The Washington times., 1914-10-29
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
[dndger of Ne7v York
Strand Discusses
Music With the
Photopldy.

he use Of music to enhance the
Y ue of motion pictures has been a
G. oject of much discussion during
Z past few months in this column.
j aretofore the comments that have
I, IN made have been based upon
I Il conclusions reached by the pa
Z MS of the theatcr or by the editor
A the ordinary consideration of
. Otoplay affairs. The exhibitors, as
a rule are divided as to their Views
o do not express them. The tact
| that music can be both help ana a
b ndrance to the proper showing OF
q ,tures s generally understood. In
| some theaters il has been the en-
oeAVor TO catch the crowd by the
n usic as we'll as by the program OF
T ms. This has always seemed 10
u to be a mistake The motion pic
ire theater is primarily place to
now motion pictures. and 1t should
be operated with that purpose in
| view The music that Is furnlshed
should be furnished with the p1Ir-
rose OF enhancing the value OF the
pictures rather than for concert
purposes.
1t is rather pleasing. N this con-
rection, to find that this is also the
idea OF S. a. Rothhapfel, the man
aver and guiding spirit of the
Strand Theater, in New York, prop
ahly the biggest and best motion
picture house in the country. Mr:
Pothapfel has given the matter of
music considerable thought. He has
reduced the matter Of program selec-
tin to almost an exact science. AND
p believes that part of the success
his house is due to his method or
= aging music for the pictures only
] = has this to say to other eN-
y hitors
The failure of exhibitors to make
Z . most of the musical end OF their
l-ogram has resulted in the closing
O. many a house that might other
wise have proven a success. Even
l.1w our study of this subject Is tar
On thorough and our knowledge Tar
nm complete / only know that L
F., -sonalIy' have restored the success
d popularity Of many motion
ctuIe theater, merely by speciaIlz-
n Z in motion picture music.
The men who render music TO en-
l-Ilish and strengthen the picture
INST not only be well-trained music
(; rs, but they must have some spe-
cal Qualification. / prefer young
,r.en and women who can be more
q sily nodded and in whom the fire
Cf enthusiasm burns most brlgntly.
Very motion picture musician must
b re the knack of improvisation, the
yIility 3 to instantly adapt himself TO
any class of music. Men or women
VITO are mechanically perfect put
o-herwise ordinary will not make
.nod material for a first-class mo-
ton picture orchestra. look Tor a
erark Of originality in everyone OF
nv musicians, and where l see
man or woman who does things just
& little different / try to encourage
them all ] know how. / consider the
ha fnrr1
of my musicians and find that men
who have traits of good nature, VINO
are loyal and in love with their
work, are the most valuable. Inc
kind of musicians ! want to Keep
away from is the man who tries 10
subordinate the pictures to the music.
After all, the pictures must always
-rrnafri the groundwork of our en-
tertainment, and II just jars me when
! near an orchestra hammer away
al through a picture with but small
regard for the action on the screen:
When a musician begins to think that
the people come mainly to hear the
music, and that the pictures are but
\ incident, he has outlived his use
'ulness with me.
Il repeat that managers cannot
wade their responsibility for the
share which music must play In
nI-ery motion picture entertainment
-hey must control and inspire the
lrader. The manager should nave
sorne idea as to the qualifications OF
,le musicians and realize that one
GOOD musician is worth more than
i've mediocre men. Every orchestra
leader should have on his finger-tips
the airs of all nations, the bugle calls
y all countries and know plenty OF
-ood "hurries." mysterioso. etc: In
electing themes it is well to keep
way from the hackneyed stuff
which everybody uses. There is
uerfect wealth of excerpts from
rperas and overtures that have never
cen used and will be found suitable
or all kinds of occasions.
of course, when a man changes
s7-ery day he really cannot do the
music full justice unless he has
wonderful organization. II he has
he right training and a competent
taft and if he will make it a point
70 have his pictures ready for re-
hearsal early in the morning he may
Eurprise himself at what he can do.
Practice of this sort is invaluable TO
an exhibitor. We have had emer-
rency cases in the strand where our
whole musical program had to be
hanged on a few hours notice, but
HOthing is impossible if you have the
Energy and proper assistance.