The Washington herald., 1914-07-05
ALL THE LATEST PHoT0PLAY NEWS LOU, s.4.a ss.
Fleeing Views.

A letter published in the Queries
Column few days ago directed atten-
ton to the pianists in the movie houses
who faeetiously strike staccatto note
when q kiss is shown on the screen-or
do other foolish stunts
cannot think of one feature OF the
entertainment AFFORDED by the moving
pictures which dominates the feelings OF
the audience to a greater degree than
the music, except the pictures themselves.
There Is no accompanying pleasure 10
the movies which can equal the soothing
delight of music well and unobtrusively
rendered. There is nothing worse than
a musician" who tries to hammer the
keys out of a piano. or who seeks TO imi-
tate thunder, kisses, spIashes. bullets,
earthquakes, and other scenes with equal
facility and foolhardiness. First Of all
such ridiculous limitations distract atten-
ton from the pictures. The audience
don't want their attention distracted
and certainly the manager of the house
doesn't Why, then. tolerate nuisance
who accomplishes that undesired end.
Secondly, such q performances annoys
people who have a decent regard for the
fitness Of things. The one thing that
movie pianists and bartenders should re-
member is that they simply help things
along. The movie orchestra or pianist
should remember that the solo performer
is on the screen-the accompaniment
should be subdued, soft. gentle.
There are several houses in Washing
ton where know / can not only see a
good show but can hear good music. And
by that I mean that the music will not
be so dominant that I will be vividly
aware of the fact that II is good. Rather
It will blend SO delightfully."- with the pic
lures that I will realize rather than be
definitely aware of its existence.
The indicating OF a kiss by a sharp
note on the piano is in the same class Of
artistic performance with the continu-
Gus playing of ragtime. Neither kind OF
entertainment should be tolerated in a
good moving picture house.
Pop. Anderson says: Watch for the
release OF Seven Locks of Baldpate,' by
Bop Anderson, author of 'Anderson's
Fairy Tales and other stories"
The Herald prints again today the cou-
pom which gives you a chance to tell the
manufacturers OF moving pictures just
what kind of pictures you like.
II Mr.. ZuKor. OF the Famous Players
Company, or Mr.. Laemmle, OF the Uni
versal. should invite you into their pri-
vate offices to discuss with them the
kind of pictures they should send TO
Washington exhibitors, you would not
only feel fiattered, but would not hesitate
to give your suggestions and advice.
The Herald offers you just that oppor-
tunity. FIJI out the coupon printed on
this page and send it to the moving-pic-
ture editor. After the coupons are tabu-
lated. the results will be sent to the lead
ing flm manufacturers. So far they will
be told that the Washington audiences
like comedies and dramas principally;
that they are fairly lukewarm on the
subject of educationally pictures and
weekly news pictures; that they only oc-
casionally like to see feature pictures.
and that they do not want to see serial
pictures at all. They prefer a bill Of
three or four reels for cents. That is
the summary of the results Of the contest
so far. If your opinion either agrees
with those expressed or differs, you ought
to express it. Do it today. i