Motography (Jul 1918)

50 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XX, No. 2. SO acute has the feeling in many quarters now become, that the advisability of forming another national organization, in certain eventualities, is being freely discussed. MOTOGRAPHY is not in accord with this idea. It does not regard it as a practical solution of the present problem. At best it is but an experiment and an expedient with no more prospect of achievement than the National Association now has. IT will be time enough to talk of a new organization when it is found impossible to remodel the old. And herein lies the crux of the whole situation. The National Association has but two alternatives. It must CLEAN HOUSE— Or QUIT! Patriotism or Profit ? THE English language can do man)' things but it cannot be stretched to cover all situations. For instance, it cannot make a man white and black at the same time and have him a fine specimen of each. The case in point is the warning sounded to exhibitors who run "Pershing's Crusaders," released by the Committee on Public Information through the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. In this warning there appears these words : "We have permission to use the Government's name as producer in our advertising and publicity. We must see that this privilege is not abused by misleading statements— either direct or indirect — which will give the impression that the Government is responsible, or in any way connected with the exhibition of the picture. "The Division of Films has issued or approved complete advertising and publicity campaign copy which will cover all requirements. It zvill be available at First National Exchanges. For any other matter issued in connection with the exploitation of the film each exhibitor will have to accept full responsibility." The "impression that the Government is responsible or in any way connected with the exhibition of the picture" is impossible to escape. As a matter of fact the Government is making a profit out of it through the Committee on Public Information and therefore the Government, through those who rent the film, is directly connected with the actual exhibition of the picture. Now that the Government is in the film business in direct competition with the news film which it sells to the weeklies, why should there be any further subterfuge? Taxed out of our boots and competed with by the Government direct is bad enough, but to be clouded over with dust raising conversation, misleading or stupid, or both, this is indeed a burden. But further than this, is the neat threat contained in the final paragraph of the warning which reads : "The Committee on Public Information has thousands of eyes which will be on the lookout for cases where ill-advised or misleading publicity is used. Should we exhibitors prove unworthy the trust reposed in us we may expect future Government features to reach the public in halls, churches or other publicly controlled meeting places." So soon as the thousand eyes see ill-advised publicity, then all the halls and churches will turn into picture houses ! What is the United States Government after in this matter? Is it a wide-spread showing of pictures it wants the nation to see, or is it profits to keep the Creel Committee financed? Our industry is intensely patriotic. It stands ready and has many times offered the fullest co-operation without profit, but despite its mistakes the motion picture industry is not wholly blind to the bungling or the seemingly sinister efforts of the Creel Committee. We don't need to be bullied and if we will get together impartially and patriotically we won't be bullied. No Brains — No Brains On the beautiful lawns of the Letts estate in Hollywood a garden party was in progress. Will S. Davis, Metro director, was rehearsing a scene in "Judgment." An "extra" dashed up, breathless and ten minutes late. He almost fell into the arms of Bert Dorris, the assistant director. "I would have been here sooner," he gasped, "but I had to hunt all over town for these." He pointed down, and it was Dorris' turn to gasp. "Your bit in this scene is that of a young society idler in white flannels, and here you show up with a Charlie Chaplin rig on," said Dorris. "What are you wearing those things for?" Dorris indicated a pair of tremendous brogans. "Why, I thought you said 'long feet,' " the super explained, "and these shoes are the longest I could get." Then light dawned on Dorris. "I said 'lawn fete' — not 'long feet,' " he declared, keeping a straight face with an effort. "And the 'Q' is silent — as in 'canary.' " Petrova Uses Famous Slogan In a competition recently conducted by the Newspaper Enterprise Association, which serves 300 newspapers throughout the country, a prize was offered for the best American war slogan. Out of the hundreds submitted, one from Miss Marion I. Coop of San Diego, California — "Freedom for All Forever" — was judged the best. Secretary of War Baker and Secretary Daniels of the Navy were so impressed that they both endorsed the phrase and Congressman C. C. Van Dyck has introduced a bill in Congress urging all patriotic Americans to use, to live up to and to fight for this slogan. And now to strengthen further its hold on the imagination and hearts of the people, Madame Olga Petrova is introducing the phrase as embodied in a patriotic song written by Lieutenant B. C. Hilliam of the Royal Canadian forces in every city she visits on her coast to coast tour in behalf of War Savings Stamps.