The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-01-06
TEARS AND CHEERS GREET IT
Throngs Feel Thrill of Great Moments
of History But Rise to Highest Pitch
of Enthusiasm When Pictures of
Chivalry Stir Red Blooded Men.

Kenosha after waiting for months
saw "The Birth of a Nation on Sun
day. Two thousand people at the two
performances at the Rhode Opera House
laughed, and cheered-yes and wept as
the great pictures of historic note and
historic interest were thrown on the
screen in connection with the great
Griffith spectacle. The Birth of Ma
ton is the greatest development of the
movies. - Tt is more than a picture
1t is wonderful presentation of the
most stirring scenes in the history of
the nation. And the music-without it
the Birth of a Nation would not be
nearly what it is. The music in itself
is the greatest program ever Offered in
Kenosha and the music setting off the
triumph of the photo play art brings a
three hours entertainment which for
thrills, for smiles and for tears has
never been approached in Kenosha.
The only thing that bothers one is that
the beauty of the music sometimes takes
the attention away from the picture End
make one want to go back and see it
all over again for fear he has missed
some of the thrilling moments.
Kenosha was not any too enthusiastic
at the first showing of the great pic
ture. There were ripples of applause
when Lincoln was shown signing the
first call for volunteers. Tt was led
by members of the Grand Army who
were prominent in the first crowded
house that saw the picture. The peo-
pie cbeered little more when they saw
Grant and Lee signing the famous terms
of surrender. They Wept when the as
sassin IS bullet cut short the life of the
War President but they never really
cheered and got into the real spirit of
the picture until the chivalry Of the
South was shown arising in defense of
the womanhood Of the South. From the
time the pictures Of the Ku Klux Klan
were introduced until the curtain fell
on the final triumph Of peace there were
cheers and applause a-plenty.
The historical pictures thrown on the
screen are of great interest, the battle
scenes are filled with awe and wonder.
So faithful is the presentation of the
| famous battles that it seems that one
can hear the shouts Of victory and the
moars of defeat as shown in the mimic
reproduction. But the Birth of Ma
tion wins applause when it comes to the
heart interest. One is awed by the
first few reels, his patriotism is stirred
by the triumph of Old Glory but in The
second I art of the picture when South
ern Chivalry rises to it's greatest height
| the heart strings are touched and one
just finds himself impelled to cheer.
The production is so stupendous, so
filled with features that it would re-
quire columns to tell of all the stirring
scenes. The thousands of men and wo-
men taking part in the great scenes are
all flesh and blood people and in
mimicry they suffer again the wrongs
of misguided people. 1t is. picture
which nus prove of greatest interest
to any one in whose blood is a faint
of the old South. 1t is peculiarly South
ern in tone. The makers of the picture
have wandered far from the ttClans-
man = on which the picture is founded
but in getting away from the original
story they have added thrills and thrills
and thrills. It may be that the pictures
have been over drawn, that they are
mistaken idea in some ways of what
happened III the South after the war
but be that as it may the fact does lot
prevent these same scenes making up
the most heart-gripping drama ever pre-
sented. The plot of the play is never
lost sight of even in the thrilling scenes
of battle when the night riders 90
abroad to enforce justice in the battle of
the whites against the blacks. The
romance is one tinged with beauty
and its characters always attract.
They are manly men and lovable wo-
men and given as they are setting
wonderful in historic lore they can not
but interest.
Such spectacle as the Birth of q
Nation is made possible only through
the mediu~' Of the photo play. 1t would
be impossible to produce it in any other
manner.
It is certain that thousands of Ke-
nosha people will see the great lesson
in history and patriotism during the
remaining days of the week.
The Birth of a Nation must be a great
spectacle for it is the only spectacle
that has shown in Kenosha which could
force the people of the city to stand
while the Star Spangled Banner was
being played. That great crowd of
Sunday not only stood but it cheered
and some &c the ones who were most
under the spell of the great picture
joined the singing the chorus.