The Washington times., 1914-04-29
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
How Many Pictures
Form an Ample
Ten Cents
Worth?
How much photoplay is ten cents

worth?
How many people who attend
photoplays ever think of this part
Z the problem that Is presented to
the exhibitor? And now many of
tlrm are there who quarrel with
aim when all OF the FIVE or six reels
shown on the screen don't happen
TO suit their particular taste?
This is totally aside from consid-
Grafton OF good or had pictures.
There are hundreds Of fine films that
SOM OF us personally do not like.
All Of Us see them every time We
go into a moving picture house.
Personally, we 90 not like sad. tear
ful things But We know there are
lot of plays of that sort that are
perfectly good plays and that a vast
majority OF people do like iclmense-
lN And SO we should not and do
not condemn films We do not like
as bad films. but refer to them
taste
How many times has the critical
photoplSy patron who has disagreed
With the selections made by the
exhibitor stepped to think that the
program must be selected to please
all tastes-to suit every variety of
mental twist and turn. The play
house to get one mans patronage
must put on a good comedy or mys
Jery. Another man demands serious
owe stories, while still another in
sists upon having adventure. We
wonder il people ever give a thought
10 what a program would be like
that was made up Of all one kind
Of plays. II would be the most tire
some sort of thing to sit through.
There wouldn't be a bit Of relief or
contrast to il.
But there is a large portion of the
public which seems to think that
eyerything shown at a picture house
must be Just what he or she wants
been obtained under false pro-
'enses. This is the wrong idea to
nave. and IL Is dc:ng a very much
overworked exhibitor a great injuS-
ice. There isn't any one thing on
the face of the earth that will please
thcfe are so many different things.
some of US are very fond of pork
chops and others Of US cannot bear
even think of pork chops. Some
n US Ike blue flowers and some of
as like red. Some Of us have a
preference for blondes and some of
US would rather be associated with
brunettes- And SO it goes with ev-
erything that depends upon the in
dfvi0ual judgment or taste Every
BODY wants something different.
When the photopiay exhibitor goes
about the selection of his program
for the day or the week. il is neces-
szry for him TO choose something
that will meet every requirement
ne must approximate pleasing sy-
-Tybody. In the average photoplay
where four or five reels of film are
shOS m it is the endeavor of the ex-
hih!tor TO get the widest variety
rs down TO our original query: How
much do YOU think you ought to re
gwen for the 10 cents you pay in the
boy office?
You see, this is serious ques-
ion with the exhibitor. His sue
pNople that patroniZc his show. He
has usually invested quite a large
sum Of money in the theater equip
ment. and the people who help him
snow the film represent another
'orm OF investment that takes a
lsree sum out of his profits every
eek. There are a number Of peo-
PIE who go 10 this photoplsy house
Who think that every film on the
program should be Just what they
Nsnt. IL they do find q program of
nat sort they are pleased and praise
the judgment of the exhibitor. But
no" about the other fellows? How
about the other four-ffths Of The
batrons who do not like that kind
OF 4 show?
man or woman who goes into a
picture house and sees two films
mat please should certainly feel
mat they haze gotten 10 cents
"uTth OF entertainment. Is there
~" place on earth where You can
get more for the same amount OF
none. than photopiay theater?
mere any pace where such a
variety Of forms Of enjoyment Is
open To choice? We can certainly
think of none. Four or five reels OF
pictures and q continuous program
- music accompanied by an hour
~ two Of complete rest and case
'eftSinlN seem 70 be worth the
small admission price. no matter
what the character OF the fiIm or
'h@ music. Il is worth 10 cents to
have a place 10 sit down for an
hoIr in dark. cool place.
But the patrons Of the photopIay
40 not seem TO consider these things.
several days ago we called atten-
uon 10 the nuisances OF the theater.
Most Of those We named were cor
adered from the Datron's Viewpoint.
IhcT" Is another nuisance that we
80 no. name a pair Of them. in
Tact. These are the Deople who re-
main in the thcatcr after they have
seen All the :ecls, and the people
VINO PERSIST in standing up when
there IL plenty or room to sit DOM.
ne latter nuisance is A minor one
here. where there il no law pre-
venting the sale Of standing room
thkets In the theaters. But the man
VITO stays through the shows is
WORKING species OF fraud on the
eShibitb- and is occupying a seat ne
ism paying for.
The admission ticket entities the
patron 10 see ono program of NOV
lnE pictures. II does not entitIe him
70 spend the day in the theater,
When he has seen the entire pro-
gram he should leave and make
ypom To- some one else. In these
DAYS OF fierce competition when
every exhibitor is trying to put on
tge biggest program he can get.
the expenses for films Is tremen-
dogs. There tre anyfilums that cost
near to $40 per day-just a single
photoplay. The exhibitor who shows
such q play-and there are several
% them in Washington-must fill
his theater as often as possible dur
ing the hours the place is open in
order TO make any profit at all. The
patron who de'ays his departure
after ne has seen all the show is
really stealing-he is taking some
thing that don't belong to him.
Therefore, Ue have been con-
strained to ask the question that
heads Iris column, and we have
been Influenced TO advise a hasty
Retreat from the photoplay as soon