The Washington times., 1914-08-10
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
. alto nal Photoplay
Thedter Is the
Newest Idea
In FilndOm

What would you think of ma
u0nal photoplay theater?
From time to time propositions
have been made to establish a ma
tional theater or a national opera
house in this city like the govern
ment opera houses in Europe. Lit
tie has ever been done toward car
rying out the scheme, however. Once
or twice there have been movements
started to raise funds which could
be used for the construction of build
ings and the endowment of dramatic
or opera companies. But these move
ments have usually had but short
life. Now comes the proposal TO es-
tablish national photoplay theater.
Phe man who has worked out the
idea is w. Stephen Bush. and he
has prepared a very strong argu-
ment for the theater. 1t would be
a very good thing, and, of course. it
should be established here, although
this is probably not Mr.. Bush's idea
1t would seem that there is con-
siderably more likelihood of the Gov
eminent entering upon a scheme ike
this than a regular dramatic or OPP
cratic enterprise. The Federal Gov
eminent has taken up the matter or
the moving picture in the Bureau OF
Education, and during the past few
months a very painstaking inyestiga-
ton has been made of the POSSIBLE
ties OF the picture from the educa-
tional point of view. Likewise an
other Government officer has been
greatly III crested in moving pictures
lately. the register of copyrights OF
the Library OF Congress. Other Gov
eminent departments like the war
and State and Navy departments,
and the Department OF Justice, have
reels of film of interest to their par
ticular departments. In TACT there
are numerous places where pictures
are stored, and il is likely that none
of them are stored in place that Is
we'll adapted to the purpose or
where. the presence of the firm Is
not an actual menace TO other Nalu-
able records or books.
Why- therefore. wouldn't II be more
economical in every way TO nave the
matter of the moving pictures, their
protection and their regulation ana
their filing in the hands of one Gov
eminent officer? why couldn't the
register of copyrights be relieved
of the involved questions regarding
film protection and the WhoIe mat
ter be placed under another depart
ment where all film subjects would
be handled? In this department tnere
COulO De COIlsll pSNtu d
age place and producers could be
required to file with the head of the
office a COPY of every film made.
II this step is lakeland II GER
tainly seems a reasonable and SEN
sible thing to dot would be but
a short step to the establishment OF
a theater in connection with this de-
partment where film shows could be
given at the usual price of admis-
sion. In doing this the Govern
ment would accomplish something
that would be of untold value to the
exhibitors of the country. although
n might hurt the business of some
of the exhibitors in this city. It
would be able to conduct model
theater and provide model programs.
This is the idea that Mr.. Bush had
in mind when he discussed his ma
tional theater project. The Govern,
ment could set standard for all
other showmen to follow. the strand
Theater in New York. according TO
Mr.. Bush, is rapidly becoming re-
garded as a model for film men in
all parts of the country. Exhibitors
are making visits to New York just
for the purpose of seeing how the
Strand is managed and the kinds OF
shows that are given.
With every film made at its dis
posal the Government theater could
do this to even better advantage
than any private individual. And.
furthermore, the Government thea
ter could work out programs for va
rious sorts of entertainment and
act as a bureau of information re-
garding film. OF course. this all
sounds like a dreamy proposition.
but il is far from that. II the Gov
eminent inaugurates a censorship,
as has been proposed. 1t will be
necessary for the censor to see all
the films, that are made. and II
this becomes necessary. 1t will be
but a short step to the theater.
C NJ