South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-22
PUBLISHERS AND
MOVIE MEN AGREE
ON FAIRY TALES
Motion Picture Application
of Juvenile Classics is
Heartily Endorsed.

Motion picture exhibitors appear
10 be offered a prosperity hint In
the report Of book publishers who
met and discussed trade matters in
Chicago recently. It is no news IN
the picture world that the same quail
files which make best sellers" IN
the book stores are apt 70 lift the
screen feature or short subject into
profitable popularity. The publish
ers' report IN question agree that the
public demand for juvenile litera-
ture, even in these dull times. is in
creasing 20 an extent that frequent
~ places books OF that class In the
list OF best sellers"
In that list of course. certain
classics. like Mother Goose Alice
in Wonderland" and "Br'er Rabbit"
are fixed quantities The point Is
that children's books approaching
the quality OF these more and more
are sharing IN their huge circulation.
Before this. publishers have been
wont ia refer 20 "Aesop's Fables as
"A perennial favorite the world over
for general circulation coming close
10 the Bible. the latter being the
champion wherever books are print
ed and sold Also it is we'll known
that sO-called juvenile books OF the
best quality and entertainment value
make the favorite reading OF the
adult members Of the family as well
as OF the particularly when
they deal with the marvellous or with
animals
These facts - and the suggested
picture application - are brought to
attention OF exhibitors by Elmer
Pearson, Pathe director Of ex-
changes. who naturally is in posses
sion Of figures TO support the point
he makes; namely. tina we'll de
motion pictures having a direct APP
peal 10 juvenile interest are bound TO
be popular with the general picture
going public.
THE best possible evidence of
this" said Mr.. Pearson. lis con
tanned in reports from branch ex-
changes - records OF sales in all
parts OF the country. Two instances
stand out prominently first. the
short subject series called The Ad-
ventures OF Bill and Bob now cell
ebrated everywhere. and the later re-
leases Of tho animated cartoon series
bringing 10 the picture screen the
immortal fables Of Aesop. with the
general title OF 'Aesop's Film Fables.
These two series are widely diff
ferent in character: but the anaIog-
Gus in subject and form 10 what IS
called Juvenile literature. The latter.
founded on one Of the worlds great
est liSTary classics. leaps into instant
popularity. first. for that very reason,
and. second. because Of the extra
ordinary cIeverness with which Il is
brought up 10 date The underly-
ing truth and useful philosophy is
Just as apparent as In the original
fables. while the ingenuity OF the
adapter ana the resources Of the
= screen add immeasurably TO the
comic effects and the general enter
tainment offered.
'In the case OF The Adven lures
of BILL and Bob the screen fur
nishes a series Of original master
pieces probably truer to life and bet
ter rs Juvenile literature than any
thing Of the kind that has vet ap-
peared IN books The twin heroes
are 1t-year-old boys and vet their
feats OF catching and subduing dan
gerous wild animals appeal 70 adults
emDhatically as a grown mans job
Nobody. OF any age, seems able 10
resist the attrac tions Of these whole
some and realistic OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
as few. Of any age. fail TO be capuv-
ated by the books listed as Juvenile
classics"