The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-12-13

1T would be lnadVlSable to nave them
because they would have to condemn
the picture and tell their friends to
stay away. Her words will now carry
weight, because she and her friends
have already shown a desire to help
| him make success of his business.
Even an exhibitor who has been in
the habit of running the poorer class
of pictures could be educated in this
manner to put on better type. Why
has he presented the "thrillers," the
! pictures of crime and violence? Be-
cause his patrons have seemed to de-
sire them. But suppose now the bet
ter class of people begin to attend his
| theater and commend whatever they
see that is good, with an occasional
criticism of the other kind. He will
at once try to satisfy this better class
of patronage, and thus in time the
whole character of his place may be
changed.
The women may further aid the
local exhibitor by learning the names
of the very best pictures being pro-
duced and put in request for some
cf these. The local exhibitor can just
as we'll get later run of these pic
lures as to put on the earlier run of
| the cheaper pictures, and he will do
i so if he feels that the community WILL
patronize the better pictures in larger
numbers.
Moreover. this plan has wider bear
ing on the question at issue than
might at first appear. AS the de-
mands from the theaters change in
character so will the productions
change. After all, it is money that
talks, and if good pictures are made
financial success, good pictures will
be produced in increasing numbers.
This is form of local democratic
censorship that should appeal to every
one, because each one can feel that he
or she is having a part in the great
work of making motion pictures con-
tribute to the better side of the ma
tion's life.
Still more definitely may motion
pictures be used for greater pur-
pose in the field of education. We are
just beginning to glimpse the wonder
full things that may be done through
the use of the truly educational mo-
ton pictures. Here, also, is there
great need for the active cooperation
of the women.
Before this work can be carried
forward to any great degree, many
real educational motion pictures must
be produced-pictures that are made
for classroom work, with an under
standing of the child's need and the
best way of using the motion picture
to meet those needs. But they cannot
be made in any great numbers until
such a demand has been created for
them as shall induce producers to in
vest their money, feeling sure that
they will be able to receive adequate
returns for their efforts.
This means educating the general
public to realization of work that
may be done by such motion pictures,
so that they will be willing to have a
greater proportion of the school-funds
appropriated for this form of visual
instruction.
In this work also women can play
an important part. They can talk with
the school authorities and show them
/ the latest pfinted word upon that sub
ject. In New York city, visual IN
struction association has been formed
to assist the director of visual instruc-
ton to put motion pictures in the
school curriculum, and a similar step
might be taken in smaller communl-
ties.
Then public exhibition should be
given of the very best motion pictures
yet made. They can not be secured
from the theatrical exchanges, but
their names can be supplied upon re-
quest. Having already established
cordial relations with their local eX-
Ihibitor, the women will probably have
no difficulty in securing the use OF
his theater without charge for morn
ing exhibition to which the school au-
thorities and the parents together
with the children may be invited.
One such exhibition will do more to
Econvince people of the effectiveness
of motion pictures as a means OF IN
struction than six months or year
of talking about it.
With minds awake to their oppor-
tunities, the women will discover that
! vital