The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-11
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Statistics to Enter
Photoplay Realm
as Rival for
ThrillerS
By GARDNER MACK.

The motion picture has been called
upon to play many parts, but prob
ably no one but Roger w. Babson,
the well-known statistician would
ever regard II as medium for hui
manizlng statistics throughout the
country. That Is exactly what Rog-
err W. Babson has undertaken to do,
however. Statistics are great pets TO
the experts who feed them-or feed
on them. They are the sum total
OF everything--and that should be
read figuratively as we'll as literally
Most people regard statistics as cold
and clammy things that are to be
aVoided--to be entered upon the rec
ord Of things that are without COM
ment. Most people feel that while
they might exist properly and COM
fortably In the Congressional Record
or the annual reports of the Census
Bureau or Some other such exciting
and thrilling literature, there is no
place for. them in the average hui
man mind.
And now Mr.. Babson. as the cham
pion of statistics. has entered them
for the. great stake of public APP
proval. against The Perils OF
Pauline" Broncho Billy, Mary Pick
ford and the other motion picture
idols and ideals. And Mr.. Babson
believes that he will be able to ma Ike
great educational feature OF his
statistics as the Paramount Company
will produce them I'm motion pictures
Probably there is nothing 40 unin-
teresting TO the average man as dry
statistics," Mr.. Babson said. He
cannot get very excited when he
reads on the printed page that five
hundred and sixty-six million cans
OF beans are sold In the United
States and Canada: or that In New
Jersey there are 50.4 per cent more
mosquitoes to the square mile than
In any other State In the Union,
but by the free use OF illustrations
ave been able to circulate my books
quite largely. and 1 am informed by
public libraries that they are in con-
siderable demand.
Let US take the European war as
an example. There are few I'm this
county who are not deeply inter-
ested In the question. and there are
Few who, after thinking about the
matter. will deny that statistics are
absolutely necessary in a study OF
the conditions which have brought
on the conflict. The problem IS to
present them In a way that will at
tract and hold the attention and in
terest of the great public.
This all can be shown by means
Of animated charts. cartoons and
trick photography In a way that the
average man win remember. The
causes that have brought on the
war as well as its progress and it's
inevitable results can be carried to
larger number OF people in a week
than would read OF them in years
In books or magazines.
For instance. tho question Is often
asked, what should be the attitude
of an American? The answer is
usually that lie should be neutral.
or course. being neutral Is a diffi-
cult thing. but it is well to re-
international affairs have caused
much trouble. Let us see why IL w.
not only theoretically but practically
proper for the American to be neus
trail. Statistics will show this and
moving pictures will bring the les
son home very forcibly. The latter
Is what we want.
THE high cost OF living is a sore
problem. The prices of almost all
commodities have. 1t Is true. in
creased, but statistics will show that
some communities are successfully
coping with the situation and the
first Of my films to be released
through the Paramount Pictures
shows this.
~ first became deeply interested in
the motion picture, when on a visit
to South America I encountered at
several points the cameTaman OF the
Paramount expedition, and Il was
then that / conceived the idea of
adapting statistics to the screen. In
Vestigatons proved to me the ad-
OF allowing Paramount to
handle these pictures, and when Par
amount Newspictures were issued a
place was found in them for me-"
G., NJ.