Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

June 22, 1918 MOTOGRAPHY 1159 Talk "Cold Turkey" In Nashville Fight SUNDAY SHOWS PUT SQUARELY UP TO CITY COMMISSION THE fight in Nashville for Sunday moving pictures has narrowed to this — the majority against the churches. The majority want seven-day pictures, and they want them bad, as forcibly demonstrated in the recent "straw" election held by the Nashville Tennessean and American, the leading morning newspaper. The past two weeks have seen a renewal of the fight on both sides. The ministers have preached sermons denouncing the efforts to bring Sunday pictures to Nashville as a means of diversion to the thousands of new inhabitants coming into the city as a result of the great government powder plant's establishment here, while committees have waited upon the mayor and individual letters and phone calls by the score have poured into the mayor's office from advocates of the plan. Paper Talks "Cold Turkey" Following the mayor's assertion that he would not allow a picture house to open in Nashville on Sunday "under any circumstances, even if he had to use the entire police department to enforce the order," the Tennessean and American addressed an open letter to the Nashville city commission. The letter was published three columns wide and running the full length of the editorial page, calling on the commission to take action and amend the statutes of the city to such an extent that Sunday pictures would be permitted, as a means of protection to the modern welfare conditions of the city. Asks Legal Permission The open letter pointed out that various labor unions had adopted resolutions approving Sunday pictures, that the people had voted in the newspaper "straw" election by a majority of 8,237 votes for Sunday pictures, and that only 844 voted against the move. It was shown that in a certain city statute a phrase existed which points out that it is unlawful for any place of business or amusement to remain open for profit on Sunday. The appeal asks that this section be so amended as to permit the shows to be run on Sunday without any violation of the law. The baseball park is running, it is argued, which operates for both profit and amusement on Sunday, and the brand of amusement supplied is of a much noisier and objectionable charac ter than the quiet operation of a moving picture show. How Baseball Is Excepted "In so suggesting," the letter reads, "we wish to call your honored attention to Section 1072, same page, same volume, laws of Nashville, which reads: 'It shall be unlawful and is hereby declared a misdemeanor to engage in, conduct, or permit any agent or employe to engage in or conduct any game, sport or device for profit on Sunday, except baseball.' In calling your attention to this section we do so because baseball is made an exception — an exception just as we suggest, and the people want moving pictures to be excepted in Section 1073. "The United States government has approved of Sunday moving pictures by allowing the Liberty theatres in all army cantonments and the motion picture houses in the district of Columbia to be open on Sundays. It is evident that the United States government has felt that this was necessary for the welfare of its soldiers and its citizens, especially in these times of stress, when human nature tends toward morbidness. "Nashville now has an army of many thousands of men, working from early morning to late at night making powder for the government, helping us to win in this struggle for world democracy. Those men deserve some recognition. They should be given an opportunity for clean recreation on Sunday, and nothing offers better recreation than moving pictures." Churches Grow Bitter Taking the question from a standpoint of the churches, there has been strong opposition since the "straw" election. Dr. James I. Vance, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, has been one of the leaders in the movement to oppose Sunday pictures. He has been in conference with officials of the newspaper holding the election in an effort to show that the majority rule plan applies to closing the shows on Sunday rather than permitting them to open. Dr. Vance also brought out that the results of Sunday moving pictures would be the same as that of Sunday baseball, and argued that Sunday baseball brought but little more patronage than six-day ball. Wherein Dr. Vance is wrong, especially in the case of the Nashville Southern League team. It has been shown that in some cases there were practically as many persons at a Sunday ball game as attended during the entire week of six days. The people want entertainment on Sunday. There can be no doubt of that. Baptists Are Active The Baptists have likewise been active in opposing the Sunday opening plan. Resolutions were adopted at a Sunday meeting and presented to the mayor and city officials, calling on them to forbid the opening of Sunday shows. At a meeting of the Pastors' Alliance on Monday morning, June 3, all members of the alliance, embracing various churches of the city, voted solidly against Sunday pictures. One of the most convincing arguments yet presented to the city commission was the petition on Wednesday, June 5, by a large delegation of the powder plant workers themselves. The petition stated that the men had to go to work early and did not get off until late, and did not have time to attend theatres in the week, and that they were strongly in favor of Sunday pictures. Edna Goodrich Well Cast "The Gadabout," upon which Edna Goodrich is now working for Mutual at the Biograph studios in New York, gives the famous stage beauty the role of a frivolous, pampered young society matron — a part well adapted to Miss Goodrich's particular beauty and her faculty of wearing gorgeous clothes. She portrays the type of woman found in all circles of ultra wealthy society, spoiled by worship and attention, living to the very limit of her husband's resources. The plot revolves around the situation which arises when the young husband's ruin threatens and the methods she adopts to avert his ruin. Miss Goodrich has David Powell as leading man. Mr. Powell has appeared opposite the screen's most favored actresses in the last year, but this is his first appearance with Miss Goodrich. Select Promotes C. R. Rogers C. R. Rogers, Select branch manager at Buffalo, has been put in charge of the New England territory with headquarters in the Boston office. He is succeeded at Buffalo by Sherman S. Webster. J. C. Ragland, Fox manager at Cincinnati, has joined Select to manage the branch office at St. Louis.