The Washington times., 1918-05-24
GOING TO THE
MOVIES
Prof. McKeever Sug-
gests Forming Neigh
hood Parties.
By William A. McKeever.

DoRM a movie 5arty with ten or
a dozen Of the LeiEhbors and
their families a. msmsers. Il
Is great
In a certain city residences dis
triet OF modest homes and domestic
sentiment there are eleven families
which attend the motion picture en-
tertainments In a body about once
per week. and they have developed
this practise into a delightful social
ahair. che entire party includes
forty-two members and. a. a rule.
the entire group goes out together.
Try their plans and you will like Il
The neighborhood party here re-
ferred to = well organized There
IL division OF labors. A commit
tee on selection OF the hlm pro-
Erammes. two young women who
are employed downtown. secure ad-
vance Information about the alma
And It Is Up to them to detsrmins
what is best and mos, pleasing for
the W ls company.
Another member. ar Insurance.
man. Is purchasing agent. author
lied to secure the tickets ia ad-
vance and t. reserve a suitable
block. OF seats for the company. A
high school boy is accountant and
hookkeeper At the end OF each
month he renders a bill 10 ths head
Of each family for the price Of their
tickets for the period. A treasurer.
who Is a successful business man.
guarantees the entire bill to the the
atre manager and settles monthly.
There Is a double II not a triple
significance to this neighborhooa
movie scheme which eommends lt
strongly. In the hrst place it fur
nishes q splendid opportunity fer
social contact These city neIgh-
bors are actually getting acquainted
with one another. There Il = ais
tanes Of nearly two miles to ride
on the car 70 reach the theatre
and the theme OF the hln furnishes
. eongsnial topic Of convsrsation-
But the larger motive for thIs
movie organization is that OF secur-
ing -ths- best availabIe nIn pro-
grammes for the children Of the
groups. It is reeognitiou af tie
inherent right OF the child to have
the best Of everything in his asid,
the best Of everything suited to the
advancement Of his education ana
development
The motion picture a. Il : nov
is a very extensive and
intensive form OF instruction for
the young. But its good or III sf-
fects depend upon the selection ot
the Aims and the management Of
the children in the matter Of the
attendance. The happy company
here commended refuses to attend
= show. no matter how attractive
It's appeal. unless the committee On
advance information finds II to b
1nquestionably a desirable enc foe
the children Of the group to SEE
Finally. the purchasing agent e
he company, being q man Of IN
usual judgment In such matterI
assumes the role OF critic Of the
nlms and reports his hndingl
weekly to the manager OF the the
tire The Snowman has already
earned TO defer to. the opinions OF
.his voluntary critic and is trying
10 make use Of such help in the i'm.
Drovement OF the quality Of All has
This movie party is a new dis
,overy on my part There may be
others like II. But Is there not
here suggested a new and Valu-
lble form Of censorship. a way
whereby the more interested pa
.rons may assume a sort OF co-part-
with the theatre manage
nent in an EFFORT to make the mo-
ion picture what IL really ought
% be as a faStor in the lives of
he young?