Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1914)

66 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS area of about twenty square blocks and place them under front doors, in the mail boxes or wherever the books may be found easily. "The result has been astonishing," Mr. Spero sums up his booklet advertising. "They are not destroyed and thrown away as you might suppose — they are kept on library tables in the homes or by the women in their pocket-books, a constant reminder of my show." * * * THE writer of this article was visiting near the Alamo Theatre one night. During the evening the subject of motion pictures came up and someone suggested that everybody go over to the Alamo. Some objected, but finally the lady of the household settled the matter by referring to Mr. Spero's program which she had kept carefully in her desk. "Such and such a film is there to-night," she said ; "it ought to be good." And finally the crowd went. But if the Alamo program hadn't been handy, no one would have gone ! * * * *'' (~^ OOD, clean advertising pays," Mr. Spero said recently. ^J "The success of the Alamo is due to two things — we have offered the best films possible. "But better than that, we have let our patrons knoiv that we had the best films. We backed up our show with an appeal that created a desire to see." The Alamo has adopted the new policy of giving but one show a night. Commencing at 7 :30 o'clock with a short orchestra concert, three single reels are shown, then an intermission, followed by a special feature running five or six reels. The show closes about 10 :30 o'clock and the patrons have had an entire evening of amusement. The admission is ten cents for children and twenty cents for adults. DO EXHIBITORS WANT CENSORSHIP ? {Continued from page 50) William Leyser, Marlowe Theatre, Buffalo, N. Y. "A National Board of Censorship, such as that which exists at present, is absolutely essential in holding the manufacturer to certain limitations, but a local board is a thing of a different nature. I believe that every manager is capable of the capacity of a local censor, in other words I believe that every manager should be his 'own board of censorship.' His patrons' wants and desires he should know. He knows the class of patronage that comes to his theatre. In fact, it depends entirely upon him to entertain and please his audience, and such pictures which need certain restrictions he can make. Being fully conversant with the current films, he is in a position to be the best judge of the moral, educational and entertaining films, and can tell at a glance whether they are in need of censorship, and whether they are good, bad and indifferent. "A word regarding a suggestion for the elimination of controversies between exchange men and exhibitors regarding damaged films. I would suggest that a slip made out by the inspector accompany every shipment of films. Upon arrival, this slip should be signed by the manager or operator as to' the condition of the show, then if any damage is done, it would be easy to fix the blame. As it is now many managers as being blamed for damaged films would have had nothing to do with the destruction." Joseph Donegan, manager of the Lyric Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.: "/ favor slate censorship because it means thai I will have full protection for both my house and my patrons. "I cannot be sure to-day that any picture sent me may be absolutely clean — may be such that it won't offend the One EXHIBITOR'S Answer "The average theatre audience wants to see a picture that is thrilling, gripping — a picture that tells a good story, the theme palatable." "Some pictures to-day are bad. They pander to a depraved taste and are objectionable to the public. The manufacturer himself should eliminate those pictures. It should not be left for a politically-appointed censor " "If more care was given to the producing end with the idea of elevating rather than lowering the motion picture drama, then there wouldn't be any talk about censorship." "The pictures from some companies I accept without a thought. I know they are good and clean and unobjectionable. Other companies must be constantly watched or something salacious v*rill be slipped in. That's why some people demand censorship." "The best censor of the motion picture is the exhibitor himself. He, and he alone, should exercise all the censorship powers." Observations of Joseph L. Stiebel, manager of the Apollo Theatre, Kansas City. women and children who make up a large part of my audiences." P. A. Engler, manager local branch, Mutual Movies, Kansas City, Mo.: "Film censorship as it is handled in Kansas City is satisfactory to me. "The censorship problem must be worked out, if at all, through a national board." Lawrence H. Smith, manager of the new Lyric Motion Picture Theatre in Chattanooga, Tenn.: '7 do not believe that any person or set of persons should have the right to decide arbitrarily and finally whether a picture is good or bad. I do think the National Board of Censorship is a good thing and if it came to the point of absolute necessity of censors, I would prefer the National Board, where the decisions will be final, and finally recognized in each state and city.' E. Meadows, manager of the Special Feature department of the General Film Company in Buffalo: "It is the unanimous opinion among picture men that such interference on the part of local authorities is actuated purely and entirely by motives of graft. ''Censorship, so far as the trade is concerned, can only be a benefit when it is exercised in a constructive manner, that is to say, when real intelligent criticism is offered for the benefit of manufacturers." Daniel J. Savage, new general manager of the Buffalo, N. Y., branch of the General Film Company: "/ am absolutely against local censorship. "I am strongly in favor of a National Board of Censorship and local censors and officials should abide by the decision of this board. "From what I understand, the whole movement is nothing but a political one, and makes a place for some one of the 'faithful' for 7vhom a job must be found by the local boss." J. P. Freuler, of the Mutual Film Company, when asked whether he was in favor of state censorship, said that he was not. and was against censorship of any kind. Charles H. Phillips, secretary of the Citizens' Commission on Motion Pictures, Milwaukee, replied as follows: "I consider censorship unconstitutional and subjected to political influence. I consider the present mode of censorship now existing in Milwaukee sufficient. I con(Continued on page 80)