Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

May 3, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 19 Concerted Fight on Blue Laws Hits Climax in Several States 600,000 Voters Are Polled on Issued by Philadelphia Paper Natchez Writ Action Watched by Mississippi — Lankford Challenges Foes of District of Columbia Bill A series of rapidly developing events involving the issue of Sunday shows was climaxed this week by the launching of a Sunday Blue Law Poll among 600,000 registered voters of Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Record, a concerted attack on the archaic measures in Mississippi, and a bitter attack by Representative W. C. Lankford of Georgia upon the opponents of the bill he has introduced for foisting show-less Sundays upon the District of Columbia. The industry throughout the country will await with interest the outcome of the Mississippi fight, the Philadelphia poll, which started Monday, April 28, and the election in Georgia, where Congressman Lankford is facing a crucial fight for re-election. The Georgian charges a “tirade of vilification’’ against him by “Sunday haters, atheists and infidels.” Lankford Facing Tough Sledding in Re-election Battle Charges Abuse Follows Introduction of D. C. Sunday Closing Legislation By FRANCIS L. BURT WASHINGTON, April 29. — The old superstition that reform legislation is full of dynamite is not without foundation, according to the experience of Representative William C. Lankford of Georgia, who this fall will face a bitter fight for reelection to Congress. Introduction of his Sunday closing bill for the District of Columbia has let loose upon his head an avalanche of what he calls abuse and misrepresentation. Admits He's Good Legislator In a lengthy defense against the charges which have been hurled upon him, Lankford modestly admits that as a legislator he is good. His Sunday bill, he confesses, he “drew in a few minutes one night.” He has also “presented a plan which will solve the farm problem,” and his addresses on the subject of canals in Georgia and Florida, he has been told, “are the best on this subject ever presented by anyone.” Charges “Tirade of Vilification” A “tirade of vilification” by “Sunday haters, atheists and infidels” has been carried on in an effort to prevent enactment of the measure, he asserted. The charges against him have been numerous, including lack of attendance at sessions of the house, the running of footraces, undue devotion of time to prosecution of private real estate operations, airplane joyriding, employment of a brother as secretary without the brother actually working, etc., etc. All these were denied categorically and at length by Lankford. “I introduced a Sunday bill, which I drew in a few minutes one night,” Lankford complained. “There has been no hearing on it, and I spoke for only about five minutes on it last year. I am making these remarks now not so much to argue the merits of my Sunday bill as to tell the truth about some reports, originated largely by those who are fighting all Sunday legislation. “Some may wonder why a Sunday bill should bring about such a bitter fight. I know and I will gladly name a few of the reasons. Any bill that seeks to interfere with a person’s religion or lack of religion or in the least interferes with the effort of those seeking to destroy all faith in God or which bill bothers anyone in making enormous profits in cash out of the public at once arouses a determined fight. My bill does not interfere with anyone’s religion. It does, though, run counter to the ideas of those who would destroy all religion. Therefore I am bitterly fought by those who wish to commercialize Sunday and wish to desecrate the day in order to swell their movie, theatre, dance hall, and other Sunday gate receipts.” . Public officials and civic leaders of Philadelphia expressed themselves highly in favor of the postcard canvass of sentiment. Thomas Love, chairman of the board of theatre control, declared that “the blue laws have become the most serious problem in Philadelphia today and I am emphatically in favor of obtaining such an expression of public opinion as is being made by the Record.” The ballots, which bear no identification mark except the number of the various wards, offer three proposals, as follows : “I favor continuance of the Pennsylvania Blue Laws in their present form.” “I favor modification of the Pennsylvania Blue Laws which would permit strictly amateur sports and amusements on Sunday afternoons, but which would prohibit commercialization.” “I favor the repeal of the Pennsylvania Blue Laws, and the legalizing of symphony orchestra, other musical entertainments, and professional sports, together with the opening of theatres and outdoor amusement parks on Sunday afternoons and evenings.” Reputable accountants will tabulate the results, wdiich are to be published daily and to be broadcast by radio. Mississippi Exhibitors Battle Blue Measures (Special to the Herald-World) NATCHEZ, MISS., April 28.— An onslaught is being made on the blue laws of Mississippi by theatre managers in general, supported by a majority of the population in the various centers, and as no formal ruling was given at the conclusion of arguments on the petition to dissolve the injunction prohibiting Sunday moving picture shows, it was indicated by Chancellor R. W. Cutrer Saturday that he would probably sustain the contention of C. F. Engle, attorney for the Publix Theatres, Inc., owner of the Baker Grand theatre, that an injunction should not be obtained through a court of equity to prevent a mis Add 18 Technicolor Cameras to Present 35 (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, April 29.— Technicolor has ordered 18 new color cameras to supplement the present 35 now in Hollywood. Less than one year ago there were nine of these cameras in the world. demeanor or threatened criminal act unless there was an invasion of property rights. On the opening of the hearing on the motion to dissolve the injunction a number of Natchez ministers testified that they considered Sunday moving pictures objectionable. This move of County Attorney Brown was countered by C. R. Engel, attorney for the theatre company, by calling a number of prominent women, mothers who are active in church and civic affairs. These declared they favored Sunday moving pictures and did not consider them a nuisance as contended in the application on which Judge R. L. Corban granted the injunction which stopped the presentation of a moving picture show here two weeks ago. William Jones, manager of the Baker Grand theatre, testified that no charge was to be made for the moving picture to be presented last Sunday afternoon and that the large crowd assembled at the theatre was entirely orderly. Iowan Is Arrested ( Special to the Herald-World) DES MOINES, April 29. — Sunday motion picture strife continued in Iowa when H. E. Rehfield of Bloomfield, manager of the Iowa theatre, was arrested for operating a business on Sunday contrary to the laws of the state. Information is said to have been filed by L. E. Goode, local business man. It was he who helped obtain an injunction stopping a special election to have been held January 17 to determine the policy and the status of the Sunday theatre. Rehfield pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. His hearing will be held before Justice F. W. Baumgarten May 1. Kentuckian Is Acquitted (Special to the Herald-World) HENDERSON, KY., April 29. — F. M. Kendall, manager of the Kentucky theatre, has been acquitted by a jury of charges of operating a Sunday moving picture show. He has been arrested three times on similar charges, alleging violation of the old blue laws. In the first case he pleaded guilty and accepted a $2 fine. In the next case he was convicted and fined $25 and appealed the case to the circuit court, May term. On April 22, the third case was tried, and it was the first to go to a jury, resulting in dismissal. Close Theatre Pending Vote The theatre at Kissimmee, Fla., has been closed down for the last five weeks pending a vote on May 3 as to whether there shall be Sunday shows, the Herald-World is informed. If the decision is in favor of Sunday programs, the theatre will install sound (RCA Photophone).