The Washington times., 1915-01-01
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Photopera Suggested
AS Next Step in
Development OF
the Film
~ cAQDlgER MACK.

Now that the photoplay has estab-
Mshed itself firmly, promoters are
already abroad with the suggestion
Of the photopera!
While it is generally recognized
that the photopiay Is perfectly pos
siblc and plausible-it will probably
REQUIRE a considerable stretch OF
pso,onsra ts nagnaS hns Se, tS eGSss' 3bsrs is the
reason why thcro should not be such
a thing, and why il should not be
OF tremendous value in teaching the
real meaning Of music. As a matte"
of fact, there are few people who
really understand the great musical
poems and dramas. There are very
few who realize that expressions rt
all the emotions Of human kind can
be found in the tones of music rs in
the words Of literature. Music has
Been divided into two classes by the
general public--that which is popu-
lar and that which is not popular:
"classicar'-the term being ised as
4 term of contempt very often. AS
q matter OF fact, things which are
really classic, In the usual accept
ance of that term. are also usueIiy
very popular, and attained their
Ing popular. There is no reason,
therefore. why the photoplay could
not be utilized to tell the story of q
musical poem or drama. as 1t Is util-
lied for the purpose of telling the
story Of poem or drama in l1tera-
turc.
In recent article in "The Nov
ing Picture World. Louis Reeves
Harrison has called mp tho subject OF
the photopera. The opera he antici-
pates is ten-reel AFFAIR." great
expanse OF film that will have the
opr LAT tx~t, h
that "Parsifal' has To the ordinary
concert number. 1t seems to me that
the photopera could as we'll be de-
veioped to the point of the two.reel
or even one-reel feature. The idea
is to present the thought of the COM
poser in pictures as he has presented
it in music. At the same time have
the composition played by the or
chestra or the musician attached to
the theater. so that the relation be-
tween the phrastng Of the compost
tion of the musician and the action
bs understood. There arc many
great compositions that could be
demonstrated in this way and such a
presentation Of them would undoubt-
edly give new idea of the real
purpose OF music to man. people
great works of the composers.
Mr.. Harrison in his article goes
further than this. He believes there
Ia opportunity for the composition or
original music. especially adapted to
the screen explanation. He states;
why should not that success be
clinched, as It is in grand opera,
with music especially composed for
the photopera? Grand opera COM
panies. because of high-priced al
fists, because of limited number Of
performances. because of Inadequate
auditoriums. because OF the cost per
ticket to patrons. arc limited 10 a
brief season in big centers. Not so
with photopera. The initial cost
would not bother any producer now
engaged in making five-reel adapta-
tions, even il an authors royalty be
ircluded, and in order. To, cover the
cost Of musical composition the same
arrangement as that with the author
could be reached with ambitious
young musicians of creative talent,
after the unaccompanicd plays merit
had been demonstrated in private
showing.
LAS to the returns from such a v.n-
ture-they are already beyond mere
speculation. 1t would not take any
live producer of either stage plays or
OF photodramas long to estimate
their box office receipts in the event
Of decided success. l hope I am still
within the confines of that general
OpinlOtl, "uCil poSScSSSS ICIiidihdpAS
hindsight when l venture the .sser-
tton that one successful photopcrd.
placed with skill throughout the
length and breadth Of this country,
would make the fortunes Of all con-
reaned in its production and az
naoitation.
MISSIONARY? Well, we have an
abundance Of practical gentlemen
Who cannot think beyond their inn
trediate requirements OF see beyond
their circle OF activity. 1t is re-
lief tc meet the few who are capable
nf conceiving ideals. Some one has
described the practical man AS ra-
tional being who loses his temper
when called upon to reason. He is
not that bad. but he has a tendency
to range himself on the safe side
what has been done can be done
and to resent any new mood Of
thought and feeling as All intrusion
en- his peace of mind. Let us be lis.
ionary at the dawn of a new year.
for there can be nothing new created
that is not visioned in the mind Of Il
Creator" G; NJ.