Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

anuary 28, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 47 Urges Repeal of N.Y. Law; Frisco Officials Rap Censor First Lecture Attacking Regulation Delivered by Author and Playwright at High School in Brooklyn— Board Wants More Money Opponents of legal regulation of the screen have been active during, the past week or two in two important centers of the United States. Probably the action considered most vital to the industry is that seeking the repeal of the censorship law placed on the staute books of Xew York State by the legislature last year. A bill has been offered in the assembly, which has just convened. Springfield Has Gloomy Sunday (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SPRINGFIELD. MO., Jan. 17.— This is the Leader's description of Springfield's first "Sour" Sunday, the result of the referendum held recently : '"The streets were comparatively deserted all day yesterday. Pedestrians were few and far between and automobiles, except immediately prior to and after church services, were conspicuous by their absence. The few who were on the streets paused rather mournfully in front of the theatres and gazed at the signs proclaiming in various fashions the fact that the shows would not be open until Monday. One theatre placed a crepe on the door as a mute expression of the opinion the management held of Sunday closing. "Hotel clerks intimated that some patrons, who usually stop off here on Sunday, remained in the smaller towns on their routes. Refreshment parlor proprietors said that their business fell off perceptibly from the lack of after-theatre crowds.'' Exhibitors Lose Fight To Hold Benefit Show For Cripple on Sunday (Special to Exhibitors Herald) FRANKFORT, IND., Jan. 17.— Opponents of Sunday picture shows in this city have won their first fight with theatre managers. The theatre managers had advertised they would open Sunday, taking a tree-will offering at the doors. After the expense of showing the pictures was deducted, they said, the proceeds would be turned over to Charles Russell, a cripple who recently started a course in an industrial school in Illinois. Saturday night Mr. Russell announced 'that he would not accept the charity and consequently Sunday shows scheduled for the Princess and Strand theatres were not given. Sunday Morning Openings Barred (Special to Exhibitors Herald) INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Jan. 17.— Chief oi Police Rikhoff has instructed Fred B. Leonard, president of Lenwood Amusement Company, which operates the Rialto, Broadway and Lenwood theatres, that the houses will not be permitted to open on Sundays until 1:30 p. m. Mr. Rikhof said that he understood Mr. Leonard had been opening his theatres at 10:30 a. m. on Sundays. Admission Charge Cut At Three More Houses (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., Jan. 17.— Following the lead of the Apollo theatre, three other motion picture houses in Kansas City have reduced their admission prices to 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children, war tax included. The theatres are: the Linwood, Gillham. ar.d Ellsworth. Bill Would Repeal New York Law (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Jan. 17.— A bill has been introduced in the assembly by Assemblyman Louis A. Cuvillier of New York to abolish the censorship law. The declaration is made by Assemblyman Cuvillier that the law is unconstitutional and was created for the purpose oi creating jobs for members of the Republican party. Requests More Funds Whether or not the Cuvillier bill is to be supported by the industry is not indicated. It either will be this measure or another similar bill for it is known that the industry will make every effort to abolish the law. Chairman George H. Cobb of the censorship board has filed a tentative budget with the legislature. He requests sufficient funds to pay twelve inspectors and reviewers a salary of $2,500 annually. Officials on Coast Rap Censorship (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Jan. 17.— At a testimonial luncheon tendered Thomas H. Ince in the Italian room oi the St. Francis hotel, city officials, including the president of the board ot supervisors and Senator Edward I. Wolf, voiced their opposition to legal censorship of motion pictures. '1 he officials held that the regulatory powers invested in the police are sufficient to handle the situation. Arranged by Officials The luncheon was arranged by city officials to honor Mr. Ince for his contribution to the city of a fire prevention picture and to urge upon him to do a part of his producing here. Because oi business Mr. Ince was unable to attend but was represented by J. Parker Read, Jr.. and Clark Thomas, general manager. Five years ago San Francisco had censorship. A measure abolishing the ordinance was introduced by Supervisor Mulvehill, who spoke at the luncheon. Repeal of the ordinance placed censorship in the hands of the people and the producer. Speaking at the luncheon Mr. Mulvehill said: "I can honestly tell you. gentlemen, that I don't believe there has been three occasions in almost six years where the chief of police has been called upon to prohibit the exhibiting of a motion picture in San Francisco." Playwright Attacks Censorship (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 17.— The first oi the lectures attacking censorship, which are being delivered in the high schools of Greater New York, was given last week at the Bay Ridge high school in Brooklyn by Elmer L. Rice, author and playwright. Rob People of Liberty These lectures are part of a program' arranged between the board of education and the National Association oi the Motion Picture Industry. Mr. Rice said in part: "One by one our liberties are being' taken away by a small minority who believe themselves so wise that they can regulate our morals and our lives. Cites An Example "The censorship board officially debarspictures that they deem 'obscene, indescent, immoral, inhuman or tending tocorrupt morals or to incite to crime.' If a starving man came into this hall and saw upon the screen a woman expensively gowned and decked with pearls and diamonds, it might incite him to goout and commit some crime. But a starving man is not normal. Must such a picture be condemned and barred because at some time a starving man might see it and be influenced to commit a crime?" Indict Alleged Thieves; Charged With Assault HILLSBORO. ILL.. Jan. 17.— Sheriff John W. Wilson, Constable Ben F Battleson and eight others have been indicted in the §24.600 robbery of the Bank of Panama. 111., on December 12. Wilson, Battleson, Paul Durling and Johnston Mayfield also face an indictment of assault with intent to kill Jack Williams, owner oi the Panama Opera House. Williams was shot by the bandits when he drove his automobile out of an alley in back of his theatre as the hold-up men were driving away from the bank. They suspected him of attempting pursuit and opened fire. A bullet struck him in the face. Storm Signed by Fox (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. Jan. 17.— Jerome Storm, formerly with Charles Ray and Katherine MacDonald. has been signed by Fox to direct specials.