Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

/ THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS ^9: COURT LIFTS "LID" FROM WAR FILMS Grants Permanent Injunction to San Francisco Exhibitor Who Complained of Interference by Chief White — Way Now Open to All Exhibitors Similarly Situated — War Pictures at All Theatres— Stillwell Assails League's Attitude in Letter Sfiecial to The Motion Picture News San Francisco, August 31. THE recent efforts of Chief of Police White to stop the Silver Palace Theatre from displaying films showing war scenes has been effectually blocked, and all danger of there being a self-appointed censor to dictate the policy of San Francisco motion picture houses has been removed. Following the recent order of the Chief of Police that no war pictures could be shown in this city, the Silver Palace Theatre showed a drama, "Faithful Unto Death," and its manager, Charles Stillwell, was arrested. A temporary injunction was secured against that police official and the picture was shown for four days. A permanent injunction was applied for and when the case was brought before the court this was granted. Points Way for Relief . While this injunction does not mean that the order of the Chief of Police has been swept aside, it points the way for other exhibitors in case they are interfered with. Since this injunction was secured the activities of the authorities in attempting to suppress war pictures have been stopped and films of this character are being freely shown by all exhibitors who wish to feature them. _ A member of the local board of censorship, who conducts a large house on ^larket street, recently featured "War Is Hell," and was visited by the Chief of Police. However, it was not the film that was objected to, but the immense sign that was displayed, and this was removed rather than cause trouble. Police Modified their Order The original order of the police included films dealing with the wars of any nation, America included. After the protest by the League, referred to in last week's issue of The Motion Picture News, the order vvras modified to permit American war pictures to be shown. To the modified order the League, apparently, gave approval. That Mr. Stilwell resented the exercise of the police authority over war films to any degree was plain. The action of the League in silently, at any rate, acquiescing in the revised ruling of the police has disappointed and irritated Mr. Stilwell, as will appear from the letter printed below. . This letter was sent to the San Francisco League, and their action upon it is now awaited. The letter is given here in full: San Francisco, Cal., Aug. 18, 1914. "Motion Picture Exhibitors League of San Francisco, "San Francisco, Cal. "Gentlemen : — Having been informed informed that the Silver Palace, having a war picture booked, intended showing it and were expecting trouble if censors enforced the order. While Mr. Marks stated that he was to a certain extent in favor of Chief White's order, he gave me no reason to believe any LOBBY OF SAN FRANCISCO THEATRE WHILE A FORBIDDEN "WAR FILM "WAS ON EXHIBITION by the secretary, Mr. R. L. Marks, that if my dues were paid to date I might have the floor at any meeting to express myself in reference to the actions of two officers of this League in appearing before Chief of Police White on the subject of censuring war pictures, and, realizing the truth in the statement of the secretary regarding the dues, I am taking this manner of laying the matter before you, earnestly hoping that you will give due consideration to same. "During the conversation referred to, Mr. Marks confirmed reports and statements as published in the San Francisco 'Examiner' of August 11 (clipping enclosed) to the effect that the president and himself as secretary of the M. P. E. L. of San Francisco, acting for the League, had appeared before Chief of Police White and put the League on record as favoring the action of the police in censuring all war pictures other than American. "Sunday night Mr. Marks and the writer discussed briefly the then impending ban on war pictures. He was immediate action by the League was contemplated, saying he had no idea of the course they would pursue. "Monday, as expected, the picture entitled 'Faithful Unto Death' was condemned by Corporal Peschon of the Censor Board, film confiscated and the writer arrested. Case was dismissed; restraining order against police department secured, and picture shown again. Protests League's Action '"As an exhibitor of San Francisco, for the good of the business, I protested against the unauthorized action of the president and secretary of the M. P. E. L. of San Francisco and beg leave to call your attention to the following facts, fully convinced that in so doing it may help to bring about a condition entirely lacking in the League at the present. "The utter lack of any help or support, moral or otherwise, to be expected is aptly illustrated in past experiences of the Silver Palace Theatre. "The Silver Palace, as you are aware,