The Washington times., 1914-09-16
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Y hv the Exhibitors
Should Use Their
PODer to Help
the Public

A few days ago attention was
allied to the fact that the exhibitor
as a very difficult tine in getting
1e ear of the producer and bringing
bout the reforms in the film that
q public demands. Cne Of the rea-
ms for this is that the exhibitor
,0es not seem to take his crSanlza-
on seriously, or does not use the
over the organiza ton gives him TO
ompel the producer to DOW 10 MS
vill The man who is making NOV
ng picture film is first and all the
imc making 1t TO sell; ne minute
Z. ceases to sell just that minute he
vill stop making il. So long as the
exhibitors continue to take what he
.hooses to give them, just so long
$ he going to give them what he
ho>>es In a very large measure
he reliable producers of the country
are striving 10 produce the best kind
f PLAYS and increase the artistry OF
heir players. They have learned
hat this is the best kind of film to
sell, and that the making OF II also
makes for the substantial progress
of their business.
The only way these producers can
learn what the public is taking and
what il is not taking is through the
he taste of one locality cannot be
Npected to make very much impress
sion But if the exhibitors as q
whole would get together and eX-
-,ress their real feelings to the pro-
Queer. they would be able to make
impression and advise him prop
rlv as TO the class of tllms II Is
most profitable for him to produce
cCause it is the class of films the
-IIhliC most wants to see.
That the exhibitor has not been
doing this is very strongly evil
need by the following letter
rom a Chicago exhibitor. which
vas sent to the photoplay editor
Cf the Dramatic Mirror. This let
r@r is printed because We believe
? also represents the views OF a
reat ma ajority of the exhibitors of
Nashington-the men we have
.aiked with, at any rate. And ii is
our desire to let the public know
ust what these men think-that
hey are really thinking and striv-
n for the public benefit. The let
-er follows:
7 am prompted to call your at
antion to condition that seems
- be growing daily-viz., the
tagging by all film manufacturers
C oUtrageouSly GrueSome subjects,
hich run the gamut of crime in
: most repellent form.
Particularly is this true in the
-reat volume produced of sensa-
rionally colored, overdrawn. dis
graceful, drinking scenes, which
ere shown in one form or another
3. almost every release.
"In the four years past that I
ave been engaged in the picture
business as an exhibitor. night
FJer night have heard eNcep-
ons taken by the audience as
. hey left the theatcr TO scenes of
CaToUsing shown in picture.
AS the photoplav houses OF this
country handle many thousands
who enjoy their libations in mod
crate way, and at the same time
cater to women and children Ibe-
ing considered places of clean. in
J Ocent amusement), it would seem
hat the handful of manufacturers
~e Subjecting the thousands OF
xhibitors throughout the country
. unmerited criticism, which tends
o the loss OF patronage
NOW that the controversy he
-Eeen the total abstinence and the
-crsonal liberty factions has be-
ONE so keen, the evils of such pic
-ures are enhanced and the poor
.xhibitcr (the niddleman) is
aught between two fires.