The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-04-20
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Has the Cheap Sho0U
Also Chedpened the
Public'S Manners?

Has the cheap photoplsy theater
also cheapened our sense of cour-
tesyc
Are the rights of others entitled to
less respect in a photoplay theater
than in a place where more than 10
cents is paid for a seat?
The general attitude of the Wash
ington audiences of photoplay
houses. especially in the downtown
district, seems TO indicate that this
is true. There doesn't appear to be
the slightest regard paid to the COM
fort and convenience of others on
the part OF many of the men and
women in the audiences. The mat
ter has been brought very forcibly
to our attention within the past week
or so by numerous complaints that
women decline to remove their hats
when viewing photoplays. There
isn't the slightest excuse for a wom-
IN exhibiting this kind Of ilI-breed-
ing in a moving picture establish
Rent-not as much excuse as she
would have in dollar-and-a-half
house.
At a regular theater. where much
~ the action of the play is told in
the dialogue, II isn't absolutely nec-
esssry TO see the stage to know
what is going on. no matter how
desirable 1t might be to get a
glimpse of it now and then. Because
everybody recognizes the rights of
the people in the seats behind. how
ever, 1t has become a general Gus
tom now for women to remove their
hats when they go into such a the
alter. And in at least one theater in
this city there is a specifically word
ed contract printed on the ticket
which gives the management the
right to eject any lady who de-
Cliues TO take off her hat
In the photoplay theaters. because
Of the drifting character OF the audi
ence, it is almost impossible for the
management to call personal atten-
ton 10 all the breaches of courtesy Of
this kind. however, and the result Is
that women have gradually fallen
into the custom of keeping their hats
on. The whole attraction in
photoplay Is the picture, which must
be seen. When a person wearing one
or the gorgeous Easter confections
that are so popular sits in front of
one it is absolutely impossible to see.
The person who has paid for a seat
behind such a barricade, therefore.
gets absolutely nothing in return for
his money. He cannot even examine
and admire the hat-there is never
enough light for that purpose. And
NJ he CnrnnlainC IN the rnnnaOaOnnnt
the offending woman promptly feels
fnsults1 and the theater loses a
patron.
In some cities ladies are required
10 remove their hats. In some cities
also children are not allowed in
theaters unless a ticket is purchased
for them They are then required 10
sit in the seat the ticket entities
them to occupy throughout the pei
Torrance. There IS no such thing
as having an infant OF four or five
constantly passing in front to get in
or out of a row of seats. or standing
NJ in the seat TO get a better view
or the pictures. The latter is espe-
clally annoying here. in view of the
TACT that small children are hot re
CURED TO have tickets in most Of
the theaters and are, therefore. not
only occupying places to which they
have no right or title. but are spoil
ing the pleasure of some one who
has paid
or course. men offend. too. occ2-
sionsl!y- Some men have a habit of
crossing their legs and making il
'erv inconvenient for a person TO
ass in front of them. Tie cnd-seat
hog Is very conspicuous 1hotoplay
tEeater patron. and his annoying
habits are just as bad inside the
theeter as they are on the street car
We never have much trouble OF
thiF kind personally. II a woman
PERSISTS in wearing her hat in front
~ us and ii obscures our view We
Smply insist that she remove It
Md when we go into a theater
sc like to get the seat nearest the
wall because then there will not he
lot Of PEOPLE crawling over our
laps during the progress Of the
snow We are making this little
statement. therefore. in the interest
~ The umid persons who do not like
70 ask ladies' to remove their hats
ana who do not care to push Their
way TO the wall seats
Or course our old friend the eN-
hibitor could help things out by dis
paying his lantern slides-as he
used to do-reGuestinC the removal
~ hats and the ouietinE of the
children who cry or get restless
during a performance. But the hest
result would be reached If the gen
oral public would lose sight of the
'sct that there is any price on
"ourtesy-that cheap show does
not necessarily mean the exhibition
OF cheap manners. G NJ
fHo >,