Reel Life (1916-1917)

Censor Perils Pendind OL 'BirdS’oye VierV o£ tfuz QfeneraL Situation ^ INFORMATION gathered from many sources and printed be¬ low, relating to the activities of officious propagandists in favor of motion picture censorship legislation in twenty-four states, conveys sufficient indication of the immediate necessity that exists for co-operation between all branches of the motion picture industry to com¬ bat unjust restrictive measures at present pending in many state legis¬ latures. Here is a brief summary of the situation: ARKANSAS: In the Arkansas State Legislature a bill is pending that makes illegal the exhibi¬ tion of any motion picture unless passed by the state film censorship commission of Arkansas. The commission is to con¬ sist of three members appointed by the governor. All possible co-operation to defeat the bill is asked. This bill, believed introduced for graft purposes as those fathering it, have only one or two mo¬ tion picture houses in their districts. COLORADO: Censorship bill modelled on Kansas law has been introduced. Parent Teach¬ ers’ Association having secured recogni¬ tion by Denver exchanges of the Associa¬ tions reviewing staff, is opposing legal censorship. The Rocky Mountain Screen Club, however, is much exercised over the situation and is asking help. ILLINOIS: A bill is to be presented at this session of the Illinois legislature proposing to es¬ tablish a board of censors to consist of five members, these to be paid from fees collected from the motion picture inter¬ ests. IOWA: In Iowa a bill is to be introduced by Representatives Lee and Horchems, who have been elected on their censorship attitude in part. The Iowa Exhibitors’ League, A. H. Blank, president, is closely watching Iowa legislation. KANSAS: The Kansas Branch of the Exhibitors League reports that it seems impossible to eliminate censorship altogether as had been hoped. The following is the plan upon which the Kansas League is work¬ ing: A bill has been introduced reducing the censorship fee from $2.00 to SO cents per reel and to have the censoring done by the Welfare Board. The Welfare Board is reported to be friendly ,to the motion picture people. MICHIGAN: A censorship bill similar to the law of Ohio has been introduced, the charge to producers to be $1 for single reels and $2 for multiple reels, etc. Local ex¬ change men and exhibitors are calling for help. MASSACHUSETTS: A bill providing for the Board of Cen¬ sorship with salaries of $2,000 per year and charging $1 for single and $2 for multiple reel pictures was introduced on January 12th. MISSOURI: Censorship bill has just been intro¬ duced providing for a Board of Censors to pass upon both the films and adver¬ tising matter. NEBRASKA: A bill is pending in the Nebraska leg¬ islature providing for the creation of a motion picture censorship board. The National Association of the Motion Pic¬ ture Industry is investigating. NEW YORK: There are five bills pending in New York state. Those introduced by Assem¬ blymen Kelly, Goldstein, Dowling and Callahan contain clauses excluding mo¬ tion picture houses from Sunday closing. The Callahan bill provides for opening afternoon Sundays. A bill by Assemblyman Welsh provides for local option exercised by municipal authorities throughout the state. NORTH CAROfelNA: Censorship bills are pending and there is opportunity to lower the tax in the in¬ surance rate now legalized in that state, if action is taken at once. OKLAHOMA: Censorship bill is pending, recommend¬ ed by the State Superintendent of the Public Instruction, who has made an active campaign in favor of this bill. In a letter to the National Board of Review, this official says: “If the moving picture men who talked to me a year ago had kept their promise and assisted me as they agreed to do, it is very doubtful if I would have made my recommendation this time. I am not in favor of local censorship such as they have in Kansas, but I do believe, in fact know, that this business ought to be regulated in a way not to show some of the pictures to chil¬ dren which are now being shown.” OREGON: A bill making it a felony to manufacture, import, distribute or exhibit any indecent or obscene article, picture, etc., including motion pictures, was introduced Janu¬ ary 15th. TENNESSEE: Censorship bill has been introduced at the request of the Council of Women of the State and is being backed by them in the legislature. UTAH: A drastic censorship bill is pending in Utah, fathered by Representative Chez. This bill provides that after April 1 it shall be “unlawful for any person, associ¬ ation, firm or corporation to exhibit any motion picture unless same shall first have been examined and approved by the state superintendent of public instruction, ex¬ cept such films as are used in institutions of learning.” TEXAS : A bill is pending in the legislature clos¬ ing all motion picture theaters on Sunday. VERMONT : In Vermont: An act is pending for regu¬ lating the attendance of children at mo¬ tion picture shows. It prohibits exhibitors from admitting children under fifteen years old unless they are accompanied by their parents or guardians.. There is another bill to prohibit the exhibit of unfit motion pic¬ tures — those of a vulgar or immoral char¬ acter or which depict burglaries, train rob¬ beries or acts which constitute felony. A maximum fine of $500 or six months im¬ prisonment or both. WISCONSIN: A Sunday closing bill was introduced in the Wisconsin legislature last Monday. This bill is designed to close all houses in which public exhibitions of whatever sort have been held. A fight is being made to except motion picture houses and a com¬ mittee is being formed to fight the measure. WASHINGTON: A bill providing for the censorship of motion pictures in the State of Washing¬ ton will be introduced this week. WASHINGTON, D. C.: Congress is considering a revised edition of the Smith-Hughes bill of last year. WEST VIRGINIA: A censorship bill is pending in West Virginia. QUEBEC : Pending censorship measures in Mon¬ treal are being combated by a combination of all the exchange men in Montreal with the Quebec Retail Merchants’ Association. These people ask the co-operation of the Mutual Film Corporation. ONTARIO : A movement is in full swing in Ontario to organize the motion picture exhibitors of the province to oppose unjust legisla¬ tion and taxation. It is feared in Ontario that a tax of ten per cent of the gross re¬ ceipts is shortly to be levied on all the¬ aters. The film exchanges will also be af¬ fected by an increased license fee or an increased censorship fee. CITY OF CHICAGO: There is at this time a censorship bill be¬ fore the city council of Chicago, provid¬ ing for abolition of the present board of censors composed of nine members , and to substitute a city censor who shall have in¬ dividual responsibility for all films and ex¬ clusive power to prohibit exhibition of products not meeting with his approval. REEL LIFE — Page One