Motion Picture Reviews (1930)

MOTION PICTURE COMMITTEE OF THE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CLUB, LOS ANGELES BRANCH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Mrs. John Vruwink, General Chairman Mrs. Palmer Cook, Subscription Chairman Mrs. Walter Van Dyke, Vice Chairman Mrs. George Ryall, Preview Chairman Editors of Bulletin: Mrs. John Vruwink, Mrs. H. Sutherland Campbell, Mrs. Margaret Argo. CALIFORNIA MOTION PICTURE COUNCIL One of the objectives of club motion picture work in Southern California has always been to discriminate between films which are suitable and those unsuitable for children and to encourage a selective attendance. During the summer it has been the privilege of the Women’s University Club to assist in the organization of a group which will attempt to sponsor special programs for children, and on Monday, September 8th, 1930, the California Motion Picture Council formally came into existence with Mrs. John Vruwink, Women’s University Club, President; Mrs. William Burk, General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Vice President; Mrs. Charles Burr, International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, Secretary; Mrs. John Cook, Daughters of The American Revolution, Treasurer; Mrs. Florine Wolfstein, Council of Jewish Women, Parliamentarian. The organizations represented in this council are: Women’s University Club, Los Angeles Branch A.A.U.W. ; Los Angeles District, Cal. Fed. Women’s Clubs; Preview Dept., General Federation of Women’s Clubs; First District, California Council of Parents and Teachers; Tenth District, California Council of Parents and Teachers; International Federation of Catholic Alumnae; California Council of Catholic Women; Council of Jewish Women; Daughters of the American Revolution; Hollywood Women’s Club; Friday Morning Club; Ebell Club; Girl Scouts of Los Angeles ; Boy Scouts of Los Angeles ; Girl Reserves of the Y.W.C.A., Los Angeles ; Hollywood and Los Angeles Branches, Y.M.C.A. ; The Camp Fire Girls, Los Angeles; Librarians, Work With Children, Los Angeles Public Library; Los Angeles County Librarians. It is hoped that this group, representing the organizations most interested in this social phase of child welfare, may become a permanent clearing house for all the available information on what is being done here and elsewhere, in providing motion picture entertainment especially suitable for children, and for all the available information on current film releases. Study work, under the guidance of Mrs. Leo Hedges of the Parent Teacher Association has been begun. The immediate plan has been to prepare a standard to which all the representative members of the Council agree, and then to assist in encouraging the exhibiters who are willing to cooperate with the California Motion Picture Council by giving the approved programs. The matinees will of necessity be of greater interest to children over nine because of the dearth of material available which is suitable for younger audiences, but every item on the motion picture program will have been seen and approved by the combined preview committees of the council. The program will last approximately two hours only, because of the nerve and eye strain of a longer program, and the matinee will be a separate unit in no way to be confused with the continuous performance merging into an adult program. Trailers advertising future releases are not to be run at these matinees unless they relate to the next approved matinee. Additional entertainment is at the discretion of the management of the theatres, but the California Motion Picture Council will not sponsor any matinee at which children are exploited or where the program does not meet the high standard of excellence already planned. Chaperones from among the mothers in these women’s organizations are requested by the managers of the theatres, bringing thus a closer understanding and cooperation. When the list of theatres willing to cooperate with this Council is assured the locations may be secured from any of the organizations which are members of the Council. It is planned to have an identifying insignia which may be given to the approved matinees so that they may be recognized.