Motion Picture News (March 1917)

FEE 2! 1917 ©*b'd8482S Volume XV Number 9 March 3, 1917 I HAS THE QUALITY CIRCULATION OF THE TRADE I j Published on Tuesday everv week by MOTION PICTURE NEWS, Inc., 729 Seventh Ave., N. Y. 'Phone 9360 Bryant. Wm. A. Johnston, Pres. and Editor; Henry F. Sewall, Vice-Pres. ; E. Kendall Gillett, Sec. ; H. A. Wyckoff, Treas. & Bus. Mgr. Chicago Offices, Mgr. T. S. Mead. 110 So. Dearborn St; 'Phone 755 Randolph. Los Angeles Offices, Mgr. J. C. Jessen, 427 South Figueroa St.; 'Phones 7140 Main, 462 Broadway, F-2188. Subscriptions $2 a year, postpaid, in United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Porto Rico and Philippine Islands. Canada, $3. N.B. — No agent is authorized to take subscriptions for Motion Picture News at less than these rates. Have the agent who takes your subscription show his credentials and coupon book. Entered as second class matter October 18, 1913, at the post office at New York. New York, under the Act of March 3, 1879. ii nmnnui i ii iim iiimmi mraii* News of the JV eek Page Ousting of Frank bv Ochs Illegal, Says Trigger 1367 Griffith's Appointment of Powers is Upheld 1367 General Film Company Elects Officers 1367 William Johnston in Libel Suit. 1367 William Sherrill Resigns from Art Dramas 1367 Fairbanks Faces Suit for Breaking Contract 1 368 " The Barrier " to be Dollar Attraction 1368 New Color Process is Shown to Trade 1368 Federal Censorship Killed in National Legislature 1369 Down With Stars' Salaries, Says Hampton 1369 Exhibitors Try Longer Runs with Surprising Success. ... 1371 Trade Honors Edison, Its Creator, on Natal Day 1372 Trade Paper Ads Make for Success, Says Collins 1374 Charles Giblyn Retorts to Critical Authors 1374 Spokane's Commissioner Wants No Censor Bill 1375 (Complete Table of Contents will be found on page 1432) JVhat the Women Can Do TT7*Y. are in receipt of a very sensible and sincere letter from Margaret B. Shull, of Ann Arbor, in which she asks what Women's Clubs, acting for the public, can do for better, cleaner motion pictures. A great deal, Mrs. Shull. The friendly and practical tone of your letter strengthens the conviction we had last Spring after meeting several of the thoughtful, liberal and practical leaders of the Women's Clubs, then in convention in New York, and the contention we then held that the women of this country could go far toward settling the whole menace of official censorship — in the best interests of pictures and of the picture industry. 1/TRS. SHULL says : ''After all, what we troublesome Women's + Clubs want is not so much. I believe that we and the best producers and best exhibitors all want the same things." We agree heartily; and the same things you all want are — cleaner, better pictures. You and the best producers and the best exhibitors ought, therefore, to act together. You can act together; and thereby you can curb at first and eventually you can stop the activity of the piratical producer and the unscrupulous exhibitor. Both in their respective branches are in a decided minority; but thev do exist. Y/"OU don't believe in censorship — no thoughtful, educated ■* woman can; so you don't just know what to do. But something must be done. We suggest, therefore, that you work with the best exhibitors and the best producers; and that you work against the other kind. You can begin with the exhibitor at once. If you — and this applies, of course, to every Woman's Club everywhere — find a picture being advertised which in your sound judgment is dangerous to the morals of your community, vou can appeal to the authorities and have it suppressed. You can also suppress the posters advertising it upon the same grounds. You will generally find these pictures not nearly so bad as they are advertised. But the bad poster is in itself just as harmful as the bad picture and calls for the same action from the authorities. The authorities have this full power. Make them use it. //GAIN, co-operate with the best exhibitors. Bring them in touch with your schools, churches, societies and clubs. Asks the theatres to advertise, with slides, the church, service, and all religious, social and civic gatherings. The theatres will do it. Many do it now. Then, in turn, let the schools and churches announce and recommend the pictures which the family and especially the chil-. dren ought to see. Let the Women's Clubs and other societies help in this work. They can do a great deal. Make the picture theatre a real, integral part of your community life. Make it your library and reading room. Start this home work — now. Work in the field right near vou. If this work becomes national — and surely it's important enough — you will very shortly make the exhibition unprofitable and thereby you will stop the production of unfit pictures. gM, 1817, >y Motion PicUtrt >'#«■», Inc.