The Washington times., 1938-07-18

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attend most frequently, such as
Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I am happy to report that the
film productions of the current
and past two seasons have had
a higher family rating than at
any period in the history of the
industry. Never before have so
many splendid clean-cut motion
pictures been released, most of
them based on the finest
masterpieces of history, litera-
ture and drama.
In the past several years I
have been experimenting with
all-comedy shows at regular in
tervalS, designed for the enter
tainment of the smaller chill
dren. These programs consist of
carefully selected short sub
jects featuring the most popu-
lar cartoon characters and lead
ing comedians. We have been
greatly surprised to find that
more adults than children at
tend these shows.
HELPING THE NEEDY
1t is the duty of the neigh
borhood exhibitor not only to
cater to the children and fam
lily trade of his theater, but to
cooperate with all organizations
working for the welfare Of ju-
venileS. In our own case, we
have presented annual Christ
mas toy matinees which have
brought Yuletide cheer and
thousands Of toys, articles Of
clothing and foodstuff to legions
of poor children.
Our annual Easter egg hunts
have brought happiness to
thousands Of youngsters. At
present we are working on
plans to raise money for a milk
and lunch fund for underpriVi-
legged children for the next
school term, as we'll as a method
of admitting needy children to
our theater each week without
charge.
The theater business runs in
cycles, and there are rumblings
in the air Of a return to vaude-
vile, in combination with pic
lures. I don't know just how
long it will take, but I predict
that there will be a return to
this policy sometime in the
near future. Theater-goers still
like to see good flesh" acts,
and with the added impetus
given new talent by the Major
Bowes' type Of amateur shows,
we should have plenty Of fresh
vaudeville material on hand.
RUNNING OLD PICTURES
In concluding my Literary"
efforts for this semester, I
would like to dwell for q para
graph or so on the current
practice of replaying motion
picture productions that were
old favorites. Long a custom
in the legitimate theater of the
road" the idea has emerged
in the film industry from few
scattered instances to a def.
initely established business, con-
Quoted on a national scale, with
both the small town and the big
city exhibitor and distributor
probing dark and dusty vaults
for the big successes of yester-
year.
It has been found that good
motion pictures, like good plays
and good books, will bear re-
peating.
In order to supply exhibitors
with a sufficient number of
films to meet their weekly
changes, the producers find it
necessary to make a number of
program pictures to meet this
demand. With the revival of
former hit shows increasing in
popularity, the producers this
season will attempt to eliminate
many Of the low budgeted new
pictures and substitute film
masterpieces that proved highly
successful in previous years.
BANNER SEASON DUE
In my estimation pictures like
"Show Boat" "Ruggles of Red
Gap" "The Informer,' Billy
the Kid" "Scarface," THE Good
Earth" Trader Horn" Trail
of the Lonesome Pine" Lives of
a Bengal Lancer" 100 Men
and a Girl" Magnificent OBJ
session" and the numerous
other films that have been re-
vived of late are much better
than some of the newer pic
lures that Hollywood has had
to grind out in order to keep up
with the demand for product.
I predict that the addition Of
old hits to the big new pictures
already scheduled will make
the coming season a banner one
for the film industry.
Well, I've done it! Here it is
the bottom of the column, and
time to sign off. I hope I
haven't bored you with my ef-
forts at Kelleygramming. Wish
ing you many hours of continued
happiness and enjoyment in our
theaterS, I'll leave you till Andy
vacations once more.