Annoyed
Sirs:
As a newspaper publisher, I have read TIME ever since it was incorporated, not only to check up on the news of the week, but to make sure that I had things just right in my mind. In connection with the latter thought, I have been more or less annoyed where articles start out as a statement of fact and wind up by saying this isn't so but might have been.
I think your issue of Dec. 3 rubbed it in on me, when you came out on one page with the bald statement that General Butler had marched into Washington to become Secretary of State, followed up on a later page with the statement that the Columbia Broadcasting System had declared a 50% stock dividend. Things like this belong better in Ballyhoo, than in a dignified history of things of the present day.
A. S. INGALLS
Warm Springs, Va.
To Publisher Ingalls a gentle rebuke for slipshod reading. The "bald statement'' about General Butler began with the words: "One frosty dawn in November 1935 . . . ." The Columbia Broadcasting story said "will probably declare a 50% stock dividend"--which is precisely what CBS directors did the following week.
The hypothetical form of reporting, TIME finds useful for emphasis and clarity, will continue to use, as heretofore, sparingly.--ED.
Grubb's Party
Sirs:
You say Judge Grubb is a Democrat (TIME, Dec. 10). The Democrats here say he is a Republican. The Republicans here say he is a Democrat. No matter how he votes politically he is one of the smartest men in the nation. The people of Alabama are proud of him.
W. L. FADELY
Birmingham, Ala.
In one respect Smartest Man William Irwin Grubb sides with the Republicans: He considers himself a Democrat.--ED.
Book-Writing Monkeys
Sirs:
I think that either TIME (Dec. 10, p. 40) or Dr. Rhine of Duke errs in implying that the probability of an army of monkeys with typewriters producing all the books in the British museum is very remote. Stop me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me, both from reason and from memory of Sir Arthur Eddington's statement, that such monkeys, if they strummed long enough, would inevitably produce all such books.
W. W. DOLAN
Bacone, Okla.
The theory is best expressed by SirJames Jeans in The Mysterious Universe: ". . . If the universe goes on for long enough, every conceivable accident is likely to happen in time. It was, I think, Huxley who said that six monkeys, set to strum unintelligently on typewriters for millions of millions of years, would be bound in time to write all the books in the British Museum . . . the product of the blind play of chance.. . ."--ED.
Spinster's Kin
Sirs:
No relatives searched the house of late Spinster Louisa Herle in Brooklyn (TIME, Dec. 10) but representatives of Attorney Walter Jeffreys Carlin of the Lafayette National Bank, appointed temporary administrator by Brooklyn's suave Surrogate, George Albert Wingate.
It is probably safe to say that no relative has even entered the house, much less searched it, since apoplexy took Recluse Herle. In the absence of an effective will, second cousins make claims and counter-claims while closer kinsmen are being sought here and in Germany.
It was my good fortune to report exclusively the first major find and to break the story of the $500,000 haul a day ahead of any other newspaper. My interest in the story is only exceeded by my gratitude to Spinster Herle for having made it possible.
Not only a devoted reader but a onetime office boy-reject of TIME, I am
EDWARD C. REICHE
Brooklyn Times-Union
Brooklyn, N. Y.
To onetime Office Boy-Reject Reiche, congratulations on able newshawking.-- ED.
MARCH OF TIME
Sirs:
Permit me to congratulate you on your latest decision to present The March of Time in the movies. It has long been apparent that the newsreels, despite such excellent bits as pictures of the Marseille assassination, have failed, on the whole, to give real news. As people glance back at them 50 years hence, they will think all we ever did was to hold interviews, parades, army maneuvres, outboard races, and baby contests. May The March of Time give us nothing but real news.
I suggest two theatres in the neighborhood of Boston, where I think The March of Time in movie form would be much appreciated. One is the University Theatre in Cambridge ... the other is the Fine Arts Theatre in Boston. . . .
ZECHARIAH CHAFEE 3RD
Cambridge, Mass.
Reader Chafee is echoed by many another Harvardman nominating the University Theatre.--ED.
Sirs:
Through. P. T. A. I am a little in touch with the discouraging feeling of parents in regard to movies for children & youth. There is so very little that is suitable, so I am sure I voice the sentiment of many parents when I say a hearty welcome to your venture of the newsreel. It will be wholesome, instructive and fascinating. Many thanks. In Rochester, perhaps, Loew's, RKO Palace or Century would be the favored.
