Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

March 11. 1922 E XHIBITORS II K RAM) 47 Federal Regulation Sought; Union Labor Is Opposing It Congressman Appleby States That Operation of Present State Boards Causes Great Loss and Difficulty to Producers (Washington Bureau, Exhibitors Herad.) WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. 28.— The creation of a federal motion picture commission in the bureau of education of the department of labor, which would censor all films shown in the country and conduct research work in recreational and educational possibilities of motion pictures is provided in a bill introduced in congTess by Representative Appleby of New Jersey. Labor Action Opposes Federal Law Almost simultaneously action opposing governmental censorship on the ground that it would place "very dangerous authority in the hands of a few" was taken by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor following an appeal by Peter J. Brady, chairman of the educational committee of the New York State Federation of Labor. Costs Must Be Cut, Says Adolph Zukor Visits West Coast Studios to Effect Economies in Paramount Films (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Feb. 28.— To bring about a more economic condition in the production of Paramount pictures is ascribed by Adolph Zukor. president of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation as the reason for his visit to the company's West Coast studio. Mr. Zukor and S. R. Kent, general manager of distribution. -,ave just returned to the home office. Must Cut Expenses "Like every other industry.' says Mr. 'ukor. "the motion picture business is oday going through a period of readjustnent. While we know and fully realiz-.he insistent public demand for better picures, and that its taste has been develiped to accept only the best, it is also ncumbent upon producers to realize the lecessity for curtailing unnecessary proluctional extravagance. This, however, nust be accomplished without affecting he quality of the productions in the lightest degree." Has Faith in People Concerning the agitation against the 1m industry at the present time Mr. Zu|or said: ' "We all deplore the recent unfortunate Iccurrences, but I have the utmost faith n the men and women in the profession [■ho are working earnestly and giving truest that is in them. This is a big indusry — there must be at least 30,000 persons u Los Angeles engaged therein, in one upacity or another. And I am sure that be percentage of wholesome, God-fearing nen and women must be as large as nong those engaged in any other line f endeavor." ,os Angeles to Have Community Theatre; Amusement at Cost (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28.— Los Antes is to have a municipal theatre. The ty playground department is preparing convert the old Turner Hall auditorium the building at 319 South Ma'n St., hich is now occupied by the Municipal en's Club into a theatre in which morn pictures and later dramatic and other tertainments will be held. An admis>n fee will be charged sufficient to pay e running expenses. City Attorney Stephens at the request ' the playground commissioners has rantked all the law he can find relative to fe rights of the city to enter into the ;atre and motion picture exhibition isiness and has found no charter or • ler provisions to prevent it. The playground commission believes 'it with the establishment of the theatre dich progress will be made toward the •*'elopment of social settlement and -aericanization work. inoot to Call Annual West Virginia Meeting (Special to Exhibitors Herald) "ARKERSBURG. W. VA.. Feb. 28.— 'C. Smoot, president of the Motion Pic1 e Theatre Owners of West Virginia. * ' announce shortly the date of the anr>l convention of the state organiza1 i. It probably will be held the latter Pt of March or the first of April. Discussing the purposes of his measure. Congressman Appleby said: "Certain states now have censorship, but. owing to the difference in regulations of different states and the fact that no two censorship boards seems to think exactly alike, great loss and difficulty is being caused the producers. I believe that producers are agreed that if a censorship is desirable — and to this I think the majority of them are agreed — it would be far better if it were under federal regulation. Recites His Reasons "All the opponents of censorship ignore the basic reasons for such regulation, and that is the important relation of the motion picture to children and illiterates. A large proportion of the attendance at motion picture theatres consists of children of immature years; to which may be added a vast army of illiterate and the ignorant, and it is incredible to think that the federal government will longer permit the creation of lasting impressions upon these minds based on the immoral, obscene, the indecent and the crime-inciting. With the establishment of federal censorship objectionable films will quickly disappear, as the opportunity for profit for the producer of salacious pictures will be so restricted that it would never pay them to continue such productions." Labor's Declaration The action of the labor committee was made public in this declaration: "Motion pictures are something more than instrumentality for recreation. They are an agency for education, for dissemination of current information, comparable in many respects to the daily press and the public forum. They have a determining influence in directing and educating public thought and opinion. Motion pictures supplement the spoken and written word by a powerful appeal to the mind through the eye. The event or the thought to be conveyed is visualized. "Since motion pictures are a means of expression and have become established as an agency supplementing our older methods, they must be protected by the same guarantees of freedom that have been bestowed upon oral utterances and upon the press. It is fundamental for the protection of free institutions that freedom of speech and discussion should be assured. Only when there exists most complete freedom to express thought or to criticize is there established a guaranty that political and other representative agents shall not violate the rights of others and shall not arrogate to them selves power and authority they do not rightfully possess. Must Protect Freedom "Freedom of speech is inseparable from free institutions and the genius of a free people. This freedom must be protected against abuse by holding the individual responsible for his utterances. Legal restriction in advance of presentation limits research, investigation and inquiry for broader and deeper truths." Maryland Censors Want New Title (Special to Exhibitors Herald) BALTIMORE. MD., Feb. 28.— The Maryland State Board of Censors is seeking to have the legislature camouflage its work. It has asked that its name be changed to the Maryland State Board of Review. The board also asks more drastic penalties for violation of the law. <(The Screen News" is Published by Theatres In Omaha for Patrons The first issue of the house organ of the Rialto and Strand theatres of Omaha has been published. It is a four-page newspaper size affair called "The Screen Xews." replete with various items of interest to the theatres' patrons. This method of cultivating the good will of its patrons and disseminating valuable information of present and future attractions at the two theatres should prove an effective method of stimulating a wide interest. The news is presented in a manner, that makes it easy to read. An invitation is extended patrons to write to the editor for any information they may desire regarding pictures of players. The paper is mailed free upon request. Many subjects are treated from news of the studios and players to a doublecolumn editorial devoted to influential propaganda regarding the industry in which Exhibitors Herald is extensively quoted. H. B. Watts and Julius K. Johnson are to be congratulated upon the first issue of the paper, which is entirely praiseworthy in itself, despite the forecast that the following issues will be better.