The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-13
OThe Editorial Page of The Daily Ardmoreit@ q
OKLAHOMA BANDIT MOVIES

n lem llON is uTecteu W tHe SoHeWHal
L remarkable letter from Mr.. Donald G.
BrintOn, printed today in the Free Forum on
this page. Possibly Mr.. Brinton may be put
ting over some press agent stuff for the re-
nowned Mr.. AL Jennings and the likewise re-
nowned Mr.. Henry Starr, but we give space to
his letter because it provides opportunity to
say few things which seem timely.
Our correspondent writes: "What the boy
will see at the picture where Starr plays the
leading role is the reenactment of the thrill
ing and picturesque beginnings of this com
monwealth of Oklahoma. Are you gentlemen
ashamed of the rough and somewhat crude
but romantic beginnings of your state?"
We cannot answer for Mr.. K. L. Gregory
of our esteemed weekly contemporary, but we
desire to state that we have not the slightest
degree Of admiration for the deeds of men who
deliberately set out to rob banks and trains.
AS to such deeds being part of ''the thrilling
and picturesque beginnings" of Oklahoma, it
may be mentioned that only last week, on one
day three banks in Oklahoma were robbed by
thrilling and picturesque" bandits. 1t would
appear, therefore, that "the rough and some
what crude but romantic beginnings" Of this
commonwealth did not end with the outlaw
careers of Mr.. Jennings and Mr.. Starr Hardly
month passes but that some gang Of despera
does robs an Oklahoma bank. Occasionally,
also, gang holds up train in Oklahoma. We
admit freely that such things are Somewhat
rough and crude" but we deny that there is
anything romantic about them. To US they look
exactly like raw, rude, rough and crude fel
OnieS.
There are many incidents in the thrilling
and picturesque beginnings Of Oklahoma
which would make entertaining and edifying
picture films, without resorting to the some
what rough and crude affairs in which trains
were held up banks were raded and honest
men We're plugged with bullets Those thrill
ing and picturesque beginnings were highly ro-
mantle, but the banditries, which as we have
seen still occur and recur, are simply sordd
and ugly and indefensible from any standpoint
If the movie people would but resurrect for
lin production the decently romantic begin
lings of Oklahoma they would be giving the
,lder generation thrilling reminder of their
earlier days and the rising generation pictur
sque representation of the splendid deeds per- t
ormed by the pioneers. f
Our notion is that "the lawleSs atmosphere $
# those pistol toting days" should DE permitted !
O rest in the pit of its oblivion, without being
TIRED up and blown forth in the face of the
rowing youth of today. There are many rea
ons why such scenes should not be portrayed $
n the films. One reason is that, despite our ro u
lantic correspondents view to the contrary II
uch representations do create in the impress o
lonable minds Of the young false concept of n
fe.
Another reason is that such pictures, shown II
throughout the United States, do positive detri- o
lent to the reputation Of Oklahoma We have tt
allied attention heretofore to this fact, and it o.
worthy of further emphasis. The average
asterner knows Oklahoma chiefly by the
lood and thunder bandit and cowboy tales in Il
ction and on films. His idea Of the culture b.
this commonwealth is based very largely o
pom what he reads of the gun-toting, :,
)w-roping, somewhat rough and crude" per p
IN who represents but minute proportion of a,
lr citizenship. I'll
We do not agree with Mr.. Brinton in his .,
attitude toward the oldtime-or hi
le newtime-Oklahoma outlaw And we take be
lis opportunity to register an emphatic disap- II.
roval of any man who tries to commercialize
is past misdeeds. That sort Of stuff is not in in
uded in our idea of the proper thing to do. u,