The Washington times., 1914-03-20
Ph0t0plays and Ph0t0players
What Do You Want To
See Mr., and Mrs Public?''

= ERE are. some more of the
letters that haze been re-
received by the Photoplay
Editor telling what the public
wants 10 see and what it does not
Y ant to SEE. They are interesting
because they touch several phases of
tie problem that is before the photo
plav exhibitor and manufacturer.
One correspondent writes:
The blood and thunder stories IN
the photopIays are a thing of the
East. Years ago they We're a novelty.
thrilling. exciting and facinatine.
Today they are disgusting.
Let the Washington theaters do
away with their orchestras, which
crate on the nerves Of their patrons
and take the mind off the pictures.
Ii stead of them install capable
pianists. such as one of the Ninth
street theaters has. This man
watches the picture and plays music
that hGrmonizes with the idea being
shown on the screen. 1t is q delight
TO go to theater where this sort
of accompa niment is given the pic
lures.
The things We want-if I may
speak for my part Of the public-are
good society plays and simple, home
ly love stories. l. F. J."
Another OF or readers writes:
Il, like numerous or my friends.
am an enthusiast on the subject of
the moving pictures. and nave often
thought 1t would be 4 great improve
ment If some of the civil war films.
cowboy pictures, etc. were to be
displaced by Something in the line
of traveloeues. Why not give us
some pictures OF various parts of our
own country? Let's have some views
IN and about our large cities, the
v ateT fronts where there are any:
attractive suburbs: also the leading
cannot help thinking that such a
field Of endeavor for the various
film compa niss, in which to secure
material for the moving picture the
aters, would be received with great
favor by the better classes of those
who enjoy the movies Subjects
such as ] have just suggested, would
not only afford entertainment of a
fiSh order. but would also be in
structive and of educational value,
and woulC afford many Of US A
chance to sec parts OF the country in
Which we live, TO visit which some Of
US nave not .he means for travel,
TO see for ourselves.
a feature Of interest now intro
duced is the showing in films of
productions of well-knoun pIays.
dramatiZatiohs of the best novels.
etc.
of course. all tastes must he sat
lsfied. but / can't help feeling that
the great majority of moving pic
he
least would appreciate a little less
of the sensational and greater pro-
portion of views on the subject l
have mentioned above
Il have been glad to express my
views as given herein and hope TO
see some Of the suggestions I have
made carried into effect.
'R. F. O'D."
Still another:
Why can't the operators in our
photoplay theaters realize that they
are not helping their employers by
trying for the worlds record in
speed when reeling off the films?
Il have seen many beautiful pic
tuTes spoiled by the insane desire
of the man running the projecting
machine to get his film through the
protector as quickly as possible. 7
suppose the idea is that the soone-
me program 1S run through the
sooner the house can be emptied
and a new crowd pulled in. But the
effect is not what the operator
thinks. | know Of two theaters in
this city that I will never enter
again nor will any Of my friends
enter it-simply because the films
are run too fast
"I want 10 extend a welcome to
The Times photoplay department on
the part of at least one film enthu-
siast. believe you'll help us get
the kind OF things we want to- see;
20. G. T
William Farnum mas been engaged
by the Famous Players TO TAX" the
principal part in The Redemption
of David Corson,' the novel by
Charles Frederick GOss. which the
BUbs- Merrill Company has recently
published
The battle of Austerlitz is featured
in the kleine play. For Napoleon
and France" The scenes are said
10 be the most realistic ever pro
dUced. several thousand men appear
ing on the 100 feet of film used
for the battle pictures.
The month daughter ot Sid
ney Ayres, of the American COM
pany, has been presented with =
solid gold loving cup by the mem
bcrs.