give him, for
they alone can supply his demands.
Pictures Classified
ut may be interesting to note that
of 221 pictures (pictures are shown in
one. two. three and even six reels)
seen In nine different theaters, repre-
senting a weeks run of films In each
house. and the entire display in Har-
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