PLAN No. 402. MOTION PICTURES IN SMALL TOWN CHURCHES
A former motion-picture operator, who had moved to a small Iowa town for the benefit of his wife’s health, believed the churches of the place would be glad to have films of religious subjects shown in their church buildings on weekday evenings and, having secured the consent of the trustees of one of the leading denominations, he put up his outfit, which he had brought with him, and gave movie shows three evenings a week, paying a small sum for the use of the church on these occasions. The other churches, seeing the crowds that attended these entertainments, also asked that the films be shown in their buildings, and in a short time there was to be found a motion-picture show in one or the other of those churches every evening of the week except Sundays.
Scenes in Palestine, the Passion Play, and similar subjects, were the main part of the entertainment, and the movie man made a nice living from the business, while providing amusement and instruction for the people of the town, who were not often able to attend the movies in the city.