Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

Something to Read Each week the HERALD publishes numerous articles pertaining to censorship, blue laws and other reform menaces. Every exhibitor should keep a file of these stories for use when the occasion demands. /OTorthcl z> r— i £3 xAf r' iSHf'Motion r"* PUBLIC RIGHTS LEAGUE Screen Message No. 55 "I wouldn't recommend a law closing moving picture houses on Sunday. Working people must have their recreation." — The Rev. Dr. L. Mason Clarke, Presbyterian clergyman. PUBLIC RIGHTS LEAGUE. United Public Opinion Will Win Ohio Cases / am preparing this department this zeeck with the Ohio blue law situation mind. Although my remarks arc directed principally to Findlay and Bucyrus ■hibitors, the subject matter to follozc is general in nature and may be utilized combating the troublesome reformer in Texas or any other state as effec■ely as in Ohio. In many localities where in the past the Sunday closing ovement has presented destructive potentialities, theatre men have found that crystallized public sentiment zcas the most poz^erful zeeapon with zvhich to /lit the menace. Judicious use of the subject matter that follozvs should ousc public opinion in defense of the Sunday theatre. — /. M. S. While the situation at Findlay and ucjtus is not directly in the hands of c public, having reached the stage of mrt proceedings, public opinion indictly can influence official action in the rious cases. To win the moral and tual support of the majority, the folwing comments by clergymen, states-■n and other students of theology, contutional law, sociology, etc., should be ven prominent display in the daily adrtising of the theatres. These com;nts are brief and may be utilized withit in any way robbing advertisements valuable space. {. FRANK CRANE says: "Morals are a mater for all the people to decide. Xot for a elf-chosen few to dictate to the many. The leople are more moral than any reformer who •ver rose to impose himself upon them." !. EVERETT DEAN" MARTIN says: "Xine'enths of all the so-called reform legislation in his country is devised for the express purpose if taking joy and happiness out of the poor nan's life." IS ANGELES RECORD says: "Any sincere tudent of the gospel knows that all this Sab>atarian fuss is anti-Christian. un-Christianlike oid_ opposed to the very fundamentals of hrist's doctrines. No one need guess about his: Jesus went on record on this matter as raphatically as he did on any question and >ver and over again he scored the professional reedarians w*ho were bound in the rites and ormal laws of the synagogue, who insisted nightily on exact Sabbath observance, but who :new nothing of the gospel of service." V. WALTER E. BENTLEV, Episcopalian nimster, says: "Blue laws prohibiting motion 'ictures and sports on Sunday are as reprelensible as any other extreme. When you do iot approach restrictions with moderation there P a'ways a reaction. There was in the days if the Puritans and there will be again if 'lue laws are adopted. Extremes always alien te public opinion." V D-, HERBERT JONES, Baptist minister, ays: Christ whipped men out of the church ut never into it. Professional reformers and nristian lobbyists at Washington may mean well but most of them are misguided swivel chair heroes of the cross." REV. HARRY L. MYERS, Congregational minister, says: "Keep your own house in order. Don't try to regulate your neighbor. What is wrong for you on Sunday might be all right for him. There has been too much blue law agitation." • • • ARTHUR BRISBANE says: "What right have you to suggest laws that would 'prohibit the free exercise' of cheerfulness ! 'The Sabbath was made for men,' not for reformers, fanatics, bigots, hypocrites or meddlers." SAMUEL GOMPERS says: "It is an affront to the men and women of labor for those who would revive the Sunday blue laws to say that they do it to help those who work. What they propose to do is to compel the working man or woman who has been chained in factory or office or to truck or dock six days in the week to sit still upon the seventh and twiddle his or her thumbs." JAMES MADISON' in a letter to Edward Everett in 1823, wrote : "Religion is not in the purview of human government. Religion is essentially distinct from government and exempt from its cognizance. A connection between them is injurious to both." GEN. U. S. GRANT, in a speech at Des Moines in 1875, said : "Leave the matter of religion to the family altar the church, and the private school, supported by private contribution. Keep the church and state forever separate." REV. L. MASON CLARKE, Presbyterian minister, says : "I wouldn't recommend a law closing moving picture houses on Sunday. Working people must have their recreation." Insertion of these comments in theatre advertising, in programs and throwaways will strengthen the defense against the reformer. But the exhibitor also should use his screen in combating this menace. Following are screen messages, published previously in this department, which are timely arguments for use by the Ohio exhibitors. Transcribe these on slides and flash on the screen at every performance: A grave danger to the welfare and happiness of the American people lies in unwarranted inter ference with personal rights. Elect legislators who bow to the will of the people and not to the order of the lobbyists. The motion picture is the greatest educating force of the modern world. It holds itself answerable to the will of the public but does not believe it should take orders from busybody reformers. The blue Sunday agitation is an arrogant attempt of a very small minority to rule their neighbors. This theatre gives exhibitions on Sunday because it believes that the patronage of the public makes plain its approval. Wholesome entertainment — such as the pictures shown in this theatre — is thoroughly compatible with proper observance of the Sabbath and in addition it improves the morale of the community by affording necessary relaxation. The blue Sunday agitation is repugnant to the spirit of America : To seek to withhold legitimate amusement on Sunday from one's neighbor is rank intolerance. America's claim to be "The Cradle of Liberty" must be supported by an aroused public opinion which will put down the fanatics who are seeking to make personal liberty a dead issue. Fanatics who clamor for the closing of theatres on Sundays in opposition to the will of their neighbors should remember that to deprive a man of his rights is just as much stealing as to deprive him of his property. Ministers as well as theatremen seek to earn a livelihood by their work on Sunday but neither commercializes the Sabbath because the first consideration in both instances is serving the public. While these brief editorials were written as screen messages they too may be used in theatre advertising. A thought a day, presented both on the screen and in advertising, will crystallize public opinion and banish the troublesome reformer. Order Your Slides [ EXHIBITORS HERALD, * 417 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, III. r Send me, free of charge, the series of twelve slides which the Herald is supply{ ing to exhibitors in furtherance of the I PUBLIC RIGHTS LEAGUE campaign to | maintain the freedom of the motion pic | ture. I will run each slide at every performance for one week when conditions permit of this arrangement. | Name | (Write name and address legibly) ' I Theatre | I . Street = Cify