Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1919)

74 Photoplay Magazine oAdvisory Matrons of Better Photoplay League of oAmerica Cardinal Gibbons, Head of Catholic Church in America, Baltimore, Md. Samuel Gompers, Pres. American Federation of Labor, Washington, D. C. Mrs. George Thacher Guernsey, Pres. Gen. Daughters American Revolution, Washington, D. C. Daniel Carter Beard, National Scout Commissioner, Boy Scouts of America, Flushing, LI. John Barrett, Dir. Gen. Pan-American Union, Washington, D. C. Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair, Pres. International Council of Women, Haddoo House, Scotland. Charles S. Barrett, Pres. Farmers' Educational and Co-operative Union, Union City, Georgia. Mrs. Phillip North Moore, Pres. National Council of Women, Member National Council of Defense, Washington, D. C. Samuel A. Dickie, Pres. Assn. of Methodist College Presidents, Albion, Michigan. Carrie Chapman Catt, Pres. National Suffrage Assn., Member National Council of Drfense, New York City. _' Mrs. Helen Collins, President Pan Hellenic Union, Chi Omega Fraternity, Lexington, Kentucky. Mrs. Nathaniel E. Harris, Pres. National Council of Jewish Women. Bradford, Pa. Mrs. Harriet H. Barry, Chairman, Better Film Com., National Federation College Women, Monrovia, Cal. Mrs. A. J. Ochsner, Pres. National Federation of Musical Clubs, Chicago, III. Thomas Arkle Clark, Pres. North Central Assn. Schools and Colleges, Urbana, ID. John H. Phillips, Pres. Southern Educational Council, Birmingham, Ala. Mary Garrett Hay, Chairman Woman Suffrage Party, New York City. P. H. Callahan. War Activity Committee Knights of Columbus. Louisville, Ky. David Starr Jordan, President Emcntui Leland Stanford University. Palo Alto, Ca'ifornia. Mary E. Woolley, Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass. Mrs. Flora Warren Seymour, Representative National Association Women Lawyers and Corresponding Secretary National Federation College Women, Chicago, 111. Charles Sumner Burch, Suffragan Bishop. New York City. Mary Roberts Rinehart, Novelist, New York. Sophie Irene Loeb, Editor and Publicist, New York World, New York City. Mrs. Mabel Potter Daggett, Author "Women Wanted." New York City. James Egbert, Professor Columbia University, New York City. Mrs. Booker T. Washington, President National Federation of Colored Women. Tuskeegee, Ala. Mrs. Frederic Schoff, President National Congress of Mothers and Parent Teachers Association, Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Martha E. Tingey, President Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Society, Salt Lake City, Utah. Edwin Hebden, Director Bureau of Statistics and Research, Dept. of Education Baltimore, Md. this line. He fully realizes that the Better Film movement is a war activity! On the other hand, think of the realistic, vivid, patriotic tilms that have stirred the very heart of the nation and have brought home to the masses, rich and poor, high and low, educated and otherwise, the vital truths that we wish impressed in their minds? The Better Film movement not a war activity? Now as never before, the thinking, discerning patriotic citizens must become active factors in regulating this gigantic influence that is abroad in our country, remembering always the slogan of the Better Photoplay League of America: "The Motion Picture .is the greatest factor in the education of the masses today, and as such demands our attention and influence." But to go back to Los Angeles. In forming her League for good films, Los Angeles has followed exactly the course outlined by the National League — that is by asking every philanthropic, civic, educational, religious, and fraternal organization in Los Angeles to automatically become a member of the League, by sending a representative. Let me quote from their chairman a statement which is worthy of nation-wide dissemination: "Our League was organized in the belief that there are good pictures, educational and entertaining films being produced and that both producers and exhibitors are as anxious and willing to produce and exhibit these good films as are we, the League members, to have them produced and exhibited. And we hope that through our efforts, through clubs and other organizations we will reveal the desire for good films through the box office receipts." The quotation from Mrs. Wright sums up the whole situation. This Los Angeles League is working along constructive, rational lines and they are destined to become a great power and influence, and as these same representative citizens have cleaned up Los Angeles in many other lines, just so in a few \ears, they will be able to look back on their work in the League for Good Films and proudly show to the world a great city where there is no desire or demand for an objectionable