The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-11-27

nv r.. r. patten,

10y ~. \. fdtten)
Last October, "a much !, advertised
film, THE Covered wagon, wa,
shown at the Opera House III Skew.
hegan., or. coufse, It was more o,
less the subject Of. conversation FOL
sometime thereafter Being In
company. where this picture and II,
local. present atfefiz were, discussed, 1
heard a lady say that: she understood
the film here was abbreviated to quit,
an extent from that SHOWN In tn,
cities. She had not herself witness
ed It in the larger places but tn
rumof had come to her from others
who had seen ft, both" here ana else
where. heard, this, same oonversa
ton from at least two other people
While could see no motive. eithe
on the part of Smith g st. Ledger
the local theatre people, or the pro
dueers of the film, 1 thought IT. bes
to look ift6 the matter. Taking 1
up first with Smith a. st. Ledger.
learned that the Junior 'f6erfber of tina
firm. before making c6ntfact' to pro
duee THE Covered Wagon" in Skow
hogan, went 70 Portland and witness
ed its showing there He 4ofstcoufs'
saw the film in his own theatre saMl
stated emphatically that the two wer'
Identical. ~ - e ~
Not content with this, I wrote tn,
State OF Maine Office Of the Famous
Players ana received the followint
reply: ?"
FAMOUS PLAYERS-EAsKY
CORPORATION
Paramount Pictures
269 St. John ST., Portland; Maine
October 31st,
1924
Mr.. r. r. Patten,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Skowhegan. Maine.
Dear Sir: ''st
have your letter. of. October
9th which was forwarded to me
from our New York office, rela-
tive to the presentation of THE
COVERED, WAGON at the Opera
House, Skowhegan, on October
,22nd and 23rd'
If you care to, you maytelI your
readers that the perturbation of
THE COVERED. WAGON" as
presented at the Opera House was
identical with every other presen-
tation of this picture in this state.
| have often heard people In
the smaller towns express their
opinion that a picture shown in
small town is not the same as
it was when It was presented, in
larger towns. This Is an entire
~ erroneous idea except in states
where censorship Is q state law.
A film is never abbreviated or
any cuts made eliminating any
part OF the picture. Our pictures
are presented in their entire
length i'm the small communities
Identical with their presentation
in New York ana other OF the
larger cities in the country. From
the standpoint of economy alone.
It is ridiculous to think that we
make eliminations' from our pie
lures. The small town receives
the same picture as doesithe' 'larg
err towns, in fact, q print of the.
picture that plays the Strand
Theatre, Portland OF this week
will perhaps play the Opera
House, Skowhegan some time next
week. Both theatres using one
and the same copy of the pictures.
Thanking you very kindly for
your inquiry and hoping that you
viii be kind enough to devote
space In your paper to contradict
this erroneous idea that a few
people in Skowhegan entertain
concerning our pictures as pre-
scented in Skowhegan know
that 1t will be appreciated by my
company and also by my good
account, Smith and st. Ledger.
Yours very truly
w. H. ERBB
Mgr. Maine Exchange
Distance lends enchantment to thu
VIEW. There seems to be an un
fortunate quality in human nature
leading us to regard things just on
Of REACH or just out OF sight, O.
more admirable than when In plaii
view or near at hand. That sam
mental makeup accounts for the per
sistency of approximations; many o
which are harmless enough. blu
which in some instances do aetna
damage. When this tendency mani
4
tests itself to the disparagement
ones own Community or the occur
rences, IL is regrettable indeed. Their
is a couplet which runs:
Be to their virtues ever kind
And to their faults little blind
II the AFFAIRS of our frieRds an
neighbors seem to compare Nnfayor
ably with similar efforts elsewhere
wei snould be charitable in epr judg
Yfsent. 9Th most linstances we sinai
! lind that local ACTIVITIES are equal I
anything which the. rest Of the worl
can produce. Where a rumor, lik
that about The Covered Wagon,
comes, to our notice. let's form tn
mental habit of rejecting 1t as i'm
probable until proof is actually sub
mitted. That is our manifest dut
as loyal citizens OF Somerset Count,
Dies Suddenly atrMaine Central Sidln
i Joseph c. Patten dropped dea
] .s,t1 nj