The Washington times., 1916-02-08
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
By GARDNER MACK.
Views Of Points Of
ViegU of Nations
Thinkers Made
in Film Form
BY GARDNER MACK.

Publicists. statesmen. lecturers. sci
entists, and others are being given a
new form Of expression for their
thoughts in a novel motion picture
series that has lust been developed
for the purpose Of actually giving
views or pictures illustrating the
points of view of such people on live
topics Of the daY. The idea is to give
in pictures the things that the best
known, thinkers arc. advocating
Colonel Roosevelt's views on pre-
DaIedness: Prof. Hugo MunstCrbcrg, =
ideas of psychology: Prof Spcrry's
explanation of the RvrosCoDe: some
Dody's plans for better babies" etc.
are being gathered into picture form.
The Paramount company Is respon-
sible for the idea. and the first series
of pictures is about ready TO be
shown. The idea has come in for
considerable comment among the
people with whom Ii has been dis
cussed. there having been no public
announcement made of II until the
hackers OF the scheme see how II
VIII really work out In pictures.
1t would seemed to be an excellent
scheme. Especially as the men who
are the authors of the Views to be
expressed in pictures will themselves
oversee the preparation Of each set
OF pictures. That is. no set will be
sent out until II has been edited and
revised by the person whose
thoughts IL represents.
Charles f.. Meyer, who is one Of
the authors Of the idea. is enthusl-
astic as to its possibilities.
This is not visuallzing news" de-
Clares Mr.. Meyer. But it Is pic
turizing big, vital thought, 1t as
founded the audience we gathered to
see it in the studio. Its contents car
iaA ft, IL sls.,,
thoughts and ideas OF such men as
Theodore Roosevelt. ex-President OF
the United states; Frederick Palmer.
the war correspondent: Henry Reu-
terdahl, naval expert: Elmer A.
Sperry, inventor: Prof Hugo Mum
sterberg, psychologist, OF Harvard
University; J. Zalud. Costumer and
designer; j. II. Bray. cartoonist;
Waldemar Kaempffcrt. editor OF
Popular Science Monthly: Lcggett
IL Grucn. trick photographers. and
many others.
ut is an eNemplifiCation Of the
fact that tho photoplaY theater Is TO
exist as an increasing source Of
good and an influential factor in
every community. JudiciouslY said.
they are educational. but lacking
that mechanical mOnOtOny so often
seen In the sO-cRlled 'educa tional.'
replacing this by q distinct individu-
ality.
"One of the contributing editors
gives his big ideas on Preparedness.
Naval and Military another on
How to put the Gyroscopc to work.
or Testing the Mind Better Ba-
hies.' and a score of other subjects,
psychological. technical. educational.
comical. trickful. all for the better
ment. Of humanity. Your personal
ideas upon these subjects may be
unfOrmulated. but pictured Vividly
on the screen precisely az n Roose-
Welt. II Palmer. Rcuterdahl, a
MunSteTberg, or Sperry have
thought them. these ideas become
rare food for mental rumination.
so it is that they teach: they be
come a motion picture university Of
thought. a university where indus
try, manners, charity. politics,
safety first or any % the great hu-
;uanities of life can be portrayed. Its
instruction is given IN such pleas
ing form that the audience-the pu-
pils-never for a single instant real
iZe that they are actually being
taught: they feel as II they were he
ing amused. But they think, they
think, they think decplv. aud OF
vital things. Their thoughts, will
mold their upiniOns aud th"ir opin-
ions will mold their characters"
O. NJ