film — a city where there is no Better Film problem because its citizenship enjoys only good films, patronizes only good films. We feel that the Los Angeles League has pointed the way for the big cities of America to handle this movement, and we are very grateful for the information sent, that we may bethe means of giving publicity to their work that it may thus help stores of other cities who have hithertofore searched for -mi if feasible method by which to attack this problem. It is to be hoped that the Los Angeles League will immediately resume meetings with the full realization that they are doing' a great war work. The Better Photoplay League of Vmerifca will be glad to give them special suggestions along the line of specific war work. The foregoing shows work under way and the following is jus) a glimpse of what the forward-looking people of today see in the Better Photoplay League of America. "I desire to suggest to the club women here in Hadctonfield, New Jersey, in the course of an address 1 am scheduled to make this Winter, that they start a branch of the Photoplay League. Will you therefore," etc. This is a paragraph from a letter written by the Reverend Augustus Walton Shirk. Rector of' the Grace Church. Haddonfield. New Jersey. Mr. Shick is one of the Eastern group of big, broadminded clergymen who are helping to make the world a better place to live in. Under the leadership and influence of men like these, communities take on a newer, better outlook, and organizations like the Better Photoplay League of America develop into their fullest usefulness. ' We shall look forward with interest during the coming months to hearing of the organization and progress of the Branch League of Haddonfield. New Jersey. Episcopalians, Scientists, Jews, and Protestants alike recognize the future possibilities of the League. Note the following from I. Mortimer Bloom, Rabbi of Temple Brith Sholom, Springfield, Illinois: "Will you kindly send me particulars regarding the Better Photoplay League of America? Some of us would like to organize a branch of the League in this city." And thus the good movement is spread from the metropolis of the corn belt in Illinois to the land of the Cyclop mosquito —(where you cannot find them anymore) — the home of presidents— New Jersey. From the poppy-blown fields of California and the virgin, rugged wilds of Canada's Northwest forests come a united chorus of approval and requests for information, and gladly and most cheerfully do we welcome them. The film companies are "sitting up and taking notice." Doesn't this look promising? For, after all. the pictures that are not made cannot be seen and even the Editor of Photoplay has dropped into line, for we notice in the December issue, he has quoted Mr. Ricord Gradwell, President of the World Film Company: "The first question I ask about any story intended for World is: Is it clean? When one considers that pictures are an affair for families and adolescent children as well as for the casual grown up their moral tone becomes as grave a responsibility as the patriotism of a government official." Another film company has shown itself in tune with the spirit of the day. namely, the Art Film Company. S64 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia. Note the following: "The Photoplay League of America is creating greater and greater enthusiasm in the people who gather at our studio each day. so much so, that I have finally been prevailed upon to permit the use of one of our rooms as the headquarters for the Philadelphia branch when formed, and to advise you to that effect I therefore take great pleasure in so advising you. and assure you of my heany cooperation in organizing the branch here, it no such branch is already existing." It is evident to the most casual observer from the varied personnel of the authors of the quotations in this article, that the better Photoplay League has struck the popular chord of the day anil just as if to emphasize it comes a message from Lord and Lady Aberdeen, Marquis and Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair. from Ely House. Dublin. Ireland, where they are staying at present, acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Editor and gladly accepting a place on the Honorary ami Advisory Patron list, wishing the League even success and 1 rusting that its activities will extend over the water. These people are all back of the Better Photoplay League of America. ARE YOU? If not why not? Think it over and then act ! Form a Branch Photoplay League in your town this week if it does not already exist. If it does, become a member and be a factor in one of the biggest uplift movements of the day. For further information, address flic Better Photoplay League of America, 183 Madison Avenue. New York City.