The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-14
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Film magazine" One
Of the No0eltieS
OF the Fall
Season

T The magazine in moving pictures is
with us
Not the magazine devoted to news
Of the pictures, but a regular issue
OF moving picture reels containing
stories, facts, news. etc, just as
printed magazine contains, only in
this instance the printed characters
are pictures, and the pictures are
shown on a screen.
This is the newest development Of
the picture business, and IL bids fair
TO be a most popular departure. In
a sense. it is a perfectly logical de-
velopment from the play and news
picture fields. For months past the
photoplay theaters have given time
and space to the news films, and
people have come to expect motion
pictures of world events az soon as
sufficient time has elapsed after the
event to permit the transportation Of
the films. In the photoplay proper
they have been getting nloving-pic-
ture stories ever since the film first
became popular. II Is not, therefore,
doing anything really new TO COM
bine the two and add something of
educational value, giving q single
evenings entertainment with q we'll
balanced program and call It q
magazine"
That. of course, is the way it looks
At first glance. But there is n greater
usefulness. In every national or
ganization of consequence, interest is
fostered through the publication OF
periodicals. of interest to members of
the organization There are very
Few societies or associations big
enough to have a national body that
are without their official organs.
The people of the various branches
are always interested in the doings
OF other branches. and they sub
scribe to the official organ for this
purpose.
Now suppose instead of publish
ing magazine. which is fire.
quently q big expense, a motion
picture magazine" was issued. A
big fraternsl order, with thousands
OF members throughout the coun-
ny could prepare a film entertain
ment which would show pictures of
organization work done in various
secuons OF the country, news pic
lures OF happenings throughout the
world, a play or two dealing with
Things concerned in the order, etc,
There are branches of these orders
IN practically every city in the coun-
try. and it Is probable that at least
IN a thousand places monthly exhibit
IONS like this could be given that
would be matter Of some profit to
me makers OF the pictures and to
the exhibitors.
This Is what the motion picture
magazine Is. That IL is not simply
an empty idea is proved by the an
nouncement made'in New York this
week that such a ''publication'
would De tnaugurated October s. and
issued at intervals Of six weeks
thereafter. This first magazine win
De of particular interest to members
OF the Catholic Church Each issue,
according to present plans. will con-
slst OF about 5000 feet of film. For
the first number" the editors have
secured feature from the Lives
OF the Saints" OF about 5000 feet;
modern Catholic drama of about
1,oO 1eet, an historical episode in the
church of about the same length
about 200 feet of church chronology.
and 90 feet OF good farce comedy
Inc enterprise has been under ad-
Vlsement for some time, and definite
steps were taken for its realization
only Few days ago. Cardinal Glib
oons has spoken highly of the pIan
and It has also received the indorse'
ment or Cardinals Farley and O'Coh-
neil as wen as other dignitaries Of
the church. The film will be shown
In the parish halls and church base
ments OF about 1900 parishes in the
nlteo States and Canada. this num-
DER OF subscriptions having al
ready been received. 1t is probable
mat as many more Will be secured
before the films are ready for is
sue.
There is no reason why this idea
should not be carried out in other
ways and full evenings enter
tainment prepared as a magazine is
prepared. II would be a good idea
Tor the exhibitor TO take under ad-
Nlsement at any rate. It is not
necessary for him TO subscribe" to
some regular set OF films OF this
sort. Why should il not be a good
ioea TO collect films Of certain sub
Jects with a good play or two
thrown In Tor variet; and advertise
thein as magazine prepared with
the predictions or fraternaI order az
nlatlons Of certain classes of peopIe
IN view II would seem 10 he a
proposition that would bear looking
over = "