The Washington times., 1915-06-25
THE BEST
Photoplay Department IN
WASHINGTON
Times Readers Give
Indication of the
Picture Patrons
Film Ideas.

Two or three rather important
communications have been published
by The Times during the past week
In the column devoted to letters from
readZs. Part Of, their Importance
US in the fact that they related to
motion pictures. They were in the
form Of protests against certain
types Of picture which tho writer's
stated they have seen repeatedly.
and which. they also state. they do
not like to see.
But there is another and FAR
greater importance attached to those
letters which the public at large and
the exhibitors Of motion picture
plays should consider. They indi-
cate that the patron of the Dhoto-
play has ceased to be pawn-that
he Is the real power III the photo
play business. and that II films arc
not what the patron wants he Will
not go to see them!
Five years ago-even two years
ago-the film drama was novelty.
The man who saw picture house
with its band wagon decorations
and It's glaring posters paid his ten
cents and went in to see the show
In exactly the same way he paid
10 cents and went In to see a collec-
ton Of freaks or wild animals. de
was attracted In the same way he
would be attracted by the anatomi-
cal specimens or the pictures OF the
Oriental dancers in the cheap ten
cent show display windows or post
ers. 1t was curiosity-a desire to see
q novelty. .. .....'
Some men with a suggestion OF
brains started producing real dramas
with real actors and actresses. Ana
tho novelty Of the picture gave way
to interest in the drama and the
work of the actors and actresses.
Recently at dinner given by the
exhibitors Of Washington. one of the
film exchange managers, relating
experience as an exhibitor, stated
that when he first went into the
business he charged five cents to
to see the machine. He testified
that his receipts frequetly ran as
high as thirty dollars per night for
the booth where the machine was
exhibited!
There isn't any more public inter
est In a motion picture machine to-
Both are accepted facts. 1t is what
the machine does that interests the
public and the. public knows just
ab5ut what the machine can do. 1t
demands that 1t do nothing but tho
best-just as 1t demands that when
1t enters a jitney bus-that the bus
motion picture Is form OF enter
tainment and not a curiosity.
1t Is apparent, therefore, that the
makers Of pictures and the exhibit
ors Of pictures should see that the
hlm fills its mission Of entertain
ment. This means that careful con-
sideration should be given to the
entertained. The minute they cease
to be entertained they will stop
spending their money for Aim. And
when they stop. spending! their NOM
ey. the Aim millionaires cease col
lecting their incomes.
motion picture business during the
past year and a half. Ths same
methods that built UP the business
cannot continue 1t. despite the argu-
ments Of the old-timers to the con-
trary. The people who support the
film realize its tremendous possi-
bilities. They. realize that the
tainment can be furnished, and they
are demanding that only that kind
Of entertainment be furnished.
They want cohedy. they want
travel, they want melodrama, they
want slap-stick stun Of a certain
well-though-out kind-in word.
they want everything that enters
into the making Of a theatrical pro-
duction. Knowing that the motion
pictures can give 1t to them. II the
manufacturers want to give 1t. they
are demanding that only the best OF
these several varieties shall be pro-
duced.
This Is the great Importance of the
communications that have been pub
lished in Thee Times-the. people arc
beginning to realize their power and
are beginning to put their power
into effect. There are Il, 900 people,
in round numbers. who attend the
motion picture shows of Washing
ton every day In the year-more
people than go to the regular thea
ters. more people than go to base
ball. to the pleasure parks. to any