The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-08-17

stance of abbreviation even among the
Spanish speaking people-the full-fiedg
ed name, "cinematografo," having
proved too burdensome even for them.
And as suggested, everyone takes them
in-aristocrat and peon, rich and poor,
young and old, all classes and kinds
except the unfortunate blind. In a mat
ter of popularity and character of at,
tendance, therefore, the movie" has
nothing on the 'sinema," but there
are some few points of difference in
the way they are managed.
In the Rio de Janeiro, for instance
the best motion picture theatres do not
follow the custom of allowing patrons
to drop in and out at will. A film is ac
vertised to begin at a certain hour oil
the afternoon or evening; at the ap
pointed time doors are closed, or in
most cases a heavy and highly decor
ated curtain is dropped, and the show
in the auditorium begins. A rather
roveI arrangement, also noted in 9th
err Brazilian cities is the waiting lobby
Immediately in front of the entrance
proper. After purchasing a ticket the
patrons enters the lobby or corridor,
takes a comfortable seat and waits un
til the termination of the first section
of the play, the time of which may be
a few minutes or half an hour. While
waiting, one may listen to the band OF
music, which may be heard equally
well by those within the lobby or in
the audience. At times the crowds be-
come congested, and all the lobby
seats are occupied; in such cases the
ticket seller witholds further admis
sions and the swelling crowd of wait
ing patrons must remain in the street
until seats are available.
"In most of the larger cities of South
America the motion picture theatres
represent considerable outlay of cap.
ital. If they have not been constructed
especially for this class of business
they are in most cases buildings that
have been modernized, and elegance
and attractiveness are leading featur-
es.. In recent, years come of the finest
playhouses have thrown, open their
doors for moving pictures,ta fact that
permits the humble citizen to get with
in the marble palaces of amusement
that adorn most South American capf
tails. The business, too, has made It's
way to the smaller town even to the
hamlet, where the amusement appears
to be just as popular as in the great
cities, and often forms the only source
of diversion. In not a few cases the
most attractive place in the growing
town is the new building or theatre
where the cinema" is shown"
In regard to prices of admission,
they are generally considerable higher
than in this country. In Brazil, which
is perhaps typical of all the countries,
the import duty on films is about $3.50
per pound; while for an average mo-
ton picture machine duty of $50
must be paid. To the. above amounts
must be added certain smaller taxes,
stamps, brokers fees, etc, all Of Which
act as check on more active IMPORT
ations. Accordingly, the admission
fees to the shows are higher, than in
the United States, % to rs cents being
not an uncommon charge, In a new
motion picture theatre in Rosario, Ar
gentina, a traveller paid AZ cents for
ticket which was good for only an
ordinary seat, a. box seat in the same
house being quoted at $1.27 in addition
to the general admission. In other cit
les the ordinary admission is from l5c
up and nowhere was the price as low
as ) cents, so common in this country.