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

EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 57 Churchmen Fire Both Barrels At Motion Pictures of Today Two National Conventions Pass Resolutions of Denunciation — Baptists Ask for Government Control of Film Industry Economically and Morally — Presbyterians Condemn Sunday Shows Motion pictures — yet again — were called, in a variety of terms, a menace to American civilization at two national church meetings last week. In Cleveland, 4,000 delegates to the Northern Baptist convention cheered scathing denunciations of the films. And in Cincinnati, Sunday shows were included, along with Sunday baseball and cigaret advertising (on any day, presumably) in a resolution condemning the allegedly impious indulgences they afford. line 7, 1950 FILM BUYER This service is being hailed by exhibitors everywhere as indispensable in successful operation of their theatres. The next Film Buyer will appear as Section Two of the June 28 issue of 1 Exhibitors Herald-World Vurtzel Is Signed For Five Years as Fox Studios9 Head (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Tune 3. — Sol Wurtzel as signed a new contract with Fox for re years. Wurtzel, general up e r i n t e ndent of lie Fox Film Cororation studios for le past fourteen ears, will continue nth the duties he as performed in the Hast. He accepted re contract on the |ist day of the nalonal convention of ae Fox sales forces lit the Ambassador otel from Winfield heehan, general tanager. Wurtzel was a oubly busy man during the convention, hat with meeting all the demands of prouction and also showing the visitors about le place. On Saturday night Sheehan was ost at a dinner dance at Cafe de Paris at le Fox Movietone studio. -oca/ Theatre Censor Is Appointed for Montreal ( Special to the Herald-World) MONTREAL, June 4. — The decision has een reached by the civic administration of 'lontreal to have a local theatre censor in ddition to the Provincial Board of Moving ’icture Censors and the Quebec Poster ’ensor and the city executive has appointed . P. Filion, well known locally as an actor nd writer, to the office. In this connecion, it is pointed out that the visit of lontreal police officials to the theatres will e discontinued and Filion will now exerise supervision over performances of all inds at both the English and French lieatres. Virdlinger Suit Against Stanley Due This Month ( Special to the Herald-lVorld) PHILADELPHIA, June 4.— Fred G. lixon-Nirdlinger’s suit against the Stanley 'ompany of America relative to the operaion of the Fifty-second Street theatre nder an old contract is expected to come p for trial in Common Pleas Court in ’hiladelphia early this month. It is one of score or more of suits that Nirdlinger has nstituted against the old Stanley organizaion alleging breach of contract. One of he suits has already been settled out of ourt and was said to involve the payment >f about $165,000. The Baptists gloried most in this dual revival of the old familiar evils which have been ascribed to the world’s most popular form of entertainment. They passed a resolution seeking to define the motion picture industry as a public utility and demanding that the industry be made subject like other public utilities to the control of the government. This part of the resolution brought resounding cheers, as did that part linking the screen with the “wet press,” which latter clause necessarily raises Baptist hatred of affairs cinematic to levels considerably higher than that of mere criticism. Just about everything in the catalog of social evils was thumped down at the door of the motion picture. Films create a false and distorted view of life, according to the resolution passed following speeches in the same vein. Films dull sensitiveness to crime. Films have a vicious effect upon our relations with other countries. Other evils were asserted. And this perverting influence is visited chiefly upon the children “who make up 90 per cent of audiences on Saturdays and Sundays,” the resolution averred. Nor did the Baptists limit themselves to matters of morality. Their denunciations grew economic as they declared themselves in favor of the Brookhart bill in the Senate, and the Hudson bill in the House, which are designed to prohibit the practice of block-booking. Much. was. said from the rostrum about the desirability of the Eighteenth amendment and the criminality of the “wet press” which seeks to undermine it, and the resolution formally reiterated such sentiments. But though this was a Baptist convention, “booze” played second fiddle to the photoplay in the interest of the delegates, if emotional response may be taken as a gauge. It was to the contrary with the Presbyterians. They enjoved the attack on John Barleycorn most. But they went on record as being alarmed over current desecrations Pictures Enhance Mental Health, Says Psychiatrist (Special to the Herald-World) WASHINGTON, June 4. — Viewing moving pictures helps a man’s mental health, according to Dr. Frans Alexander, psychiatrist of Berlin, who spoke before the World Conference on Mental Hygiene, in Washington, D. C„ recently. According to Dr. Alexander, " Motion pictures must rank in first importance and helpfulness among the instinctive measures of civilization to provide substitute satisfaction for adventure and excitement of which we have been robbed by the presentday routine of economics and mechanical existence.” of their Sabbath, and motion picture shows on the Lord’s day naturally came in for its share of the orgy of denunciation, which was led by Dr. Mark Matthews, a Seattle minister. Refuses to Publish Reply By Milliken to Articles About “Menace of Movies” Christian Century Editor Says Readers Not Interested in Film Progress (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, June 4.— In a number of proof sheets sent out by the M P P D A, is an article entitled “Whither the Movies?” by Carl E. Milliken, secretary of the organization. It seeks to give a comprehensive idea of the progress of the picture industry, and what is being done to raise the standards of pictures. This was sent to the editor of the Christian Century, in reply to a series of articles which had been published on “The Menace of the Movies.” In refusing to accept the article by Milliken, the editor said, “Our readers are not interested in the progress of the moving picture industry, as such, and it would be quite out of place for us to use our space for an article dealing with that aspect of the matter and with other facts which do not seem to us to meet moral issues which have been raised.” First N ational to Hold Regional Meets From Coast to Coast (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, June 4.— As an aftermath to the national convention at Atlantic City, recently ended, First National salesmen will meet in various parts of the country for regional meetings. The New York regional was held at the Pennsylvania hotel in New York City on June 1. The midwest sales force will gather in Chicago on June 7 and 8, while the far western meeting will take place in San Francisco, June 14 and 15. Southern sales executives will convene in New Orleans on June 21 and 22. Draws $100 Fine for Not Labeling Seats Correctly (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, June 4. — A. J. Bass, pleading guilty in Police Judge Joseph M. Golden’s court to a charge of violating the State bedding and sterilizing laws in selling a theatre 1,698 seats labeled “new material” and delivering seats containing second-hand material not so labeled and not sterilized, was fined $100. The charge was made by a state inspector and the Better Business Bureau aided in the prosecution of the case.