The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-21
THEATORIALLY
Things That Would Never BE Said
Regarding Movies, ct eetera, in
Any Other Way.
BY HI.

We have seen "way Down East and
have paid two plunks per seat-some of US
to see it. Griffith's managers offer to
submit an audited report to prove that they
paid out $4,000 to make the film, evil
IDENTIFY in a campaign to make the public
believe that a screen production can be
This weeks issue of "The Motion Pic
ture World" recounts how the creditors of
one of Griffith's companies will be paid off
at one hundred cents on the dollar and the
receivership dissolved, because Mr.. Grif-
fifth wiped Off the largest of the charges
Not long ago it was revealed in an expose
of the so-called Million Dollar Picture
figures on one of the big films, tn director
had listed three Oriental rugs used as pur-
chased at $4,000 each when receipted bill
from the rug dealer showed that he had
rented those rugs for the production for
$500.
statements of fact are given for what they
may be worth. There seems to be a too
evident desire on the part of the movie
lures The time once was when we or
binary mortals could see fairly good
movie program at ten cents. OF course
those we are now seeing at three and four
times that amount per admission are far
superior to the ten cent variety, but are
they three or four times as good?
falling over themselves to pay two and
more per seat to see Way Down East" Is
dollars worth and they are actually salts
fled that they have had their moneys
worth after they come out of the theater
1t all rests in their hands. Be sure that
this is not the first feature that will be
put on the market at these prices. Seeing
the money Griffith is pulling down from
this picture other managers and maybe
Griffith will bring on others. If the pub
lie insist on paying the prices asked for
those that are to follow, their numbers will
increase until the forty cent movie program
will in few years become al much relic
of the past as the old ten cent show.
Mr.. Griffith insists that he is elevating
the new screen art. He certainly is making
the public pay for the elevation. He Is
actually putting something into the films
that has not been there before, but while
he is doing it is he killing the goose that
is laying the golden egg for the screen
producers? The public has only certain
If all is spent for one, show a layoff of a
week or so must be taken. Either that or
the public will be content with the cheaper
old order of things and the attempt to ele-
vate art will fail.
Inventions are only worth while IL the
production cost is within reasonable limits.
Elevation of the films may be desirable but
if the elevation is to lift the movies out
amusement they have become, then let the
screen stay where it is. Here is one thing
for both the public and Mr.. Griffith to
ponder upon. Way Down East is uni
versaIly rated as the second best picture
of the year. 1t moves aside, in the opinion
of practically all critics, for the German
| film Passion" The Griffith film shown
in Topeka at a scale of prices, the lowest of
which was so cents and from that ranged
up to So. passion" was shown here a few
weeks ago and the top price was so cents.
There is discrepancy somewhere.
"My press agent never revises anything
he writes about me-" says Owen Moore.
His motto is: Leave 1t as it lies"