The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

January 24, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 565 Industry's Leaders Pledge Support To Lane's Americanization Plan LEADERS of the motion picture industry representing every division of the work discussed for more than two hours, Sunday, January 11, at the Waldorf Astoria, New York, plans for carrying forward the campaign for Americanization through the medium of the motion picture, under the direction of Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the interior. The meeting was a continuation of a smaller conference held in Washington at Secretary Lane's invitation on December 11. The conference on Sunday started with a breakfast given to Secretary Lane by the board of directors of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. Those at Breakfast. Those present included: Adolph Zukor, J. Stuart Blackton, William A. Brady, William Fox, Samuel Goldwyn, D. W. Griffith, Richard A. Rowland, Lewis J. Selznick, Albert E. Smith, Walter W. Irwin, Arthur S. Friend, B. N. Busch, Gabriel L. Hess, Lewis Innerarity, John M. Quinn, W. R. Sheehan, Percy L. Waters, Joseph F. Coufal, Walter J. Moore, E. M. Porter, Will C. Smith, John C. Flinn, Fred J. Beecroft, George Blaisdell, Paul Gulick, Lesley Mason, J. Robert Rubin, William M. Solomon, Jr., Thomas G. Wiley, Frederick H. Elliott, Major Raymond W. Pullman, Harry M. Crandall, Major Franklin D'Olier, Jack S. Connolly, C. C. Pettijohn, Col. Arthur H. Woods, Edward Earle, Royal K. Fuller, R. A. DeLayfield and Jesse L. Lasky. The afternoon meeting was attended by about 200 men and women, including practically all of the leaders in the industry. Secretary Lane in an eloquent address outlined the proposed plan of using the screen as the most effective mode of combating Bolshevism. He said, in part: No Ism But Americanism. "The Americanization movement, as I interpret it, is not a movement to promote any ism except Americanism, it is not a movement to condemn any ism excepting a movement which is against the fundamentals of our government and we have but one fundamental and that is a supreme reverence for the united will of a united people. "You are justifiably proud of the fact that as a man you have gotten into the fight for the Liberty Loan and that as a man you got into the fight in support of the morale of the nation at the time we entered the war and throughout the war. No single service was more valuable than yours. I do not know anyone that was perhaps as valuable. "You did that and are proud of it because it was something big and noble and fine, because you were challenged on the noble side of your nature, and I want to tell you that you can produce just the same effect upon the people of the United States, 110,000,000 of them, by challenging them upon the noble side of their natures. "We know that there are certain fundamental things to be done. We know we have 8,000,000 or 9,000,000 illiterates in the United States; we know that one-quarter of the boys that went in the first 1,600,000 men in the army could not write a letter home and could not read an order, and we know that that is a humiliation and a disgrace in a democracy such as ours. "Do not preach the doctrine that America is a perfect land. It is not. Do not preach the doctrine that all men in America are upon an equality. They are not, excepting before the law. Do not preach the doctrine that the institutions of the United States are today what they will be 100 years from now. They are not. America is a growing country, because man is a growing thing, and as man expands, so this nation will expand. Pure Propaganda Banned. "I say that you can put into a moving picture the life of any man of achievement, of any man who has done well, of any man who has done things for which we are grateful, and you are preaching Americanism. Do not think that this thing must be put in the form of propaganda. The less formalistic it is the better. You want to show by the life of America what Americanism is. You want to show, I repeat, by the life of the American what Americanism is. You cannot cram dogma and doctrine down the throats of people and ask them to memorize Lincoln's Gettysburg speech and then declare themselves to be Americans. "I would like to see you gentlemen take some serious action toward the celebration collectively of Lincoln Day this year. There is one way by which a religion can be preached, and practically only one, and that is not by abstraction but it is by visualizing a principle. Lincoln has become a principle. Why shouldn't there be a celebration of Lincoln's Birthday in every one of the 14,000 or 18,000 moving picture hous.es in the United States?" Other Speakers. Following the speech. President William A. Brady, of the National Association, who presided, called for suggestions from the various men of the industry. D. W. Griffith was the first speaker and was greeted with much applause. He said that the industry had felt very keenly the subject of unrest as was outlined by Secretary Lane. He declared the industry would do everything within its power to further the cause of Americanism. He said that his own company and associates could be called upon at any time, day or night, and that they would gladly give the best that was in them for this cause. Marcus Loew was the next speaker. He declared that it was only necessary for Secretary Lane's committee to command the motion picture exhibitors and they would gladly do everything in their power. William Fox was called upon to outline a practical method of putting into operation in the 18,000 picture theatres Secretary Lane's suggestion for a Lincoln Day celebration. He urged the secretary to write a personal letter to the 18,000 exhibitors of the country, outlining a program, and he declared that if this were done practically every exhibitor in America would carry out his suggestions. He declared that all his theatres would gladly co-operate in this movement on Lincoln's Birthday. Alfred S. Black, president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League, suggested that the American Legion cooperate with the Motion Picture Exhibitors in order to make a Lincoln's Day program a success. He declared that he represented a certain portion of the exhibitors of this country who would gladly do everything in their power to make the Americanization movement a success, and that all exhibitors would gladly co-operate. Authors' Committee Pfoposed. Samuel Goldwyn declared that as a producer he would gladly co-operate with the committee in making the necessary films. He suggested that a committee of ten or twenty of the most representative authors of the country be formed, in order to get them started in Americanizing the subjects that they are writing for the screen and for the periodicals. William A. Johnston, of the Motion Picture News; George Blaisdell, of the Moving Picture World, and Lesley Mason, of the Exhibitors' Trade Review, spoke and pledged the support of the trade papers to the movement. Miss Louella Parsons, of the Morning Telegraph, also spoke. Richard A. Rowland, president of Metro, declared that his company dedicates itself to Americanism in the working out of any suggestions made by the committee. A letter was read from President Laemmle in which he announced that the entire resources of the Universal Film Company are at the service of this committee. Operators Unanimous. Samuel Kaplan, head of the New York local of the Motion Picture Operators' Union, declared that the operators are behind any movement that is sanctioned by the National Association and that they will support Secretary Lane in his Americanization program. John Flinn spoke in behalf of the Motion Picture Advertisers' Association. Jesse L. Lasky declared that he was both thrilled and inspired by Secretary Lane's speech and pledged himself to speak to each of the score of directors and authors employed by Famous Players to put into every picture that they make some patriotic thought of Americanism. Among the others who spoke were Commodore J. Stuart Blackton, Edward Earl and Frank J. Marion. After the meeting a conference was held at which the following participated : Franklin K. Lane, Lewis J. Selznick, (.Continued on page 586)