Evening star., 1926-11-07
NWO hundred and eighty-two
thousand and nine hundred
W. eh;r ~%1os,o. ,&xnoA <ha

tHOuSanQ ana nine nun0reQ
Washingtonians attend the
photoplay theaters Of the
Capital each week. This startling
figure Is reached by a survey recent
ly completed which takes in all the
cities of the United States having
more than 100000 population. Wash
ington has developed into one of the
great photop1ay centers Of the ooun
try, the theaters of the city number
ing 81. The weekly attendance fig
ures are important. showing just how
much the residents of the District of
Columbia depend upon the photop. ay
houses for their amusement. The
figures are compiled, after careful
study, by the Motion Picture News.
one of the leading periodicals Of the
industry.
And. to go on with figures. 21,765,-
366 movie fans of the United States
attend their favorite theaters each
week in 66 cities having more than
100000 inhabitants The total num-
Der of photoplay theaters in the 66
cities Is 3.lS3.
Styles in the movies change like
the fashions--and just about as often,
too. Present indications point to-
ward a reign of historical films"
Libraries report an increased demand
for historical novels, a situation
which is credited to the modern
photoplays. And while many films
of the historical variety have already
been made and have had their runs,
the day of such pictures is only COM
ing on, according to directors and
producers.
A movement is on foot to save the
historical films for the future gen
crations, together with the news
reels and film portraits of notables.
These cans OF cellu,old, if present
plans n1aterialize. will be placed in
the new archives building here in
Washington.
The sex play is dead. Hail the
historical
Down around Washington Square.
in New York, group of sophisti-
Gates have started something new in
the photoplay line-a movie theater
where children are not admitted
y.
moved, either, when many considered
the photoplay an attraction for chill
dren, and here we have a theater
where the youngsters are not admit
ted. even when accompanied by
grown-ups The first production of
the theater is "Dr. Caligaris Cabi-
net" which was exhibited at the
Wardman Park Theater. in Wash
ington, several weeks ago.
It has long been considered that
ohildike simplicity and sweet real
ism were paramount i'll the manufac-
ture OF finn attractions. The modern
directors are getting away from this
idea. through the aid OF the European
producers. "Dr. Caligari's Cabinet"
is An example Of what can really be
accomplished with the camera. and
it is a fitting picture to be closely
studied by many American directors.
Although not heralded as one of
the superpictures. "Bardelys the
Magnificent" which opened at the
Columbia a week ago today, was a
big job for its director, King Vidor
As many as 5000 persons took part
IN various scenes, and the large num-
Der of picturesque costumes were
cared for by Is wardrobe men and
women. Twenty makeup men were
required to prepare the extra people
for their camera work, and 25 assist
ant directors were used. Twenty
cameras shot the scenes from various
angles. In arranging the kings train
the vehicles used were exact repro
ductions of those of the period.
David Wark Griffith started work
some time ago for Paramount. For
many years he was hailed as the
greatest of all movie producers and
directors. He was supposed to be a
real treasure" for the Paramount
organization. and eyes and ears were
turned toward Paramount opera
tions.
Then the producer who brought
out THE Birth of Nation went to
work. and from his labor came "The
Sorrows of Satin from the Corelli
novel of that name. The picture was
much advertised and then given a
first performance in New York.
Nnuy fter , y5t,, ~ sc c,;d - hn J;r