Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-30

ne demands Of the most enthusiastic
movie fans have been satisfied. No
longer * II necessary for tn. follower
OF the iilm 10 go home at the carly
hour OF midnight, after the last show
IN the third house he visits has been
crossed. He can sit up and watch the
reel Just as long as the spirit sustains
him. He can get up and take his
breakfast at \. NJ. and go TO see 3,
picture show before work. even IL he
drives milk wagon. The all-night
movies have made their appearance.
Ihcy run the clock around. Several
cities already have managers too en-
terprisinS TO close just because 1t is
getting along toward morning: no
doubt II Will not be long before Mary
Pickforri theatcr parties at 3 a NJ are.
an established feature OF social life.
and film followers will watch the dawn
and Charley Chaplin flash forth to-
gethcr
Kansas city's aIl-nien, picture show
Is an inconspicuous feature of Twelfth
street early in the evening. II shines
forth as brightly as it's narrow front
VIII permit. but II is only one spark in
a long row Of illumination. Wait Ave
or six hours though until most OF the
street and the town has gone TO bed.
and it's white lights stand out like a
campfire In the tall timber II up
holds the greatness Of the movies in
spite Of a hostile clock and the hesct :
ting weakness OF mankind for slumbcr.
the average man, who likes his
movies. but also likes his sleep has
nevertheless a certain curiosity az TO
what strange class of humanity IL is
that makes it profitable to run a show
that never closes. SO tho average man.
after va!nly struggling against the
power OF Morpheus for two or three
evenings. finally takes :, cup OF black
coffee or a cold shower bath TO keep
himself awake and sallics forth 10 look
into the matter.
The narrow entrance gives into an
unexpectedly spacious little thenter
decorated with a quiet dignity that is
only fitting and proper. For this Is
more than IL mere picture show. II is
temple where tho real worshipcrs OF
the flm muse sit up with her through
tho night watches You arc no true
movie fan if you do not occasionally
obey that impulse TO watch reel
while tho morning star Is setting.
Early in the cvening-say at mid
nicht--thc crowd Is still typical
movie crowd. Family parties stiil hil
leaning asleep against it's fascinated
mother When the hero and tho vii
lain reel clenchcd about the little coun-
try schoolhouse and knock over the
stove TO tho great damage OF the
stove-pipe. the audience sits UP ana
says "A-ah!" as movie audiences Will.
Young men and the maidens they are
taking TO the show sit primly side by
side. About 1890 the hero marries the
school teacher. the pianist plays the
wedding march from I.ohengTin with
great JUNCTION. and most OF that au-
dicnce files out.
Making Night OF 10.
n leaves tho house somewhat cinptN.
and settling down to tho real bust
ness OF making "a night Of II. lhc
pianist removes his co"t revealing :,
pair Of ball-hcarinG suspcnlcrs draped
over burly shoulders. lie has need 10
he a man of stout physique. No early
quitting for him at l y. NJ. You won
der how he squares himself with the
Musicians Union. as he plays on and
on toward the dawn. He is indie
fatirablc. and full of the artistic CON
science His work Keeps up TO the
mark though his audience slunbers. lie
plays school Days for the school
scenes and the Light Cavalry over
turc" when somebody chaScS some
boGy; his tempo never faltcrs.
Meantime the real night audience is
drifting in. 1t dawns upon you that a
city does not really sleep at nights;
only a new set of characters comes
forth to use the strcets--aS schools arc
used under the Gary plan. By o'clock
the house is comfortably. but scatter
inEly. filled again. Everybody picks a
seat two or three distant from his
nearest ncighbor and sprawls over the
intervening chairs. The strict conven-
tionality of the ordinary picture show
is relaxed. Most of the newcomers are
in shirt sleeves: smoking is permit ed.
Mountaineering are struck up; crit
icism OF the film proceeds audibly. This
audience is blasc and cynical They
do not respond with Il single thrill. The
hero and the villain knock over the
stove again on the fifth round Of their
nightly grind without eliciting Il sin
gle gasp. One man leans his head on
his folded arms, draws long sigh
and goes to sleep. Presently he begins
TO snorc. The excellent pianist looks
disparaginEly over his shoulder. but
plays on never missing a beat.
Classifying the Audience.
4 good part Of the audience Is readily
identified and classified There are
taXicab chauffeurs. and motormcn off
duty at midnight, and n row OF walters
from various all-night lunches OF the
ncighborhood filing one corner Of the
hall with comment in tho tongue OF
Socrates. There Is the pretty cnshicr
OF nearby restaurant idcntihablc by
yellow rcncil stuck In her black hair.
Another young woman. rcsOlutc and
trinity dressed, causes 81 dozen nccks
to crane when she enters. You won
der what she is doing here, until pros.
emily sho produces q pencil and Il
block of pnper md begins to make
sketches. She evidently represents nrt
and the new woman and emancipation.
Probably shc has protector IN tho
background. Tho hnbitucs aigh md
sink back in boredom. Thcy AFRO uscd
To hcing sl<ctchcd.
Now and then Il gloomy nuh dignifled
COW punchcr drifts In. balances his
new Stctson on ono kncc wliiln he
smokes n cigarette, aud derprta in ten
minutes. Not 80 ono or two young