ELISABETH ALDEN
Rochester, N. Y.
While welcoming the attention of intelligent youngsters. The March of Time will be edited primarily for adults.--ED.
"Promoting"
Sirs:
. . . I'm gonna try to do a little promoting for M. of T. here in town.
I suggest you attack from other side. I would like to see The March of Time shown in either the Lyceum Theatre (Publix) or the Granada Theatre (independent) or both. . . .
J. ALLAN LUNDQUIST
Duluth, Minn.
Sirs:
. . . We have a very wonderful theatre in this town of 10,000 people, the United Artists, and I am urging that your product will be shown in that theatre as soon as possible. . . .
HERBERT LOWDERMILK
El Centre, Calif.
Sirs:
... A large group of TIME-readers and March of Time enthusiasts are awaiting the debut of your first reel in what may be termed a frenzy of impatience and will petition the manager of our local theatre accordingly. . . .
S. E. HYATT
Washington, Ind.
To "Promoters" Lundquist, Lowdermilk, Hyatt and numerous others, hearty thanks for their co-operation.--ED. "
Instead of Study"
Sirs:
. . . We should (by we I mean most of my friends who live in the dormitory) prefer the Tivoli Theatre, one of Balaban and Katz' chain. It is convenient to the university community. Besides we go there fairly frequently, for they have most of the pictures one wants to see. Last but not least, your picture would furnish the last link in the process of rationalization necessary to justify a movie instead of study.
NORRIS L. BROOKENS
College Residence Halls for Men
Chicago, Ill.
Sirs:
. . . Please have your March of Time shown in our local moving picture house which is under the direction of a Mr. Alpert. It will have high value as an educational picture. But keep it on the air, also.
J. ALMUS RUSSELL
Principal Bacon Academy
Colchester, Conn.
Battleships
Sirs:
Thank heaven there is to be an intelligently edited newsreel.
Please may we have fewer manoeuvering warships; fewer trials of new cannon and other death-dealers; more constructive thought on International Peace. . . .
MARIE W. CLARK
Rochester, N. Y.
P. S. I should say Loew's Rochester or the Palace Theatre would be the best for March of Time news.
No crusader, The March of Time will picture battleships only when they make significant news. -- ED.
"Let's Have It" . . . Let's have it up here. The Capitol Theatre at Regina, Sask., is the place. . . .
H. H. KRITZWISER
Regina, Sask.
Sirs:
Let's have The March of Time at RKO Orpheum here.
JACK WALLACE
Salt Lake City, Utah
Sirs:
... I KNOW YOU WILL DO A GOOD JOB AND THAT YOU WILL PROVE TO A LOT OF OLD FASHIONED DIEHARD HALF MUMMIFIED PROFESSORS AND OTHER SUPPOSED TO BE EDUCATORS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT BY THE USE OF PICTURES AND RADIO YOU CAN RE-EDUCATE MANY MILLIONS. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE THEATRES ALL ENTERPRISING THEATRES WILL WORRY FOR YOU.
COLIN CAMPBELL ERASER
San Francisco, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Would much appreciate your exhibiting March of Time in Lensie Theatre (Gibraltar chain) in Santa Fe, N. Mex.
MRS. GRANT MINER
Santa Fe, N. Mex.
Sirs:
The theatres at which we'd like to see The March of Time are: the Kentucky, the Strand, and/or the Ben Ali theatres. The Kentucky theatre is the handsomest and therefore worthiest for you--but no colored people are allowed there as they are at the Ben Ali, and I'd hate for them to be denied seeing The March of Time.
ANNA SPRAGUE
Lexington, Ky.
Sirs:
Would like to have The March of Time shown in every theatre in Washington.
JOHN R. WALLER
Washington, D. C.
Sirs:
. . . Please make arrangements to show at Loew's Akron Theatre.
HAROLD H. SCHROEDER
Akron, Ohio
Sirs:
. . . I would like to see your productions shown at Loew's Rochester.
Your advertisement a swell piece of advertising, but why did you omit your address from it? . . .
J. ALLAN HOVEY
Rochester, N. Y.
Omitted by error, the address of The March of Time is the same as that of TIME Inc.--135 East 42nd St., New York City. Proud is TIME that hundreds of loyal, enthusiastic readers, lacking full directions, wrote anyway.--ED.
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