Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 43 The Motion Picture News MOVING PICTTIEE NEWS EXHIBITOKS' TIMES Published Every Week by EXHIBITORS' TIMES, Inc. 220 West 42nd Street, New York City Telephone Bryant 7650 Ckleago Office 604 Schiller Building WM. A. JOHNSTON President HENRY P. SEWALl Vice-President E, KENDALL GILLETT Secretary WENTWOETH TTJCKEE Treasurer WM. A. JOHNSTON Editor LESLEY MASON Managring Editor WILLIAM EESSMAN ANDEEWS News Editor E. M, VANDIVEET Advertising Manager E. J. HUDSON Circulation Manager E. KENDALL GILLETT Business Manager C. J. VEEHALEN: Chicago Manager This publication is owned and published by Exhibitors' Times, incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. The offices and principal place of business are at 220 West 42nd Street, New York City. The address of the officers is the office of the publication. Entered as Second-Class matter at the New York Post-OflSce. Subscription $2,00 per year, postpaid in the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Porto Eico and the Philippine Islands. Canada $3.00, Foreign $4.00 per year. ADVEETISING EATES on application. Copy for next issue must reach us by Wednesday 11 a. m. For Releases see Pages, 74, 76, 78, 80 For Buyers Guide see Page 71 Cuts and copy are received subject to the ap proval of the publishers and advertisements are ^faA^l^^cQuw^ w Inserted absolutely without condition expressed '^^'^£12^03>^ or implied as to what appears in the text portion of the paper. Vol. X August 8, 1 9 14 No. 5 Censoring the Censors THE Pennsylvania State Censors of motion pictures have placed themselves in an ugly position by their attitude toward the motion picture production of "Jo^" Barleycorn." To say the least, it was a piece of political shortsightedness on their part to challenge a picture, the truth and the lesson of which is so powerfully plain that the liquor interests have offered tempting sums of money for its suppression until after the elections in states where temperance is an issue. ^ ^ 'T'HE hostility of the liquor interests to "John Barleycorn" is a better warrant that the Mm is free from any offensive or objectionable features than all the certificates that all the boards of censors in the country could give. * * * npHE odds are all against Mr. Breitinger in this fight. The public has had ample opportunity to judge for itself the inherent moral tone of "John Barleycorn" while the original of the photoplay was running in the "Saturday Evening Post." The advocates of temperance and prohibition are, we venture to say, quite as sensible to the obnoxious features of a story or a photoplay as an official censor, and quite as ready to demand their elimination. Neither from the public nor from the temperance propagandists has any complaint arisen. IVTR. BREITINGER has, at least, the distinction of being the first official guardian of public morality to discern a peril to those he is paid to protect in the Jack London photoplay. But he is also going to find himself, before long, in the unenviable position of having his own censorial acts censored by that ultimate censor, The Public, his master, from whose decisions there is no appeal. * * * TTAD he adopted such a policy toward a "white slave" film, Mr. Breitinger would have found his public with him. But, unfortunately, the millions whom Mr. Breitinger is supposed to represent have very stern and bitterly learned views on the liquor question, and the wise man does not trifle with these convictions. * * * A LCOHOL is not a half-myth, like white slavery. It is an incontrovertible fact. And Mr. Breitinger would do well to let the people have their way in this matter instead of trying to protect where they do not want his protection, such as it may be. * * * npHAT the fihu. companies as well as the trade in general really appreciate the fight of The Motion Picture News in their behalf and against censorship, is shown by the following letter which we received from the representative of Bosworth, Inc., who is handling the "John Barleycorn" film fight in Philadelphia in connection with their local distributors : FAMOUS PLAYERS EXCHANGE No. 1331 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. July 27, 1914. Motion Picture News, 220 West 42d Street, New York City, N. Y. Gentlemen :— I desire to thank you on behalf of Bosworth, Inc., manufacturers of the Barleycorn film, for the excellent manner in which you handled the story of our fight with the Pennsylvania State Censor. I note, too, your sturdy stand for the principle that censors should not be engaged in any other line of work. This is certainly the right view to take of the subject. Mr. Breitinger is not only engaged in serving the liquor interests, but is maintaining a law business as well, and between these elements and the fact that he likes to get in to the office between ten and eleven in the morning and leave at three, the motion picture interests are up against it to get their films reviewed. Added to that, it is not known that he has ever — as he is required to do by law — issued a certificate in writing, and hence he is in the position at any time to recall a film that his office says has been passed, as occurred in the case of the ■'Hearts of Oak." These conditions are not fair to the industry which we represent, and the co-operation of such a worthy periodical as yours is certainly appreciated in this battle for right. Yours truly, C. H. Pierce. * * * TP HE sooner Mr. Breitinger begins to see himself as the spectators of his actions, in this case particularly, see him, the sooner he will become an efficient public servant.