p. 6 | Decent Theaters by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 14, 1909

“Decent Theaters”

By F. M. W.

MYRIAD are the ways that Satan employs to trap the unwary, and lead souls from their allegiance to the right. One very effective means is through the influence of baneful literature, which is circulated broadcast throughout the land. Novels, story magazines and papers, and much of scandal and crime that enters into the ordinary newspaper, have had a mighty influence to turn minds away from the more sober things of life and from the truths of God's Word.

Another mighty influence which Satan is using to accomplish his purpose is the power of worldly pleasures and the world's playhouses. Reference was made in our Home and Health department last week to the deadly influence of the theater upon the morals. Hundreds of earnest Christians throughout the land appreciate this, and from many quarters notes of warning are sounding. The demoralizing influence is not confined alone to vaudeville or the ten-cent show, but extends even to the high-grade theaters which are supposed to cater to the respectable class of people. Many respectable people attend theaters, but there is also a sufficiently bad element among theatergoers to demand the giving of plays which pander to depraved tastes and a lowering of moral standards.

The Detroit News-Tribune, in a recent number, has this to say of some of the so-called “decent theaters.” of that city:—

It is safe to say that within the past month the first-class theater patrons of Detroit have seen and heard more suggestive stuff than appears on the burlesque stages. Only very recently things appeared on the stage of the Detroit —, which, if they had appeared at the — or —, might have met with instant action on the part of the police. Because the costumes were a little better, because the literary and musical embellishments were of a higher order, because the audience was drawn from so-called respectable society, and because the prices of admission are higher, the play passed as unobjectionable. Yet, in its essence, it was as demoralizing as any of the cheapest stage, and the audience plainly showed that it was getting exactly the kind of stimulation desired by the more outspoken audiences of the less fashionable places.

Describing one strongly and impurely suggestive scene, the Tribune continues:—

It was called on several times, the apparently decent audience catching courage from its own commingled boldness and whetted taste to call loudly for the repetition. All this on the stage of Detroit's best theater. True, there was catchy music and loads of fun, but underneath it all was the diapason of woman's sin and man's passion, and to keep the sin from being too black the sirens toyed with the emotions of the audience, and easily worked it into a state where it didn't care. . . .

This is just a statement of the situation. If a man or a woman can get his or her indecent emotions in a respectable theater at a price which excludes the more frankly prurient public, both he and she will enjoy it, and condemn the other places. The plays answer a demand, or they would not pack Detroit's best theater six nights and two afternoons.

We can not conclude from this criticism that the theaters of Detroit are any worse than the theaters of other cities. No doubt the same criticism could be made of the theaters throughout the world. As this newspaper says, “The plays answer a demand.” The public taste craves such pleasure and excitement. Always bad in their influence, theaters have become worse through the increasing degeneracy of the age; and that which applies to theaters may be said also of the ballroom, of the moving-picture show, of the circus, of the skating rink, and of many other popular places of amusement.

We would not say that a Christian never attended a theater. An erring child of God may stray into this forbidden path, but he surely can not continue to frequent such places and maintain a living connection with his divine Lord. He can not ask the Lord to accompany him, and it is dangerous to go to any place where one must go without Heaven's guidance and protection. Seventh-day Adventists who appreciate the work for this solemn hour, will not be found in these assemblies. F. M. W.