The Moving picture world (May 1922)

152 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 13, 1922 California s Governor Praises Motion Picture Industry at Wampas Dinner THE motion picture industry needs no defense !" Such was the gist of an interesting talk by Judge W. Gavin Craig, of the Appellate Court of California, when he addressed the Western Motion Picture Advertisers, familiarly known as the Wampas at a dinner and meeting of the organization at the Hotel Alexandria, Los Angeles, with Governor William D. Stevens as the guest of honor. Other speakers were Joseph M. Schenck, recently arrived from New York, and William de Mille, Paramount producer. "There is no reason," said the jurist, "why the film profession need offer any defense, for the profession is not on trial! Simply because one or two people out of the vast number involved by the world's fifth largest industry, makes mistake or does something foolish, does not make it necessary for the industry as a whole to defend itself or apologize. "We of the legal profession," he continued, "believe our calling to be the most honorable in the world, and my pride in our profession is not at all lessened by the fact that several lawyers are now serving time in San Quentin prison!" Governor Stevens made a delightful speech wherein he told of his constant support of the great industry which has a future that no one yet can measure. He heartily congratulated the members of the Wampas on being connected with such a wonderful industry. Mr. Schenck waxed warm in his eulogy of the honor and artistic and educational value of the films and William de Mille followed in his usual brilliant oratorical style. Censorship a Great Evil "The fundamental evil of censorship," Mr. De Mille declared, "is that censors get oflF on the wrong foot. They do not say, 'Thou shalt not say a certain thing,' but they say 'Thou shalt not even talk about an evil.' That is the substitution for a necessary principle of law, of a weak, ungrounded tyrannical rule. Censorship opposes the very principles of democracy. It is the small minority laying down laws for the great majority. "The principles of censorship are a menace to the development of one of the greatest of all arts. Many producers hesitate in interpreting for millions of people, the great works of pen and stage, through fear of censorship. "Another point involved in the arguments of censors is that such and such a picture is not a fitting subject for children. Must the motion picture as an art never advance beyond the intellect of a child?" This interesting meeting was presided over by Arch Reeve, president of the Wampas, and full credit for all arrangements was due to the efforts of the committtee in charge, consisting of Malcolm S. Boylan, Harry Hammond Beall, John McCormick and Garrett Graham. Mr. Graham was called upon by President Reeve to introduce the Governor. The president then presented the other speakers in turn. The power and prominence of the Wampas as an organization is being more keenly felt with each successive meeting and they are being recognized as men who take an active, vital constructive part in the affairs of the motion picture industry. Will H. Hays, the industry's leader, sent a congratulatory wire and among other things urged co-operation with the directors and producers to maintain the highest moral and artistic standard of motion picture production and to develop the educational as well as the entertainment and general usefulness of the motion picture. Harding Entertains Mrs. Mary Carr Mrs. Mary Carr, the famous Ma Benton of "Over the Hill," and her six children — four of whom participated in the making of this picture — were guests of President and Mrs. Harding at the White House on Easter Sunday. Mrs. Carr appeared in person at the Rialto Theatre in Washington and visited Secretary of the Navy Denby and Secretary of Labor Davis. Mrs. Carr is one of the few stars making personal appearances who speaks extemporaneously, and her remarks at the Rialto, which were not confined exclusively to "Over the Hill," but included humorous and serious comments on topics of the day, were voted highly interesting by the audiences. State Theatre Operated Under Membership Plan; Diggs Is Advertising Manager THE State Theatre, which was opened in Jersey City April 24, as one of the interests of the State Theatres Corporation, is said to be the first community owned theatre in the world which is operated under a membership plan. The membership plan provides for the election by the corporation of a 1,000 heads of representatives families, who are then entitled to free life time admissions twice weekly to both the State Theatre and the Capitol United Theatre, the latter yet to be erected. Harry P. Diggs has been named director of publicity for the State Theatre. Mr. Diggs is general advertising manager for all of the interests of Frank G. Hall, who was the prime mover in the organization of the State Theatres Corporation. Mr. Diggs has had wide experience in advertising and publicity having, himself, managed or owned fourteen theatres in different parts of the country. All sorts of theatrical ventures have come within Mr. Diggs' scope, his promotions and managerial ability having been used in the interests of musical comedies, motion picture producing companies, professional wrestling matches, chatauquas, opera houses, airdomes, booking agencies and vaudeville theatres. He is a member of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, and has stated that, as always, his advertising for the State Theatre will give a truthful and exact line to the public as to the worth of any attraction Ijooked. An exceptionally fine booklet printed on the finest of paper was issued for the opening of the State Theatre, giving interesting insights into the working of the State Theatres Corporation with pic tures of its officers and a list of the directors together with facts about the theatre, itself, which seats approximately 3,000. Representatives on Arts Plan Fight on Censorship Jesse Lynch Williams was appointed chairman and Eric Schuler secretary, when representatives of many organizations connected with the motion picture, drama, music and other activities formed a plan and scope committee to consider the most effective means of combatting political censorship in the arts. The meeting was held in the rooms of the Society of American Dramatists, New York, this week. Those present were Jesse Lynch Williams, William Hamilton Osborne, Ellis Parker Butler, Louis Joseph Vance of the Authors' League of America; C. B. Falls, Tony Sarg, Walter D. Teague, John J. A. Murphy of the Guild of Free Lance Artists; Owen Davis, James Forbes, Eugene Buck, Jerome Kern of the American Dramatists' Society; Frank Gillmore, president of the Actors' Equity ; Elmer Rice of the Screen Writers' Guild ; Eric Schuler, secretary of the Authors' League ; Peter J. Brady, president of the Photo Engravers' Union ; Matthew Woll, president of the International Printing Trades' Association ; W. S. Cooper, treasurer of the Kinema Camera Club; T. F. Gamble and H. E. Bereton, representing the .A^merican Federation of Musicians ; E. Canavan of the New York Association of Musicians, and Sidney Olcott and G. W. F. Sargent of the Motion Picture Directors' .Association.