Moving Picture News (Jan-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 9 THE NATIONAL BOARD OF CENSORSHIP EXPLAINS June 4, 1913. Editor, Moving Picture News, 30 West Thirteenth Street, New York City. Dear Sir : As there is some discussion about the film "The Wages of Sin,'' you may wish to publish the enclosed interview from Dr. Frederic C. Howe. If your paper is carrying a discussion of this film, we should regard your publication of the interview as a favor. Very truly yours, JOHN COLLIER, General Secretary. There is a discussion at present as to the film "The Wages of Sin," and as to the action of the National Board of Censorship of Motion Pictures in passing it. Dr. Frederic C. Howe, chairman of the National Board, when interviewed on the subject, said : "The film 'The Wages of Sin' was passed by our board as being an ordinary, harmless melodrama. There was nothing either in the titles or scenes to suggest crime or to degrade moral standards. There was no portrayal of the details of crime in any way that could be either attractive or imitated. "All mention whatever of Messrs. Rose, Vallon and Scheppe was eliminated from the main title and sub-titles before the board approved the film. The board did not consider that it had any right to prohibit these men from going on the film stage, but it had a rieht to prevent the morbid exploitation of these men's reputation. The board's control does not go beyond the film. The way it is advertised — the kind of posters or verbal advertising which the exhibitor gives the film — is outside the board's jurisdiction, and within the jurisdiction of the local police authorities anywhere in the country. The board has frequently called attention to the need for local regulation of posters and advertising, but has never been able itself to undertake local regulation. "It is worth mentioning that Rose, Vallon and Scheppe were not convicted of crime; but even if they had been and had gone to the penitentiary, this board would not have felt justified in forbidding them to go on the film stage. As stated above, the board is concerned , with the moral effect of motion pictures, not with the moral character of the people who produce motion pictures or act in them. "Some years ago the board condemned a film in which Beulah Binford was featured. This film exploited the name of Beulah Binford in its titles and was in fact a dramatization of her own life history, or part of it. In the present case the facts are reversed. The film as passed by this board makes no mention of Rose, Vallon or Scheppe, and does not pretend to dramatize the facts of their life in any way. "Before any one condemns the board for action on this film, he ought to take the trouble to see it." THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION The Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of Pennsylvania held their second annual convention at the Continental Hotel in Philadelphia on May 27 and 28. National President M. A. Neff, who was in attendance, appealed strongly to the members for a national congress of censors with branches in the different states and said : "What we want is for Congress to pass a bill creating a national congress of censors, this body to be composed of persons from all walks of life, the merchant, the manufacturer, the social reformer, newspaper men, patrons of the motion picture houses, and some of our own representatives. Then let this board, once provided for by congressional legislation, be divided into smaller boards which are apportioned out to the various states, and let each state body be supreme in its decision as to what pictures may or may not be shown; and, moreover, if a picture is passed or discredited by any state board which is a member of the National Congress of Censors, let this decision be effective in all states." The following officers were elected : President, Edward A. Jeffries, Philadelphia; first vice-president, H. C. Kliehm, Pittsburgh ; second vice-president, Gilbert C. Miller, Plymouth ; secretary, Harry E. Reiff, Pittsburgh; treasurer, Benamin H. Zerr, Reading, Pa. ; national vice-president, Dr. Walter Steumpfig, Philadelphia; sergeant-at-arms, Albert J. Fischer, Philadelphia ; publicity promoter, a new office, Frank A. Gould, Reading, Pa., and L. R. Thomas, State organizer. The following delegates to attend the National Convention in New York, to be held July 7 to 12, were chosen : H. A. Victor, F. J. Herrington, J". G. Hanson, J. Weinrich, Henry Poke, George H. Roth, Maurice Spiers, and Charles Segall. SOLAX BASEBALL TEAM GIVES BALL AND ENTERTAINMENT The Solax Baseball team gave its first annual ball and entertainment at Cella's Hall, Fort Lee, N. J., on Thursday evening, May 29th. Several hundred persons attended up to the wee small hours. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Blache were there to receive guests and join in the merrymaking. The proceeds from this entertainment and ball were used by the ball team for the purpose of purchasing uniforms and a general baseball equipment. After defraying all expenses, $200.00 was placed in the bank to the ball team's credit. The following program was rendered and was a great success : 1. FINN & WEBB— Novelty Dancing Act. 2. PICTURES. 3. BURKHARDT— Baritone Solo, "The Big Bass Viol." Accompanied by Miss Catherine Reckerman. 4. SKETCH, entitled, "A Horse on Fraunie." Cast: Fraunie Fraunholz, Marian Swayne, Vinnie Burns and James O'Neill. 5. PICTURES. 6. BARNEY GILMORE— Songs and Recitations. 7. BURNS MUSICAL SPECIALTY. 7a. DARWIN KARR will show his dimples. 8. BILLY QUIRK. 9. PICTURES. DANCING. Members of the Solax Team Will Lewis, manager; J. A. Fitzgerald, Jack Burns, Bob Myers, Horace Cottrell, Tim Mahoney, Darwin Karr, Joseph Levering, Wylie Maggalas, Red Rollenback, Stanley Fraser, Arthur Siebert, W. Roscoe, G. Tracy, Frank McNulty, H. Z. Levine, Sam Webb, Bill Brannigan. PURCHASERS OF STATE RIGHTS FOR "FROM THE MANGER TO THE CROSS" The General Film Company announces the following list of purchasers of state rights for Kalem's Biblical masterpiece, "From the Manger to the Cross," in five reels : Arizona and California — W. H. Clune, 829 Van Nuys Bldg., Los Angeles, Cal. ; Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming — A. D. Flintom, 205 Commerce Bldg., Kansas City, Mo. ; Florida and Georgia — Montgomery Amusement Company, Jacksonville, Fla. ; Illinois—W. W. Watts, 216 S. 5th St., Springfield, 111. ; Indiana and Michigan — Indiana & Michigan Amusement Company, 114 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, Ind. ; Wisconsin — Hall & Lynch (E. R. Lynch), 112 N. La Salle Street, Chicago, III; Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — S. B. Leland, Montpelier, Vt. ; Oregon — Globe Theatre Company, Portland, Ore. ; Texas— E. T. Peter, 1709 Main Street, Dallas, Texas; Washington— Clemmer Theatre Company, Seattle, Wash. ; Minnesota— Paul Brown, c/o Rogers Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn. ; North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — S. A. Lynch, Atlanta, Ga. ; Alabama and South Carolina — Montgomery Feature Film Company, Jacksonville, Fla. ; District of Columbia— A. Brylawski, Cosmos Theatre Bldg., Washington, D. C. ; Kentucky — Gem Theatre Company (Mr. Sherman Arn & T. D. Buckley), Maysville, Ky. ; Louisiana — General Film Company, 840 Union Street, New Orleans, La. "HALF A CHANCE" A THREE-REEL FEATURE The picture dramatization of Frederick Isham's novel, "Half a Chance," announced by the Reliance as a two-reel picture, was found to be too worthy a subject to be limited to such brief treatment. Manager J. V. Ritchey decided to release it in three reels and the result is said to be a better feature than even "The Man from Outside" or "The Bawlerout," both previous three-reel Reliance offerings. Aside from the dramatic value of the picture, the scenes produced aboard the old convict ship "Success," built in 1790, which was actually in service during the period in which the story is laid, are intensely interesting from an historical standpoint. "Half a Chance" is scheduled to appear on Saturdav, June 14th.