The Washington herald., 1914-06-28

Motion Picture Editor. Some time since
you and your readers or correspondents
dropped the subject Of pests, but /
have found a new species and I cannot
refrain from joining the pest-fghting
class. And that is the man or woman
nearly always the woman-who explains
the plot to the audience during the pic
ture. Now those OF the audience who
have the intelligence to see the plot un-
fold and understand 1t are very much an
noyed, and those who do not know just
what move the villain will make on the
next foot OF reel probably enjoy the un-
certainty and do not want to be told by
some loud racous voice. II almost, IL
possible, outclasses the creature-for they
cannot be entirely human-who will read
the titles to the pictures and the scenes
out loud. What can We do with the
pests? You cannot change your seat, as
their voice follows all over the theater,
and il you have paid your money and
want TO see a good bill or any particular
picture il would be sad thing TO think
the only alternative would be to get up
and leave the place. I have done II many
and many a time, though. and one night
when / was really anxious to stay and
see a certain feature ! asked a woman
who sat opposite me, in as nice q way
as l could. not to read aloud and she
complained to the manager that ! was
trying to fiirt with her and he put me
out. II is a sad state of affairs when
women read to you in public and then
you are not permitted to speak to them.
Trusting that this is not too long-wind-
ed to use, because I know that there are
many others who have suffered as much
as l have and will like to know that
some one of these pests may see this
and take practical notice of IL.
Yours always. for The Washington
Herald. REED.
Reed: Sad is an adequate expression to
apply to your experience in the theater.
What is there 10 do with any pest but
let him wear himself out?
Motion Picture Editor-Conscious of
the fact that the picture theaters have
many different tastes to cater to. I
herewith take the liberty to urge upon
all proprietors OF such places the con-
stantly growing Importance of the more
special attention TO historic films. Most
OF us have forgotten most of our history
of all lands and il is with great pleasure
that we sometimes are reminded in the
movies Of some of the forgotten lore.
By historic pictures / do not mean the
history of nations alone, or what is gen.
orally called military history. but 1
would include In this category literary
example. We all remember with pleas
ure such films as Frederick the Great"
Les Miserables," Tale OF Two Cities -
The most Objectionable thing about the
movies Of today from my own point of
view is an excess of real mawkish SEN
timent or sob stun" True, there is a
morbid class who like this sort Of stun,
but IL We for one moment reflect that
the world is already crowded with real
sorrows we must admit that the success
OF such pictures will soon reach its end.
] hear these and kindred questions dis
cussed daily by patrons OF the movies
and the prevailing opinion Is In accord
with the suggestion that too much at
tention is being given to really worthless
pictures, pictures which teach US moth
ing worth while. and far too little to those
that most people really pay their money
to see, and are usually disappointed. l
hope this mere suggestion will not go
entirely amiss. A PATRON.