The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-10-21
The Movies
BY moRDEN WARD.


dis'incrively educational institu
ton They point with pride 10 their
morali7ng influence upon society
To assist in the betterment OF so
ctai and economic conditions along
moral and educational lines is ever
their ambition
They solicit public patronage be-
cause OF that fact and solely for
that reason Amuse. educate, NOR
alize. or better educate and devel
op morally by means OF well So
lected system OF amusement
kindergarten for tots and grown
ups" expresses the enthusiastic
view OF what the motion pictures
aspire 20 DO.
Beyond question the picture
shows may be made-are being
made-a most potent power for
good in a community or city. No
public forum except the daily press
reaches so many people as the NOV
les. Consequently no institution is
so situated 10 WELD great influence
for good or evil or has imposed
upon It so great a responsibility.
am always slow 10 suggest 20
a man or set of men that their bus
mess need constitute grounds for
political or quasipolitical activities
but when a business advantage ist
an adjunct 70 a measure that rs
based upon sound moral. social and
economic principles, 10 point ont
that fact adds weight 10 any suF
gestion made in connection there
with
THAT is tho exact situation Of the
movies in the present dry campaign
n Michigan The effort 70 With
draw consent 70 issue saloon ii
ccnses in the state is not based pr
marily upon business reasons, and
VT good business in every line Of
n1ustrial or economic aCtivi'iee
'cmands that Il be done In Nc
rueiness is that demand more ON
rhatic than in that Of motion pic
tures Wherever a city, town or ".
'ago has closed the saloons the
noyies have profted
The following letter will need no
vplauation:
+ = Noble. Esq.
Vancouver y O.
Dear sir Ausv'crinr your inquiry
"a To- how Prohibition has anertc
our business here IN Seattle. 7 wish
20 saw since lamar 7, 1916. our bus
Ircss has doubled. and think % i~ tho
. hest thing that ever happened o."
state Of Washington and has made
moro ploRsur" FOR fNe women ard
children 7~ shown by their attend
arce ~ this theater afternoon and
:. myself. certainly believe in Dr..
Yours rcsoo-trul'y
GEO - TFT1
Asst Manager Hl7rodrotse Tr"u'or
This condition not only obtains
in seattle. which by the way IS
city OF over 10000 people and
fair index TO what may be expected
20 happen in Detroit, but The re-
ports are the same all over tho
country The reason IS plain \
man who spends his time and mon
~ in a saloon evenings ,ilov- his
vito TO have neither time nor
money 10 take tho children 10 mo
lion picture show The man does
not spend his money for drink be
cause he needs il. or even wants it.
He does so largely from habit and
always because Of convenience
Remove the convenience thai the
saloon affords and few men will
drink or care &c drink This g. not
only a sensible view Of il but il is
the experience in every non saloon
city or community Men drink from
Gubu and convenience Remove
the convenience which the saloons
afford and ninety per cent OF the
drink ceases and the other 10 per
cent serves only the more 10 cause
society 10 froVa upon II Were the
movies in Detroit and Wayne
county 10 unite with the other edn-
cational moral and religious innu /
onces 10 drive ont tho saloon they
would not only be acting in strict (
accord with the reputed object OF +.
their existence. but would be follow
ing the very best possible method
OF increasing their business When
an institution can embrace an on
por,unity TO show its value 10 so
| ciety in general and I'll its money
drawer AZ the same time. it is us
ually not slow TO embrace IL
When the churches. the schools. |
the temperance societies and other
moral and religious organizations
are al work. II is time for the mo
ton picture men TO get into the
game with them
Tho Michigan dry movement pre-
sonts the best opportun the mo.
vies have over had 10 demonstrate
their usefulness 10 society-and in.
| cidentally increase their income