Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

38 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 22, 1922 Raps Blue Law Sheriff for Prejudice in Picking Jury Judge Discharges Official from Further Service; Reformers in Springfield Again Win; Illinois Town to Vote on Sunday Opening (Special to Exhibitors Herald) GRAND JUNCTION, COLO., April 11.— A severe blow at intolerance, and one that illustrates clearly the blue law advocate's despicable disregard for American principles and law, has been struck in Colorado, where Ole AI. Nelson, manager of the Majestic theatre at Grand Junction, and William Bell, manager of the Crystal, are being tried for an alleged violation of section 4,000 of the Colorado statutes, which regulates the opening of theatres on Sunday. Selects Only Bigots for Jury Service The sensational development in this trial was the discharge from further service of Sheriff Ducray by Judge Miller on the ground that the court was satisfied that the sheriff had showed undue bias and prejudice in the selection of jurors for the trial. Evidence was submitted by the exhibitors' attorney, R. H. W alker, that Ducray was a regular attendant at the meetings of the blue law crowd and that his jurymen had been drawn exclusively from their ranks. This is the first time that an effort has been made to obtain a conviction of a motion picture theatre man under the provisions of section 4,000, which is specific in prohibiting Sunday performances at vaudeville and dramatic houses, circuses and the like. Confident of Success In view of this fact, Harry T. Nolan, prominent exhibitor in the Rocky Mountain district and Associated First National franchise holder for Denver, believes that the exhibitors have an excellent chance of having the law declared unconstitutional. The reformers of Grand Junction have announced their intention of spending a large sum of money in an effort to win their case. its own moral opinions, and has the nerve to defend them, it will repeal this and other blue laws. But, as it is, the joke is not on the theatres, but on the theatre patrons who cannot attend a week day performance." Vote on Question Uphold Blue Law (Special to Exhibitors Herald) CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL, April 11.— Crystal Lake, which has voted on the question of blue laws a number of times in the past, again will decide the issue at the election on April 18. The last time the question was submitted to the voters was in 1920, when the Sunday opening advocates were defeated by one vote. Authority for placing the question on the ballot this year was granted by the city council. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SPRINGFIELD, MO., April 11.— For the second time within the past few months citizens of Springfield have voted for Sunday closing. The vote was 6,396 to 3,550. Because 70 per cent of the voters had signed petitions favoring Sunday performances, it had been freely predicted that the theatres would win by an overwhelming vote. Defeat by the blue law crowd is due almost wholly to the lack of interest on the part of the liberals of the city. "Congratulates" Brethren The attitude of the exhibitors might be summed up in the wrords of E. C. McAfee of Electric Theatre Company: "I congratulate our brethren of the pulpit in making their church members believe that there is a great conflict between the theatre and the church. The truth is that in this matter it is not the theatres, but the public which is being regulated. Theatre interests are incidental only. If the public wishes its conscience regulated by law it should abide by the consequences, as the theatres now are doing, without a murmcr. Whenever the public feels that it has the right to AntiBlues Ask Bowlby And Crafts to Debate (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., April 11.— W. C. Dailey. national secretary of the AntiBlue Law League of America, which will hold its first national gathering in St. Louis on June 22 to 25, has sent letters to Rev. Harry L. Bowlby, secretary of the Lord's Day Alliance, New York City; the Rev. William F. Crafts, International Reform Bureau of Washington, and the Rev. North W. Cooper, Southern Methodist Sabbath Day Alliance, challenging them to debate the subject "Resolved That So-called Sunday Blue Laws are American in Principle and Christian in Character" before the convention of the league, Dailey assured them that if the majority of people who hear the debate decide that the reformers are right steps will be taken immediately to disband the Anti Blue Law League, R. S. COLE, president of R-C Pictures, corrects erroneous reports circulated concerning the company's distribution plans. Cole Gives Facts on Distribution System Considers Plan Whereby Each Manager Will Benefit FinanciallyNew activities and plans recently undertaken by R-C Pictures Corporatior have given rise to certain erroneous reports and the Herald has been asked t< make plain to the trade the real facts. 1. No part of the New York exchange, or any other exchange of the R-C company has been disposed of either in whole or in part. 2. The Boston banking firm of Hayden, Stone and company is not financially or otherwise interested in the New England distribution of R-C. Referring to the incorrect reports tha have been published, Rufus S. Cole, presi dent, said: Is Property of Concern "I should be obliged to you if you wil make it absolutely clear to your reader that there is no truth whatsoever in th> statement that our New York exchang has been disposed of in part to Charle R. Rogers. The R-C New York exchang remains entirely the property of this cor poration. "We have not in any way even con sidcrcd the disposal in whole or in par of any of our branches, but will alway retain full one hundred per cent contrc of the distribution of our product. Now Formulating Plans "The directorate are formulating larg plans for the future expansion of tin corporation, and as a small part of Hies plans we are considering a scheme l> which a branch manager will benefi financially in the individual success of hi particular exchange, and it is such scheme that is being given a try-out i our New York exchange under the supet vision of our Mr. Rogers."