The Moving Picture World (1908)

THE MOVING PICTURE W.ORLJ. i: 539 Moving Picture World Published Every Satubdat. Copyright, 1908, by The WarM rhatotfraphic Publishing Company. New Yerl 125 last 23rd Street, (Beach Building) New TerB Telephone call, 1344 Gramercy. Edited b7 J. P. Chalm.r. All communications should be addressed to MOVING PICTURE WORLD, P. O. BOX 460. NEW YORK CITY. subscription : $2.00 per year. Post free In the United State*, Mexico. Hawaii. Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands. Canada AMD foreign countries i 12.50 per year. AaVrertlatnc Ratesi *2.00 per inch; 15 «ntl per lime. Paris Representative: P. Grafton, 15 Rae de Appenins, Paris, France. Tht auttnt* of this magatint art prottettd by copyright and all infrinfr- mtnU wiO bt prostcuttd. Vol. 2 JUNE 27 No. 26 Editorial. the Shows in Tenement Houses Doomed ? Who or what is the impelling force ,behind Tenement House Commissioner Butler which has caused him to issue an edict against the moving picture shows located in tenement house districts? His course of action is claimed to be based on the lecent decision of a Brooklyn judge, and he "believes that such shows in tenement- houses are illegal and intends to force any establishment not conducted in accord with the law to close." But is there any law which prohibits such places of amusement in tenement house property? If so, why has it been over- looked-for so long? If such a law is on the statutes, the Commissioner has been lax in his duties by allow- ing so many of these theaters to be installed. To sum- marily take action to close them up now seems like injustice against the proprietors, many of whom have perhaps invested their all in the enterprise. It is said that the majority of the places which will come under the ban are located on the lower East Side of New York City and that some of these places are conducted in a manner that is prejudicial to the com- munity besides bringing disgrace upon the profession. If this is so it justifies any action that may be taken in closing up such places; but because some ignorant or greedy persons should openly violate the law is no reason why the punishment should be equally inflicted on other law abiding citizens. It seems to us that the only legitimate way to decide whether these places of amusement should be allowed to do business in the tenement house districts would be to take a vote of the heads of the families who reside within a certain radius of each place. Let the fathers and Bothers and law abiding citizens decide as to whether these places are desirable in their midst. If the verdict of the people should be against the nickelodeon.pro- prietor he will then have no just cause for complaint. The Moving Picture Association of New York, which is an organization composed of exhibitors, is urging the Film Service Association to co-operate with it in securing a modification of the stand taken by the city authorities. The building, health and fire departments are working in concert in the matter and imposing conditions that have cause the abandonment of many projects. The main ar- gument advanced against such places is that tenement buildings do not afford adequate means of exit and that the quarters are too small for an amusement place. To meet these objections some of the managers have torn out the apartments above the storerooms and otherwise en- larged the quarters. The outlay in this .respect have been largedthe quarters. The outlay in this respect has been very heavy and few of the men with such projects in hand have been able to undertake it. The authorities have thus far been unrelenting in the matter and assign as one of their reasons that if they did not maintain the position thousands of lives would be placed in jeopardy by men who seek gain without giving any thought to safeguards against possible accidents. They argue that no law applying to the safety of occupants of tenement apartments can be too strict. It is not stated what course of action is contemplated to get the modifications desired, but during the coming week the programme will be pretty well framed up. The attitude assumed by the authorities indicates that they will not voluntarily make any modifications, and that if the : courts are appealed to they will contest every step. Motion Picture Theatres as Insur- ance RisRs. The assertion that these places are largely responsible for dangerous fires is not borne out by facts, and to make such a statement casts a reflection upon the city officials in other departments which pass upon the safety of these places before they can be opened. Certain busy- bodies have taken every opportunity to exaggerate and make capital out of every trivial accident that has ever occurred in connection with the moving picture theater and this agitation has not been without its effect. Every possible safeguard is now adopted and the latest im- proved projecting machines are as safe to operate as an ordinary kerosene lamp. It is becoming more and more rare to have a record of any fire in a moving picture theater and if by accident a film should ignite, the flame is entirely confined to the fireproof booth. * * * •Critics who like to theorize, and who do not trouble to delve into facts, frequently make statements in the pub- lic press which are calculated to work injury to this business. In a recent number of the New York Journal of Commerce the following article was printed : MOVING PICTURE HAZARDS. Interests of Fire Underwriters Not Yet Properly Protected. Moving picture devices^are being introduced by the thou- sands all over the country. They are said at this time to be great money jnakers for the owners, and, therefore, they can pay an adequate rate. In some cities there are ordinances controlling the installation of these machines, but in most places there are none and the losses are beginning to-be very frequent. It is-suggested that the National Board of Fire Underwriters should frame a proper ordinance governing' the installation of moving picture outfits, and that rating associations make a full charge, certainly not less than I per cent., for the hazard. Where there is no proper ordinance the charge should be 2 per cent., according to company managers.. , f • - .