The Washington herald., 1922-08-06

"A will terminate their season of summer
u stock at that playhouse next Satur-
day night With all due respect the man
agement of the Belasco. the closing comes none
too soon. particularly for those who view the
success OF the Selasco stock season q some
what shocking evidence OF washngton's real
fondness for what is colloouiaily known a.
'haymow" drama
Financially. the Belasco stock has
been a success and a big Furthermore.
il is the first summer stock enterprise prove
really successful at the box-ofice since the
Garrck Players of 1919 offered summer drama
to home-sick war-workers. To make the
rent Belasco success still more notable. Il
achieved in competition with a rival company.
already firmly established In the field. Lastly.
It's productions in many have achieved
engagements of two weeks In many instances.
while for twenty-one days
A rather remarkable stock achievement.
judged from all angles. is this success OF the
Belasco Players. but IL is a predicated
almost entirely upon a stock producers lack. 80
faith in washington's pretentions TO dramatic
consciousness and to his equally cynical willing
ness to prove his point by dosing the town with
bedroom farce of a quantity and quality to gag
a Iongshoreman.
Well. it's all ever. apparently but things
will never be quite the same. From all sp-
pearances. the Belasco Players could have gone
offering Hopwood and Wilson Collision until
Christmas. with the company bank account
growing Larger all the time. Fortunately, the
BeBsco producer, having proven his point sp-
pears to rest content
Only crumb of consolation semains.
He did not continue his cynical producing
until Christmas and he still leaves unsettled
the question OF whether Washington would
have turned. eventually. and rended him.
Personally. doubt it. The symptoms point
the other way. For nine or ten consecutive
weeks. Washington gulped down these
of farce and constantly clamored for
II is possible that in days come the
stage will be made safe for democracy and
such exhibitions OF civic taste In the thester
will be spared US. In the meantime. though.
let US speak no of Washington demanding
the beautiftf the good and the true before the
footIights.
1t doesn't match up with the fsctsi
~ UTE the most hopeful sign discerned
tn, pn9'|D,.' n,ars1. :. tn. new ,S.
moviemakers TO face and even TO court
criticism OF their product In some mysterious
fashion they have suddenly srasped the idea
that without criticism the screen must continue
result OF this realization seems to be a perfect
craze for photoplay analysis that permestes
the whole industry.
Here. indeed. 10 . new ethical departure.
That time is still within memory when the
barest suggestion Of photoplsy criticism would
drive the movies to the verge of panic. while
even within own civic precincts exhibitors
have barred from their theaters some truth
seeker Of more than average frsnkness.
The producers, Of course. always long
tended that criticism of their product
highly welcome, but their contention was safely
colored by the fact that the entire exhibition
fraternity feared criticism with q deadly fear
and fought It increasingly with all arms.
Just when this change stole the
hibitors is not altogether clear. Up to q year
ago they were still openly hostile to the idea.
but some time since last Labor Day a
idea seems to have seized them and the game
of gambling their offerings against . critics
judgment is that holds a and
fascination for them
This tendency OF the movies TO face crfti-
cism 10 admittedly very hopeful. It shows that
makers and exhibitors Of plays have
acquired a respect for their work. II In
dicates. also. that the industry is slowly. but
perceptibly. throwing on tendencies which
made the screen almost impossible TO critieiss
Most important of all. Il 10 symtomatic Of
q radical change In the mental habits OF mill
lions Of American movie patrons Somehow.
somewhere the confirmed motion -picture fan has
acquired critical faculty. He .s becoming
privy to the basic elements Of drama ana By
constant and habitusi inspection OF the screen
he is developing a species of sophsticatson.
This. in turn. is reflected IN q tendency TO pick
and choose what he thinks he wants ana TO
ignore those offerings of mere surface gaudiness
with this step achieved IN the evolution Of
. theatergoer the entrance of criticism into
the equation becomes almost inevitabiaL