Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-25

MaxurIiA writes: I0u can argue |
yourself nutty over the abstract values
Of GOOD and bad in the movies and
award the palm to the most able chin
musician, who, in nine cases out Of ten,
will not believe what he proves. But
there is no doubling the influence of
GOOD music in connection with q moving |
picture show. 1t is impossible for me
TO reproduce the emotion, the fine, rap.
turous feeling which the right kind of
music will generate in the average
movie goer. One has similar feeling
when he enters large room with
heavy tapestries, deep carpets. Orien.
tai perfume and shaded lamps that cast
long shadows on the walls.
Fortunately for our great esthetic
deyelopment and the raising of movie
music to the highest artistic, standard,
several men have realized the high po-
tential effect of good music and they
have given US a splendid orchestra. But
all movies cannot have an orchestra.
They do, however, have an organ,
furnishing the noise their patrons ex.
pect with their pictures. Apparently
the managers of these places give little
or no thought at all to the selection OF
Incidental music. Some Of them seem
to think 1t makes no difference what
kind of music they serve their patrons.
What wish to affirm is that the ease
with which the average audience can be
imposed upon in this respect Is not to be
taken as an indication of their in:
ability to recognize and appreciate good
music.
II don't suppose we really ought to
blame the managers. No doubt they
mean well-and that's damning them
with mighty faint praise. They seem
to think that because the people do
not rise up and demand good music 1t Is
not necessary to furnish It.
1T Is not at all improbable that pro-
ducers of good pictures will distribute
with their films a musical program best
suited to the pictures. 1t is also very
likely that managers will take some
the organist or orchestra Is playing
and thus make 1t unnecessary for per-
sons in the audience to ask: i wonder
what the name of that piece is?'
''Devotecs Of the cinema should de.
mand that some progress be made along
these lines. But the progress should
not he so great that the general public
Is unable to keep up with it. Some
time ago there was great deal OF
talk in the newspapers of how we were
to be raised to some higher plane upon
music of sound. Beautiful colOrs were
to take the place of beautiful melodies.
They were to take the place Of the
piano, violin and orchestra. Fortu-
nately for musicians and music publish
ers, and perhaps for the rest Of the
world, great deal of raising Is still
found necessary.
"We are all emotional to some ex-
tent, even though we don't like to con-
iess it. And when the picture calls
for tears it is always the music that
violently or laugh. When out with the
fellows we will scornfully laugh down
all show of sentiment, but tucked away
In the privacy of our own subcon-
scious souls, in the darkness of movie.
music will bring a profound rapture,
limltless and without farm, and we
shan't be far from good deed or a
kind thought.
Therefore, II you like good music,
Thny hy don't you tell the movie manager
hope somebody else seconds or adds
70 the thoughts expressed by Mazurka.
Ihere are all kinds of possibilities in
,ne subject. and yet l don't believe I've
mad three letters since the Letter Box
started along these lines.)
Tho Spleler-Fire away with your
questions. This is one of those places
where you don't have to knock before
vp opening the door. Sure, / can read
NJ. Q. l.. writes: ut Is impossible
gor me to 90 into rhapsodies over your
LetterboI, since am not in town regu-
;ariy and therefore do not read it day
IN and day out. And with rhapsodies
SGe must begin ones letters. No?
wen, one gains that impression from
your correspondents letters.
.. Neither am ! a regular attendant
a. the movies ! still have difficulty
writing that word without quotation
MARKS MARKS around 1t. But have seen some
pictures, and have ideas on what l
lave nsve seen. And should like to disagree
WI. WIN one point of Kensington Liliom's
,s!ter Cdoes he know what Liliom
meansO published June 2S. He holds
~ me hdelity to detail of Won Stro-
as no Foolish Wives as worthy, op-
pSsed to Grifiith's anachrOnisms in Or
Pnans of the Storm Now l certainly
nold no brief for Griffith's pictures in
s.neral nor Orphans of the Storm in
paiucular. saw it the other night,
ana IN my opinion it's pretty awful
nna l have not seen Foolish Wives,
aor 40 l intend to-call me prejudiced
a. What You will. But this Is my point |:
tHheeqracy Of detail, does 1t really deserve
sie nigh position Of Importance we have
tns Sssh 1t, greatly. l believe, under the
SIauence OF the movies? Personally it
nt disturb me at all II the heroine
,vss ,,s the house in large hat and re-