The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

24 -THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY This photograph gives an impression of how your town will "BLUE LAW" POLICE AT LOCAL THEATRE «gLUE SUNDAY," the first of the two-reel comedies to be produced by Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran, who will be remembered for their work in "La La Lucille," "Once a Plumber" and "Fixed By George," was shown at the Theatre last night and sounds a new note of popular appeal. If their succeeding comedies are as humorous as this travesty on the Blue Laws they will out-rival the popularity of the earlier successes of these two comedy stars. The theme of the story is particularly timely in view of the widespread agitation for national enforcement of "Blue Sunday." In this picture, which was written and directed by Lyons and Moran, they present a view of what life in the average American town will resemble after the passing of the Twentieth Amendment. Into the story they have worked a plot revolving around some of their own original situations. Innovations in the form of baby silencers to prevent infants from disturbing the public peace on the Sabbath and separators to keep young people out walking the prescribed four feet apart are also introduced. One of the features of the picture is the squad of Blue Law policemen garbed in the conventional black, who bring violators of the Blue Sunday ordinances to the public stocks where they are kept before the public gaze until they have atoned for their sins. fWithout the aid of slap-stick these two young funmakers have produced a real laughter getting comedy. Lillian Hackett, Joy McCreery and George French as the principals in the "bootleg" wedding capably support the stars. STORY OF "BLUE SUNDAY" SOUNDS WARNING NOTE ^FTER the passing of the Blue Laws, the only business institution allowed to keep open on Sunday was the undertaker and the only wideopen amusements were a slow walk to church and the evening concert of the church bells — until nine o'clock only when everyone had to be off the streets. Eddie Lyons is a young bachelor who decides to get married on a Sunday and avoid paying the bachelor tax of eighty per cent of his income which becomes effective on Monday. His friend Lee is a married man and is in danger of arrest because he played with his baby on Sunday. In his home he has a tobacco plant and grows his own smokes although his wife thinks the shrub is a geranium plant. Eddie is forbidden by law to be married on Sunday and asks Lee to help him find a "bootleg" minister. Together they plan a "bootleg" wedding ceremony. All stores, parks, public buildings and theatres are closed in the town; no fires are allowed on Sunday and all taxicabs are locked in their garages over the weekend. Lee finds a girl for the ceremony and with Eddie they get into a "bootleg" taxi — the undertaker's hearse — and start off to the home of the "bootleg" minister. If they are caught it will mean forty Sundays in the public stocks erected on the sidewalk just outside the town hall. On the way they pass the punishing blocks and see their friends locked in the stocks for such offenses as chewing gum, carrying matches, reading a paper, looking in a mirror, throwing a fit and other similar hineous crimes. Elxhibitor Aids To Be Used In Putting Over "Blue Sunday" Comedy One-sheet poster. Three-sheet poster. One announcement slide. One set of eight gelatine lobby photos, 11x14 inches, including title card. One 22x28-inch hand-colored display poster.