Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

EXHIBITORS HERALD April 15. 1922 Statements by High Official And Editor Blow at Reform Two statements on intolerance which should further promote the "Missouri exhibitors* campaign against the reformers have just been issued by AttorneyGeneral Barrett of that state and C. D. Morris, editor and publisher of the "St. Joseph Gazette." These timely comments should 'prove of inestimable value to other theatre men of the country, as well as to the exhibitors of Missouri. Here is propaganda of a constructive nature. Attorney-General Barrett's statement follows: "My good friend Lawrence E. Goldman, counsel of the M. P. T. O. M., asks me to put in writing views which I recently expressed in a speech regarding movie censorship. I am glad to do so. Of course, however, I have no power as AttorneyGeneral to do anything toward the making of legislation. "It is a mistake to complicate government with more and more duties of inspection and regulaticn and to multiply the already over-numerous boards and inspectorships. That is true net only because these complications of government are costly, but also because as government becomes more complicated, it becomes also less efficient. Government should undertake only those things which are necessary. Government should undertake nothing which can be handled by individual initiative or private control. Government itself rests upon public sentiment. If you pile upon government more and more burdens without strengthening its supports, 1 do not need to prophesy what will happen. One needs only to consider the Knickerbocker roof. "Censorship of the silent drama is certainly unnecessary if we do not also need censorship of the spoken drama, for the latter can make a much more harmful appeal. If you are to censor the theatre through government inspectors, why not also then the magazines and the press? Considering the small salaries of public office, where are you to secure men of that rare intelligence and wisdom which should be required to decide what it is proper for the multitude to see? What has happened to the common sense of the genera! public that it cannot any longer be trusted to think for itself? Since when must human nature be straightjacketed by government? Since when has the character and the morality of the people become the burden of our legislature? "The whole movement for movie censorship is but another outgrowth of the abnormal tendency of our time to secure everything by the passage of laws — a tendency which, if continued, will bring far greater dangers than the ills it is sought to cure.'* Editor Morris, who is a delegate to the constitutional convention of the state which the reformers hope to control, has issued the following* statement: "The Public School stands out in the annals of civilization as the greatest instrument of freedom and progress. The public press, from its initial development, has been considered the greatest educational force with which the common man is blessed. The screen — indeed the two — the screen and the press — united in an alliance for the promotion of an intelligent and worthwhile citizenship, form a combination never dreamed of a quarter of a century ago, and the power of which can not, even now, be adequately estimated. Many theatres are today showing the actual transaction of news-making. "Let a great catastrophe occur in any section of the world, about which the newspapers will issue 'extras* and tell of in 'scare' headlines, and while the news is still fresh in the minds of the masses, the films in every neighborhood picture show will be exhibiting living scenes of the disaster itself. The modern method of teaching commercial geography in our advanced public schools is not only to tell in cold type the facts regarding the location but to furnish pictures of the locality itself. At every performance in the theatres, pictures are shown to the public of the development of science, of thought, of invention. You are taken into foreign lands and shown the landmarks of civilization. Every element of nature and of human activity has become a part of your evening's entertainment at your family movie house. "It may be well to mention here that if the columns of the press described and told of the hundreds of subjects in pictures, the great masses of the public, although it should be an element of their education, would pass it over without attention. Another idea occurs: the greatest influence of such film is upon the thousands of children who view these subjects. It might be said without fear of contradiction that at least fifteen minutes of every movie show you witness is devoted to the culture and information of those who are present — fifteen minutes of visual education which would take hours of a lecturer's time to impart. "The newspapers and the motion picture perform the great service of education and information for the general public — to adopt the slogan of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Missouri— 'For the Good of All.' And it is done so cheaply as to make it practically criminal for any one to remain in ignorance of current events and the development of civilization. "As the newspaper reaches every home in every locality, so does the 'filmed preftS' reach all classes and all ages. So, as the greatest mediums of public expression and instruction, the press and the screen second the work done in the public schools and carry on the education of the masses. "As time goes on, the motion picture will become more and more the pictured development of the press. Indeed, working hand in hand, they will undoubtedly work for t hr welfare of the public, the influence these two educational facilities will have on the individual and on society at large, has no limit. As offsprings of civilization's progress, both factors have a common cause— 'For the Good of All'— and that means to my mind the best things in life, in love, in honor— for all people.** Reformer Pu t On Defensive by Cuff {Continued fr om page 67) the girls and possess a distinct educational value while furnishing wholesome, enjoyable entertainment. Manager Cuff is to be congratulated on the generous policy he has adopted toward the industrial Home. Hundreds of dollars' worth of entertainment of a refined type has been gladly furnished by him free to those of the girls who have shown themselves worthy of it. None of them have been charged a cent at any of his performances, and his action in making the recurring matinee invitations a permanent thing will bring happiness to many deserving girls and will serve as an incentive to them for doing the best work possible. Thus it appears that the movie industry, under fire recently from the press and pulpit, has actually been the means of raising the morale of a Missouri state penal institution. e Vitagraph Launches Three New Picture Williams' Vehicle Is 0. Henry Story — Larry Semon Has Dual Role W. S. Smith, production manager at Vitagraph's West Coast studios, announced the following conferences with President Albert E. Smith that the company's heavy production period would be further augmented shortly with the beginning of work on three additional pictures. David Smith to Direct Earle Williams is to be starred in an O. Henry story from the author's hook. "Cabbages and Kings," which is one of his best. Robert Ensminger will direct. Simultaneously production will begin on Alice Calhoun's fourth Vitagraph picture, "lilucblood." David Smith, who is just finishing "My Wild Irish Rose." wil direct. William Duncan, who has just finish "The Silent Vow," has launched produc tibn on a new picture, said to be strongh Western in tone. Edith Johnson wil appear opposite the star. Star Has Own Studio .Vitagraph is enthusiastic over the ncv comedy being made by Larry Semon The star is given a dual role in this shor subject — that of an immigrant and tba of a king. A part of the comedy made in Los Angeles harbor. Semon now working in the separate ^tud erected for him. Corinne Griffith is making exteriors fo her next production at Charleston, S. This new picture will follow "I situ Wives." Mabel Ballin Is Injured In Collapse of Staircas Mabel Ballin was injured at the Bin graph studio where she and her hushan are at work on their next production fo llodkinson publication when a stairwa suddenly collapsed, throwing Miss lialli and three other actors to the floor.