Moving Picture World (Jun 1919)

1490 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 7, 1919 AUBURN TO CENSOR ITS SUNDAY SHOWS Council Adopts Ordinance Granting Special License for Picture Entertainment on the Sabbath I OFFER no excuse or apology to any hysterical, narrow-minded minister for presenting this resolution," said Alderman Harry G. Tripp in a heated argument over the ordinance granting a special license for the showing of pictures on Sundays in the city of Auburn, N. Y. The ordinance was adopted by the Common Council, every alderman voting in favor with a pronounced "aye." The heated word battle, in which City Attorney R. C S. Drummond and several aldermen took part, followed a recess of the council taken to read over the special resolution, which was drawn by Mr. Drummond and amended in the council. The original draft provided that the members of the council should constitute a Board of Censorship to pass upon all pictures shown in the city. This provision was amended by the aldermen to provide for such censorship of pictures shown on Sundays. There will be no censorship of the films shown on the other six days of the week. Would Bar Certain Pictures. The fifth provision of the ordinance was the bone of contention. As originally written it provided that "at no time, either on the first day of the week or on any other day of the week, shall there be exhibited any moving picture of the 'vampire,' 'sex,' 'triangle' or 'bedroom' variety, so-called, or any moving pictures protraying plays, scenes, events or incidents of such sort, as these terms are commonly known or understood." After the council had amended the ordinance and stricken out the provisions for censorship on week days the city attorney asked the privilege of the floor and condemned the council for the stand they had taken. He said that several of the aldermen knew that pictures were being shown in the city which were unclean. Alderman Lucas, in opposing censorship, demanded that the city inform the council of any cases of unclean pictures being shown, but this he was unable to do. Practically every member of the council voiced his opinion that unclean pictures were not shown in the city. Pictures an Educational Institution. Alderman Tripp, replying to the bitter charges made against the aldermen by several of the ministers of the city, said: "I have no excuse to offer to the public for presenting this resolution which provides for Sunday movies. I am heartily in favor of Sunday shows. I believe moving pictures are a wonderful education. I have received more education from the screen than I have from traveling, and I have seen quite a little of the country. I have seen no picture which has hurt me. Possibly my mind is stretched. Some pictures might hurt the morals of small children. I make no apology, however, to the ministry or to any hysterical, narrow-minded minister. Furthermore, I do not approve of the council censoring pictures on the other six days of the week." Special License Fee $25 a Year. The fee will be $25 a year for the privilege of showing films on Sundays. The picture theatres are now paying a fee of $75 a year for showing on week days, making the total fee for showing seven days a week $100 a year. Films Shipped by Mail Must Be Properly Labeled ORDERS to postmasters strictly to serve the regulations regarding the mailing of motion pictures have just been sent out by Otto Praeger, second assistant postmaster general, and the Post Office Department hereafter will enforce its rules. Reports have been received from time to time that motion pictures have been shipped through the mails without being properly packed and labeled and, inasmuch as such shipments are of an inflammable character, the following order has been sent to all postmasters : Motion Picture Films — Preparation for Mailing-. 'Second Assistant Postmaster General, Washington, May 9, 1919. Postmasters are directed to exercise special care in accepting motion-picture films for shipment in the mails, to see that the containers are in good condition, and have attached thereto the required "Caution" label. Containers for motion-picture films must comply with the following requirements: "Moving-picture films must be packed in tightly-closed metal cases inclosed in a strong, spark-proof wooden box, or in spark-proof cases made of sheet-iron not less than 0.02 -inch thick (No. 25 U. S. standard gauge) and lined throughout with fibre board at least %-inch thick, or some other equivalent insulating material. The covers of these cases must fit tightly and must lap over the body at least %-inch on the sides, forming a tight joint." All packages containing motion-picture films must have attached thereto by the shipper a diamond-shaped yellow label, each side 4 inches long, with the wording printed in black letters inside of a blackline border measuring 3V2 inches on each side, reading as follows: NOTICE TO Postal Employees Keep CAUTION Fire and Lights Away Sweep Up and Remove Carefully Contents of Broken Packages This is to certify that the above articles are properly described by name and are packed and marked and are proper condition for transportation, according to the regulations prescribed by the Post Office Department Shipper's Name All such packages must be placed in cars and offices in position that will permit of their ready removal in case of fire. They must not be loaded in cars nor stored in stations or offices in contact with steam pipes or other sources of heat. OTTO PRAEGER, Second Assistant Postmaster General. If This Be "The Avalanche"— We'd volunteer as Elsie Ferguson's mountain guide in this forthcoming Artcraft. Showmen Favor Repeal of Daylight Saving Law A DETERMINED effort is 'to be made at this session of Congress to bring about the repeal of the so-called daylight saving law. The farming interests of the country are bringing a great deal of pressure to bear upon the members of the Senate and House, and are demanding that this action be taken. Many of the Congressmen are therefore facing considerable difficulty and embarrassment, for there are innumerable congressional districts consisting of city as well as farming sections. The moving picture and theatre men also look askance at the law, for it cuts them out of revenue. The exhibitors find it difficult to coax people to visit their theatres while it is still daylight. This has the result of cutting them out of the proceeds of one show each night. However, the theatre men, for the most part, are willing to see the law stand. LINZ. Secretary Glass Thanks Zukor. Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and chairman of the Victory Loan committee of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, is in receipt of a letter from Carter Glass, Secretary of the Treasury, expressing appreciation not only of the work of the committee but of the assistance rendered in putting over the Victory Loan by all those connected with the motion picture industry who co-operated in any way. Buenos Aires Strike Ends. With the lifting of the port strike at Buenos Aires, resumption of the importation of film has again been made possible, and the shipment of William Fox productions has been resumed to both Argentina and Uruguay. The port strike began in December, and the harbor was completely tied up.