Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

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64 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 11, 1931' VCICE €f THE Children vs. "Adults Only" HAVING BEEN AN EXHIBITOR FOR nearly 20 years, and with three years close contact with exhibitors as secretary and treasurer of their organization in North Carolina, I would like to say just a few words which will no doubt bring much condemnation, but which are true, nevertheless. There is much talk through )Our valuable paper, as well as other trade papers generally, to the effect that we should appeal to the children in the presentation of pictures on the screens of the country. I believe that if you will check up you will find that only about 5 per cent, and, in many instances, only about 3 per cent of the show-going public, are children. There is nothing finer than to present a motion picture and have hundreds of laughing little folks come and enjoy it, and listen to their laughter, watch their childish faces as they devour the right kind of pictures, and what a joy when you know they are really enjoying the film, and to stand on the door as they exit and hear their comments. Then, there is the hue and cry now going up all 'round from every direction that the "Adult Only" signs in front of theatres hurt the child business, and greatly hamper the box-office from that angle. This is true in many instances, but I am firm in my belief that, regardless of what producers and exchanges say today, there is fully 25 per cent of the motion picture — and it might run as high as 35 per cent — that should not be shown in any theatre without the sign, "Adults Only," being prominently displayed. Motion pictures today are so much finer, so much more enjoyable than they were just a few short years ago that there is no comparison, but why all the cry about appealing to children, when such a great percentage of films are being shown that have no appeal to a child, and that they should not see? We realize that some theatres take advantage of certain subjects and display "Adults Only" signs when there is nothing to warrant it. I now own a film that in many places shows to "Adults Only" but could be shown to children, providing their parents came and explained it properly, but due to the fact that it has no especial appeal for them, I urge the "Adults Only" sign displayed, and the same thing should be done on many of our present day crop of feature pictures. There is not an exhibitor in the country who desires clean films more than I, and there is no one who would take more delight in completely discarding the "Adults Only" sign, but until present conditions change in our industry it will be tnuch better to p>olish up the "Adults Only" signs and use them freely. Otherwise we are in for Government regulation and censorship, which is something that we do not need, and should not have, for we have brains enough and are clean minded enough to clean our own house and keep it clean. — "Nat" L. RoYSTER, Readsville Amusement Company, Charlotte, N. C. Misses the Reports WE AGREE WITH A NUMBER OF your readers who have written in to express their appreciation of the new release chart. The chart is good. But what we miss more than anything else is the comment of exhibitors on pictures. True, we have never contributed much to the success of that department in your splendid magazine, but we excuse ourselves on the ground that the little burgs cannot play pictures until after everybodv else has played them, and therefore anvthing we might sav about a picture has already been said bv many others. W e appreciate your reviews of pictures, but we think a lot more of the opinion of aii exhibitor concerning a picture than we do of the opinion of a professional reviewer. We are enclosing an editorial from the Arkansas Democrat on pictures that we think deserves to be called to the attention of Mr. Hays, and we are sending same to you with the suggestion that it be published in your paper, if you think it worth the space. The Arkansas Democrat is one of the leading daily papers of our state. — Royal Theatre, Newark, Ark. P. S. Here is the Editorial: "Good News From Brother Hays "Will Hays, generalissimo of morals of the motion pictures, says the tide of public opinion is shifting rapidly from rawness to romance and a new era of entertainment progress is opening up for the industry. " 'The greatest of all censors — the American public — is beginning to vote thumbs down on the 'hard boiled' realism in literature and on the stage which marked the post-war period,' Will informs us." "His declaration, he says, was inspired by the 'wide public acclaim' which greeted feature pictures in 1930 dealing with great biographical subjects, with themes of prison and civic reform and with stirring epochs of American history. "Well, Brother Hays' pronouncement may show signs of the elastic imagination of th^' publicity man, but it 'reads good' just the same. A lot of evils have been blamed on the postwar psychology not the least of which has been the morbid crime story, the smutty socalled sex pictures and other such offerings. "Just how many people make up this 'American public' we do not know. But we do know that no inconsiderable number of folk spend their evenings in diversions other than attending the movies, and talkies, because they resent the moral tone of the majority of the pictures. "The number may be few, but there still inhabit the cities of the land Americans who can see no reason for dragging smuttv incidents into stories which need no such 'allurements' to make them popular success. It is not prudish to believe that nothing is gained by parading disgusting characters across a movie screen. One does not deserve the scorn of so-called liberal-minded folk merely because one turns tiuimlis down on movie themes which shock decent-minded folk. "Will Hays is right. All of the glamour of romance remains. Let us get back to it." — The Arkansas Democrat. Popinjays' Promenade Louisville — Somewhere among fans of the country Is a man who objects to uniforms on theatre attendants. He wrote to the Courier Journal, and said theatre attaches should be dressed In "civles" of good taste, because "there may be seen In uniforms bellhops, policemen, firemen, elevc-tor starters, conductors, ushers, admirals and generals, all of which is not exactly restful to the eye." The letter Is concluded with this parting shot: "An uncommon and pleasing place of entertainment would be that where the promenade of the popinjays Is omitted." British Studio Chief to Report U. S. Film Status London (QP Cable) — J. A. Thorpe, studio chief of British International, will sail April 11, on the Berengaria for New York, and from there he will go to Hollywood. It is denied by British International that ^ the trip represents Thorpe's resignation. He 1 is going to America, it is stated, to get information concerning general conditions in the film trade in that country and will report them to his company. A. H. Blank Resumes Charge Of His 22 Houses in Iowa Des Moines — A. H. Blank has returned from the Coast to resume management of his 22 houses, the Central States Theatre Corporation. 1 He has been returned ofificially for the past three years. Chatferlon Film December I Hollywood — R u t h Chatterton's first Warner film, to be made next fall, will be released December 1. STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION, ETC., REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST 24, 1912 Of Motion Picture Herald published weekly at New York, N. Y , for April I, 1931. State of New York \ County of New York J Before me, a Notary Public in and for the State and county aforesaiS, personally appeared George Clifford, who, having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the Business Manager of Motion Picture Her.*ld, and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc., of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24, 1912, embodied in section 411, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit: 1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Editor-in-Chief and Publisher — Martin Quigley, 1790 Broadway. Editor — Terry Ramsaye, 1790 Broadway. Managing Editor — Jay M. Shreck, 1790 Broadway. Business Manager — George Clifford, 1790 Broadway. 2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockho'ders owning or holding one per cent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, company, or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well as those of each individual member, must be given.") Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1790 Broadway. Quigley Publications, Inc., 19-21 Dover Green, Dover, Delaware. Martin Quigley, 1790 Broadway 3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.) None. 4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given: also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear up'on the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him. 5. That the average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the six months preceding the date shown above is (This information is required from daily publications only.) Geo. Clifford. Business Manager Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st dav of Anril, 1931. (Seal) .TULIA E. COPF.LLO. (.My commission expires March 30. 1932.)