The Washington times., 1914-11-02
Better Film Is Nov
Assured Patrons
of the Local
ThedterS

There seems to have been a great
er improvement in the quality of
motion pictures exhibited in Wash
months than ever before in the his
tory of the art in the District. There
are comparatively few exhibitors
who are not making a very decided
effort to obtain some the fine quality
films that are to be found among
the outputs Of the big studios. Most
of this improvement is due to the
realization by the exhibitor of the
demand of the patrons for better
pictures. They have learned that
the satisfied patron Is the very best
form Of advertisement, and they
have been making it an important
part of their business to discover
just what does satisfy their patrons.
Another factor in this develop
ment of better film is the fact that
there are more really fine pictures
being produced now than at any
time since motion pictures became
a legitimate field of amusement.
The competition among the exhibi-
tors to obtain these fine pictures is
almost as keen as is their competi-
ton for the business of their patrons.
Many of them have found that it
pays to run q show once In a while
that gives them a very slender mar
gin OF profit so that they can i'm
press more emphatically on their
patrons their desire to give them the
best. To promote this kind of busi-
ness among the exhibitors the pro.
ducers have formed several very
large combinations, the business of
the central organization being simply
to book their films. This relieves
the producers of the annoyanCes of
marketing their product and permits
them to devote more careful atten-
ton to the production itself, which
is certain to show in the better
quality of the film.
The most important topic OF discus
sion among the film men nowadays,
therefore, is the organization of these
booking concerns. There are half
dozen big ones doing business now.
Two of the largest, the Paramount
Pictures and the World Film Cor
poration, have concluded contracts
with Manager Tom Moore to enter
their productions in the two theaters
controlled by him in this city, the
Strand and the Garden. This will
give Manager Moore the exclusive
of the Famous Players. the Jesse
l.. Laskey. the Bosworth, the Oz
Fin. the Shuberts, the William a.
Brady companies. and others. It
will also secure the first production at
the Moore houses Of the famous
stage plays of Charles Frohman,
Daniel Frohman, David Belasco,
Henry w. Savage. the Lieblers.
William A. Brady, and others as
har Of
picture plays
The releases of the Paramount Com
pany. which include the Famous
PLAYERS. Bosworth. Laskey, and or
films. with the players of the FrOh-
mans Belasco. Savage, and the
I,ieblers. are to be produced in the
Strand Theater There will be two
Of these features shown every Wek,
the productions beginning this week.
Exception only will be made in the
case Of the films showing Mary Pick
ford from the Famous Players Com
many. These will all be shown at
the Garden Theater. the first at
which comes this week in the form
of Charming Pol'oCk's play. such
a Little Queen" with Miss Pick
ford i'm the part originally played by
Elsie Ferguson. In addition TO the
Pickford films at the Garden. all the
Sbuhert and Brady releases are to
be shown there. These will include
smth productions as John Barry
more in 1.-The Man From Mexico,
and Louise Dresser in The Blue
Mouse" which are to be produced
This week. At the Strand the plays
this week will be Dustin Farnam in
"The Virginian'' and Henrietta
Crosman in "Tho Unwelcomc Mrs.
Hatch"
The production of the complete
,,rnpram of releases of this calib"r
in this city is Il rather eXpens Ve
proceeding, because the films are
among the very best on the market.
Manager Moore has contracted 10
take this program in accordance
with his policy OF giving the patrons