The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-05
Real Film Play That
Teaches a Lesson
In Prevention
OF Fire.

Occasion has been made several
times during the course OF the last
lew months TO refer in this column
TO the value OF the motion picture
play as : means of educating the
public along certain distinct lines,
and attention has been called to the
fact that this form of education must
be accomplished in an indirect man
ner. Education has been the excuse
offered for the production of a num-
bcr of plays Oh the stage of a most
offensive character. and from these
the pubic mas obta ned a mistaken
IDEA Of \. nat an educational play is
The nln3. Of course. IA this respect.
has the ;ldNInts-C OF the StaSc IN
that object lessons OF the evils that
have resulted IRON abuses or neglect
or ignorance can bC SuONl a. they
actually arr. several plays have
been written with this idea. They
have attracted vide attention, but
lew of. them have been given the
patronage they deserved because the
dramatic interest was submerged IN
the educational feature.
That it would be necessary to &c
write such plays as 10 keep up the
dramatic interest has been pointed
out here several times, and tha; II
Is not necessary to subdue any of the
educational values in accomplishing
this has been given equal emDhasI--
Strange to say. there have only been
one or two plays that have really
told an interesting story, IS well as
one that is nsuuctivc-wm ch eN-
plains the lack of attention they have
received.
Within the last few months a play
81 a nh
Company. assisted by the police and
fire departments of the city OF New
York. which is probably the finest
example of an educational drama
that preserves every dramatic value
The educational feature never OBJ
trudes and yet it is so essentially a
part of the whole action that audi
ences never lose sight OF II for a
minute. The play is called The
Locked Door," it deals with fire
prevention and is being shown today
in this city at Crandalrs Theater.
THE Locked Door tells a most
entertaining story of the love AFFAIR
of two young people whose fathers
are the proprietors of manufacturing
establishments in the same loft
building. The father Of one has been
completely ensnared by the money
making evil. He subordinates every
thing, even his family, to the desire
TO make money. This fact is de-
veloped at the very beginning. 1t
is only natural, therefore, that he
should carry this same spirit into
his business and should conduct II
With the idea of making money
first and looking after the health
end safety of his employees second
For a reason that is very import
ant to him, he makes all his en-
ployeS use one door for entrance
and exit from his establishment. An
other door. at the other end of his
establishment. is kent locked. Pro-
test is made to him. but he will not
heed. a fire marshal's assistant
makes an inspection of the place
end orders the door opened to pro-
vide another means Of escape in
case of fire The manufacturer ig-
nures this order. One day a care
less workman drops lighted
cigarette into a pile OF rubbish and
flames sweep through the place. 1t
Is only Il few minutes bcDre the
entire floor is a mass of smoke and
fame. The employees are panic
stricken. They rush to the door that
IS locked and failing to open il
throw themselves out of the windows
and many are killed and injured
The story Of The Locked Door
resembles in some particulars the
SAOi o. ldIlOuS SIlIL waist rae
tory fire that actually occurred in
New York city. The scenario was
prepared by one of the officials OF
the New York fire department. In
ono Of the establishments that are
shown he endeavors to bring out all
The things that should be done TO
prevent fire or at least 10 insure
safety for those exposed to such a
danger. In the other he shows all
the things that should be done, along
with host Of things that a careless
man or woman does every day of
their lives which might result dis
astrOusly. The production of the film
was under the ioint direction Of the
company and the public
officials and everything possible was
done to make il a complete story and
2 complete lesson.
The results were so highly salts
factory that when the film. was pro-
ouced in New York the officials OF
the pol &c and fire departments and
the officers Of the fire insurance
companies instructed their subordin-
stes 10 advise the public TO see the
production as they regarded IL as
the best presentation Of the problems
they have been working to meet
and for the solution OF which il is
q absolutely essential they should have
The cooperation Of all Of the peo-
pie. g. VI.