Moving Picture World (Sep 1916)

1868 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 16, 1916 Move Against Suggestive Ads. Kansas City Advertising Club Voted Disapproval of Certain Demoralizing Advertisements— The Films in Question Were Harmless, but the Paper Was in Bad Taste and Invited Hostilities — Poor Business. From Kansas City News Service, 205 Corn Belt Building, Kansas City, Mo. KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Kansas City Advertising: Club on August 29 voted its disapproval of the tone of several advertisements of moving pictures; and made plans for correcting that tone, which s stated appealed to the baser passions and was therefore demoralizing. Technically, the club will attack this particular kind of advertising because it seems to promise salacious pictures, and doesn't deliver the goods. The subject was presented to the club by Otto Barth, who told of investigations that had been made by the vigilance committee; and later the chairman of the vigilance committee (the names of members are not public property) endorsed his statements. "Listen to these," said Mr. Barth, and read lines from several display advertisements of moving pictures. The lines were in general as follows: •.Marriage for money is less sinful than a childless union." "Patronage of children not solicited." "Children admitted only when accompanied by parents." And many similar ones. "Now these pictures are perfectly all right — the police allow them to be shown, so there cannot possibly be any danger in them. As a matter of fact the fault of the appeal to passions is not the fault of the manufacturers of the pictures or the exhibitors. These provide what the public wants, and of a character that is good. The fault is with the men who write the advertisements. They are palpably trying to draw trade by making certain classes think they will see off-color pictures. "The advertisements put into the minds of the young people — and the old ones perhaps — the only evil thoughts that are aroused by the pictures. And the people who go expecting to see something offcolor are disappointed. The evil is still in their minds, however, unsatisfied — unless it has been driven away by the moral qualities of the show." Bad Business. "Such advertising is wrong. It is bad business in the first place, because it offers something that the exhibitors can't deliver, and do not give. And permanent business can't be built up on deception. I have no doubt that the evil of such advertising can be corrected through the honest advertising law, though prosecutions will not be necessary, I believe. However, I have no doubt that a trial would reveal the variance between the advertising and the pictures sufficiently to bring convictions. "But this can be reached by appeal to the advertising men themselves, on the ground of good business, and the advantage of advertising that which is offered, and giving the exhibitor a chance to make good. Honesty pays in advertising of other commodities — why not in moving pictures?" An allu Strati on of the character of such sonso-appe.il advertising was given, of the news-butcher on the train, who sold scaled envelopes the victim had no grounds Cor complaint, because he expected to get something he had no right to have. So with moving picture shows: The patron whf responded to the innuendos of the sala advertising, and went expecting to i questionable show, has no grounds for a complaint when he hnas the picture Ij pi oper. The only stat ement he could make Is that he was led to believe he would sco a show that should be condemned and didn't see 11 that he hoped the law would be Violated, but it wasn't. Invite Open Hostility. Other speakers added words to the argument — all on one side; that most ol the manufacturers and exhibitors were doing their part towards giving the moving picture business a high standing, but that the writers of the advertising were laying the foundation for open and organized hostility of church and other organizations. the handsomest theaters in the stale ol Kansas, has been sick all summer, and is only now growing able to attend to business. But the theater has had one of its most prosperous seasons. The reason is that when Mr. Kubach was taken ill, his wife pitched in, took charge, and has run the house most efficiently. The Lyric seats 500, and 5 and 10 cents are the charges. Features are run every night. Manager Kubach Recovering. Abilene, Kan. — G. A. Kubach, proprietor of the Lyric theater, Abilene, Kan., one of Didn't Lose an Airdome Night. Russell, Kan. — R. E. Sturtevant, proprietor of the Crystal and the Airdome at Russell, Kan., beat this year his record of last year with his airdome. He has not lost a night with it. The weather has of course been ideal for airdomes — a long drouth. In 1915 there was an excess ot rain, but he lost only 2 days. Mr. Sturlcvant reports better business in summer with his Airdome than in winter with the theater. Kansas Film Men Hope for End of Censors Recent Convention at State Capital Disclosed Interest of Many State Officials in Anti-Censorshio — An Appeal to the People. TOPEKA, KAN. — Optimism for the fight against the censorship pervades the moving picture men of Kansas just now, and they are starting on their campaign energetically. It seems that the Topeka convention was planned with far-seeing wisdom. The film men invaded the state capital, even the state house; and they laid their cards on the table. They said openly to state officials, to city officials, to organizations, and to the public, that they were out to repeal censorship because it was injurious to the proper improvement of the quality of pictures, and unfair to the industry and to the public. And they found so many officials and leading citizens taking the same view that the task of killing censorship really looked easy. One of the most interesting developments of the convention was the conclu sion that the public hasn't heretofore taken much interest in the controversy as to censorship. It's all been between the film men and the censorship board — and the appeal board itself deprecates the necessity of occasionally killing a picture! The newspapers have found such good reading in the fight, however, that the appearance has been given of a widespread interest, 'with the inference that the opinion of the public is about equally divided. But the public has just been looking on. Henceforth, however, the public is to be brought into the campaign, and aroused to its interest in the elimination of state censorship. The extraordinary demonstration, at the parade and the ball, was sufficient encouragement to the exhibitors that the people probably will be on the side of free pictures. The Association to Boost Sunday Shows Amusement Association of Kansas to Give Aid for Open Sabbath Theaters Only Where There Is a Sentiment Favoring Them. TOPEKA, KAN. — The Amusement Association of Kansas will probably stimulate interest in the various towns of the state in the subject of Sunday theaters. The policy of the association has been made plain, that it will help to Sunday opening only in towns where the public sentiment is clear for Sunday shows, and encourages Sunday closing where there is no strong demand. Some of the largest towns of the state have Sunday shows, including Kansas City, Kan.. Leavenworth, and others in the eastern end of the state. Topeka theaters are closed on Sunday. Wichita will know in a few days whether theaters are to be open there on Sunday or not. The police and authorities of any Kansas town can close theaters and other lines of business on Sunday if they please, under old laws Policewoman Compliments Omaha Shows Mrs. C. H. Cox, City's Special Policewoman, Has Always Found Show Managers Ready to Cooperate — Has Never Had to Make an Arrest. By Frank 11. Madison, 623 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 111. OMAHA, Neb.— "I think Omaha moving picture houses are conducted along first-class linos." said Mrs. C. 11. Cox, special policewoman around Omaha theaters to, the last two years, The co-operation of the managers has been splendid, she says, incidentally it has never been necessarj for her to exercise her power to make arrests. Mrs. Cox made the statement, praising Omaha exhibitors, prior to leaving tor the Pacific coast to see what policewomen there arc accomplishing. About Live Nebraska Exhibitors. Omaha. Neb. The Boulevard theater Thirty-third and Leavenworth streets, is now under the management of its .'wno.'. Mr. McCaffery. Snyder, Neb. — A moving picture shov has boon opened here by Schoeneck & Konnovsky. Falls City, Neb, — K. A. Dittmar has purchased the Movies theater from \V. M. Oliver. Chester McDowell, formerly oporator at the Electric theater, will have charge of the projection. Columbus, Neb. — Manager Swan of the Lyric theater has purchased two lots and will erect a -I I by 100-foot brick and concrete motion picture theater. It will bo equipped with a. stage for vaudeville. Omaha, Neb. — The management of Ma