The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-20
THE GIANTS IN F|LMD0M
Paramount and Fox Film Corpora
tions Are the Largest in
the World.
The Iris ConsoIidates With the Bis
Concerns.

The Iris ConsoIidates With the Big
| Concerns.
| The 1.-TWO Orphans" shown at the
Iris Saturday, is a sample or the re
markable photoplays which the Fox
| Film corporation will send every week
to the Iris in the fture. The Para
mount corporation also has great IN
novations in store 1t is predlcted oy
! those whose Judgment and opinion are
worthy of attention that the stage VIII
| "'never come back" on the contrary
the stage will ''go further back one
of Americas foremost stage celebrities
has the following to say regarding lHe
future in the photoplay f1eld:
You cannot whet the sword or IN
tellect on a bag of meal. This, in my
opinion is one of the chief causes Tor
ing the field of moving pictures The
! masterpieces being produced by the
moving picture directors force an ar
fist to use all his intellectual powers,
and therefore show him at his best.
ON the legitimate stage there is a
dearth of good drama today that has
not been equaled in years. Many OF
the plays being written and produced
lack dramatic merit and artistry 10
degree that is startling. In opposition
te-this condition the moving picture
playwright and director is inventing
every day new ways of broadening art
of all kinds. The true artist VINO
really regards art for arts sake as a
slogan to conjure with finds an excel
lent steel on which to sharpen his in
tellect in the vast dramas of the
photoplay, and when he turns to the
stage he finds-a bag of meal.
The old masterpieces are being re-
vived at their best for the moving pic
ture camera. Great novels, long loved
between book covers, are made to live
through the medium of the screen.
Historical pageants of the past are
brought before the world as though
they happened but yesterday: ORA
matte possibilities long confined to the
narrow width of the stage are given
the whole world to roam in.
The incentive to do great work is
tremendous. Art is given its fullest
and best sway. Great stars are in
spired by the thought of the years for
which their art will live. The more
people an artist plays to the better art
he will produce. A full house always
commands an actors best perform
ance. When an actor works before
camera he plays to more people in
one day than can fill a theater in a
year. He knows that his work viii
reach the multitudes-that his art will
be seen by the masses, and, as it is
seen, it will be appreciated. Is it any
wonder that the great ones of the
theater are will to forsake the stage to
appear before the all-seeing eye of the
camera?
The call of the almighty dollar is
faint beside the clarion voice of art
that trumpets the artistic advantages
of the moving picture into ones ear.
If the world should produce another
Ibsen, another Shakespeare, the thea
ter might regain its lost supremacy.
But the day i~ not now and in the
meantime the moving pictures offer
an artist the fullest scope for his
genius, the greatest incentive to good
work, the finest test for the mettle of
his intellect.
Almost every star of prominence has
been signed up for long terms on the
w shortly
gin offering the people most amazing
productions. The present marvellous
pictures are to be so far dis anced by
future productions as to make COM
parison odious. This is the claim
made by the producers. They promise
features that should command 25 and
so cents admission, or more, and
further, the producers insist three
or more days exhibition of the fea-
lures in cities the size IF TOIeka-
While we admit that if even ene-hah
of the claims set forth as to the big
features to come, are substantiated,
the offerings will be worth the price
CT admission they set forth, still the
Iris management insists upon follow
ing its own ideas of policy largely,
and therefore while we shall meet the
demands of the producers for longer
runs, we will not advance the price
OF admission Beginning shortly, all
productions will be run two days
We have steadfaStly pursued a pol
icy which gives every patron at least
double value in entertainment for the
price of admission-and we shall con-
unue to do So Our patrons may ex-
Qect to see at the Iris from this date
forward, plays of a class not hereto
lore attempted, more elaborate photo
plays than the most Utopian dreamer
could imagine possible. Should the
productions measure up to the stand
ard promised. even approximately, it
would be an Gsustice to the people of
topeka not to see the fine plays. OF
To- ~ I,s% i
provide for move than $500 people
oaliy, owing to the limited seating
capacity of the Iris, and there will
uoupIess be more than twice that
number of people who will wish to sec
me wonderful pictures, hence two
Gays engagement of each production
VIII furnish the desired Opportunity.
IRIS THEATER
(AdVerfiSarnantA