The Moving picture world (May 1921)

May 7, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 37 Text of Proposition Submitted Miller Entailing No Hardships Upon Industry HERE is the proposition submitted to Governor Nathan L. Miller at the hearing in Albany last Tues- day on the Lusk-Clayton censorship bill, and which may result in a compromise measure being effected, which will not only bring about pictures to which there can be no objection, but which will not entail hardships upon the industry such as are embodied in the censorship meas- ure now before the governor: To His Excellency, the Governor: The undersigned represent the pro- ducers of about 95 per cent, of the mov- ing picture films released for exhibition in this country. While believing that most of the films exhibited in American theatres are free from objection, we recognize that a cer- tain number of films and advertisements of films have been so objectionable as to bring discredit on the entire moving pic- ture industry. We also recognize that the moving pic- ture industry has not thus far wholly suc- ceeded in working out effective measures to prevent the exhibition of objectionable films and advertisements. We agree that the public interest re- quires that effective measures be taken to prevent the exhibition of objectionable films and advertisements. For reasons which have been very fully stated at the legislative hearings, we do not believe that this can be effectively accomplished by state censorship, especially considering the danger that censorship in a few states, including New York, will be followed by censorship in most of the states. We believe that what may be termed multiple state censorship will not only fail to accomplish the desired result in pre- venting the exhibition of objectionable films, but will result in enormous injury to a great industry which furnishes the chief amusement of the majority of the American people and in which vast amounts of capital are invested. We believe the subject of the most ef- fective means of ridding the moving pic- ture industry of objectionable productions cannot adequately be dealt with until it has been fully studied not only by the producers and theatre owners, but also by some competent commission charged pri- marily with the protection of the public. We would welcome the appointment of such a commission and would co-operate with it in every way within our power. We therefore respectfully request you to appoint a commission of five disinter- ested persons qualified by ,their experi- ence and their interest in public affairs to make a thorough and sympathetic investi- gation of the moving picture industry and report to you their recommendations as to the best means of protecting the in- dustry and the public against objection- able films and advertisements. We will be glad to provide funds for the com- pensation and expenses of such a commis- sion and of such a staff of assistants as they may find it necessary to employ. We propose at once to establish and to maintain an editorial committee supported by the principal producers of moving pic- tures, to whom we will submit all films of our own production and whose direc- tions we will follow. It is also intended that all other producers in this country will be afforded an opportunity of sub- mitting their films to this editorial com- mittee. We propose to do everything in our power to prevent the exhibition of films hereafter released which have not been approved by the new editorial committee. As a means of accomplishing this end, the producing companies whom we represent will pursue the policy of withholding their service from theatres that insist on exhibiting films hereafter released that have not been approved by the new edi- torial committee. We believe that by these means we will soon be able effectively to protect the industry against the exhibi- tion of objectionable films and advertise- ments. If you will act upon our suggestion of appointing a commission we will be guided by its advice as to the organization and procedure of the new editorial com- mittee. We very much hope that the commis- sion you will appoint will reach the con- clusion that the interests of the public and of the moving picture industry can effec- tively be protected through the voluntary machinery we propose to create along the lines above outlined. If, however, the commission should report that other meas- ures are necessary effectively to protect the public against objectionable films and advertisements without undue interfer- ence with the legitimate operations of the moving picture industry, we pledge our co-operation to carry such measures into effect. We earnestly hope that after consider- ing the program we propose and our as- surances of co-operation you will con- clude that the public interests do not re- quire that the censorship bill, recently enacted by the legislature, should become a law. Dated, New York, April 25, 1921. The companies which signed the peti- tion to the governor and the officials whose signatures are affixed to the peti- tion are as follows: FAMOUS PLAYERS-LASKY CORPORA- TION By. H. D. H. Connick, Chairman, Finance Committee. REALART PICTURES CORPORATION By H. D. H. Connick METRO PICTURES CORPORATION By Richard A. Rowland, President GOLDWYN PICTURES CORPORATION By Gabriel L. Hess, Secretary ASSOCIATED PRODUCERS, INC. By Oscar A. Price, President TRIANGLE FILM CORPORATION By P. L. Waters, President ROBERTSON - COLE DISTRIBUTING CORP. By Rufus S. Cole, President SELECT PICTURES CORPORATION By Lewis J. Selznick, President D.. W. GRIFFITH, INC. By Albert L. Grey, Vice-President. VITAGRAPH, INC. By John M. Quinn, General Manager. EDUCATIONAL FILM CORP. OF AMER- ICA By E. W. Hammons, President ASSOCIATED FIRST NATL. EXHIBIT- ORS CIRCUIT, INC. By J. D. Williams, Manager NORMA TALMADGE FILM COMPANY By Joseph M. Schenck, President CONSTANCE TALMADGE COMPANY By Joseph M. Schenck, President COMIQUE FILM COMPANY By Joseph M. Schenck, President HOPE HAMPTON COMPANY By J. E. Brulatour, President INTER-OCEAN FILM CORPORATION By Paul H. Cromelin, President FOX FILM CORPORATION By Saul E. Rogers, Vice-President. ANITA STEWART PRODUCTIONS, INC By P. C. Mooney. General Manager LOUIS B. MAYER PRODUCTIONS, INC. By P. C. Mooney, General Manager BAUMER FILMS, INC. By N. J. Baumer, President THE SELZNICK CORPORATION By C. C. Pettijohn PIONEER FILM CORPORATION By M. H. Hoffman, Vice-Pres. & Gen. Mgr. KINETO CO. OF AMERCA By C. Urban, President ARROW FILM CORPORATION By W. E. Shallenberger, President WARNER BROTHERS By Albert Warner EQUITY PICTURES CORPORATION By J. J. Schnitzer. President. Adventists Speak Out Opposition to action on the part of Congress looking to prescribing what the sponsors of Blue Law legislation term to be the proper observance of the Sabbath has been voiced by the General Confer- ence Committee of Seventh-Day Ad- ventists. A copy of a memorial adopted by it, giving reasons why the Adventists are opposed to Sunday legislation, has been presented to the United States Sen- ate by Senator Miles Poindexter, of Washington State. Al Christie has started on another all-star comedy called "Nothing Like It," with Dor- othy Devore. Earl Rodney, Eddie Barry, Helen Darling and Eugene Corey as lead- ing players.