Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1929)

Photoplay Magazine — Advertising Section 137 WHAT, beside the bugle of Canon Chase, called these troops to Armageddon this year? On May 11, 1928, the Hon. Grant M. Hudson of Michigan introduced, in the house of representatives, a bill providing for the regulation of motion pictures. Note Nvell the word "regulation." E\en a holy racketeer learns by counterattack. They now realize that the very word censorship is deadly poison to the ears of free men. Now they speak caressingly of '_' regulation" and "supervision." Even ari intelligent child of six would realize that it is only the old davvil "censorship" dressed up in a Santa Claus suit. The Hon. Hudson's measure provides for the establishment of a Federal Motion Picture Commission, to consist of four gentlemen and two ladies. The chairman would get $10,000 a year — the commissioners a pittance of $9,000 per annum. Of course, it is inconceivable that the Canon, or any of his consecrated henchmen, would care to serve on this board, and junket to Hollywood on government mileage to tell Mr. Louis B. Mayer and Mr. Jesse L. Lasky what not to put into their epics. I quote from the bill. "npHE duties of the commission shall be to •^ protect the motion picture industry from unfair trade practices and monopoly, to provide for the just settlement of trade complaints, /() provide for llie making of wholesome motion pictures at the source of production, and for the proper distribution and exhibition of non-theatrical as well as theatrical films." I emphasize the clause with the kick. It is the puppy in the feed box — the Hottentot in the coal hole. It would give the sainted and omniscient commissioners full power to sit behind the camera and direct the director — to dictate according to what their divinely inspired minds conceive to be the dictates of pubhc morality. What a monstrous proposition! The mad measure proclaims the motion picture — an art form and a public entertainment force unique in world history — a public utihty, like the gas in your cook stove and the electricity in your toaster. In other words, the photoplay is all celluloid and no soul. The honorable commissioners would not merely read the meter — they would actually hokum the box before the film flow began. Well, this astonishing proposal — H.R. 13686 — is now in the tender hands of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. And there, as God is good, it will lie until the Last Trump sounds for you, for me and for the Rev. William Sheafe Chase of the City of Churches. CANON CHASE'S packed conference at Washington in 1928 was the most colossal flop in the history of his career as a selfanointed watchdog of the common weal. It laid an egg of truly stupendous size. In fact, five intelligent and honorable ladies, all representing powerful women's organizations throughout the country, sickened by the steam rolling of the conference, arose in their majesty and stalked into the night, leaving our embattled youth to its own happy devices. Infuriated, the Canon clapped the doors on all but his hand picked delegates. These ladies and gentlemen passed the customary resolutions denouncing the motion picture industry. The conference then, without a sigh, faded imperceptibly into history, and then right out again. It is all so sad. It is all so bitter, so petty, so aciduous. Nothing was accomplished save to sicken the onlookers with the triviality of it all, with its venom and its vitriol. You cannot faintly conceive how pathetic was this tiny huddle of ageing people, seeming so soured, so unhappy, who brought to their deliberations not love, but enmity, not peace, but a sword. Let us escape — the air is heavy. 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