Camera - April 14, 1923 to February 16, 1924 (April 1923-February 1924)

Established 1918 A Film Magazine and a Film Newspaper in One 6318 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood : California Volume VI SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1923 Number 34 Civic Pride "We hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness * * * but when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object , evinces a sign to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." —THE DECLARATION OE INDEPENDENCE. Excerpts from this document, one of the most cherished of its kind ever drafted, bear out in unfailing testimony that the city constitution of Los Angeles has not kept pace with the growth of the community itself. For where, may we ask, are we of this city accorded the national right to the "pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness." Life . . . it's only existence. Liberty . . . well that's the joke. Happiness . . . you're talking Chinese. The pursuit part is true, but we're not doing the pursuing; it's the Police Commission. In fact they've been doing so much pursuing in the past few days that the Wampas are about to afford San Francisco the opportunity to burst out in one loud guffaw this coming February. It will be a horse-laugh on Los Angeles; one well earned. For years there has been spirited competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Each city has made amazing progress in its own way, and Los Angeles has attained world-wide renown as the home of the motion picture industry. 'Tis true that the northern metropolis has made many spirited bids for the film studios, but heretofore civic loyalty has forbade any such thing as our removal to the bay city. Los Angeles has of late been sneering at San Francisco because the Angel stronghold had been making such tremendous forward strides, out all of proportion to those being made by its competitor. The laurels, well within the reach of the southern city, have now been supplanted by a very ornate raspberry, and San Francisco, progressive in a metropolitan way and awake to the merits of the cinema profession, has proffered its aid in staging the Wampas Frolic there. It has been accepted and they will dance in 'Frisco for forty nights and forty days if they so desire. If they dance there they may work there. Quite plausible, isn't it? This, however seems to throw the well-known chill into the business men of Los Angeles and frantic last-minute efforts are being made to alter the laws. The damage is not beyond repair, but it's pretty bad . . . pretty bad. The dumbells in the city hall are not ringing ; there will be a Curfew tonight. S. W. LAWSON Publisher and Manager FRED W. FOX Managing Editor JOHN CORNYN Advertising Director GENE WOOLWAY Studio Representative PAULINE THOMPSON Pulse Editor — it will destroy all precedent — antiquate existing methods — sweep aside accepted standards like a cyclone rushing thru a Kansas village — — It will possess beauty and strength — it will have tremendous resources — it will be odd — unusual — -new — keen — clever — friendly — yet, withal, on a firm foundation — it will be of great charm — — its possibilities know no limitations — it will be farflung in scope — it is what filmdom and the world at large has been awaiting many years — we'll tell you the first of the year. "CAMERA!", The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry, issued on Saturday morning of each week, at 6318 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, Telephone 439-869. Entered as second-class matter, Aug. 11, 1918, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3rd, 1879. Published by S. W. Lawson Publishing Co., with executive and editorial offices at 6318 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles. National advertising representatives H. H. Conger Co., New York, Chicago, San Francisco. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $3.50 per year in Los Angeles County; $4.00 per year in outside zone; $4.50 per year to Canada; $5.00 per year to foreign points. Address all communications to the company.