New Britain Herald Newspaper, September 16, 1916, Page 10

NEW. BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1916. orals of City an Intricate Problem But Members Vote to Report Progress to Common Council—Theater Heard. Manage After two hours of listening to the bjections of local managers of mov- g piciure houses, and discussion on ie proposed appolntment of a censor p govern the exhibiting of pictures in the ordinance committee last ght voted to report progress to the pmmon council next Wednesday and p_ask for more time to study the uestion. There is no doubt that the plving of this problem will cause onsiderable trouble if it be under- pken, for in the words of Councilman ancis T. McDonough, there is no pember of the ordinance‘committee or he common council who is qualified P match his opinion against that of jhe national board of censors under | hose drectionall pictures which are flown in local playhouses are cen- ored. No one appeared at the hearing to peak in favor of the ordinance to se- t & board of censors. The recom- endation from the council at its May Iheeeting based on a petition from the chool board that an ordinance be rafted was all that was shown to fa- or the project. None of the members p¢ this board was present to speak, it bing said that that the superintendent b2 chools was in the building although e was not at the hearing. That the embers of the committee were not uch enlightened by some of the ar- fuments presented by the theater fnen was shown when at the close of he hearin, Councilman Steiner said: ‘Well, I have not learned much about e proposition yet. All that I heard onight was the way Mr. McMahon uns his theater and the name of the eature film.” Chairman Mueller slgo tated that the common council had Eiven the committee a stupendous task o undertake. It was shortly after 8 o'clock when e committee settled down to busness vith the following members present: ‘ouncilman Mueller, chairman; Coun- pilmen McDonough, Steiner, Arata, chsteadt and Porter. The following heter men were in attendance: W. J. [Melarkey of Fox’s theater, George [Elallaby of the Scenic, and P. S. Mc- fahon of Keeney’s. Judge J. B. Coop- er was present for a few minutes. er the opportunity had been given jthe exponents of the censorship idea 0o speak, and none appeared, the heater managers were called. Mr. McMahon was lead-off man. Af- ter explaining the length of time that he was in the business in this city, he assured the committee that he had never witnessed a picture passed by the national board that was not fit for anyone to see. He went back to the | nitve days of the art and spoke of his city, P the changes that were made in regard ENSORSHIP COMMITTEE BECOMES TANGLED UP IN MILES OF FILM | that patrons of Fox’s theater asked him They said that the picture was removed by pict and my fore know pretty In ure game I have never sat down selected any that shown in house. I never see a pleture be- it 1s shown on the screen but all about it because they are well written up prior to thls.” reply to a question by Counoil- man McDonough, Mr. McMahon said it was impossible to judge a picture before it was shown on the screen. Just before being excused from the hearing Mr. McMahon once more said he did not see any need of a censor board, when a capable board like the natlonal board of Reoview passes on pictures shown here. are Manager of Fox’s. Manager Melarkey of Fo: theater was the next speaker. He said that pictures such as are featured in local theaters and passed by board are usually placed such shape by the elimination of ny part which might be considered objection- able, as to render them fit for any audience. Mr. Melarkey said that 1f an ordinance was drawn here it would for the morality effect while the work of the national board covers ail phases of this subject. He believed that performances for children are a zood thing and could be handled by women's organizations very succes fully. However, he believed, in jus tice to the managers of the houses, these pictures should be given at a morning performance. In Rochester, ., Where he formerly managed a moving picture house, t s seen the plan worked out very He believed that the s dren’s pictures in connc regular performance would monotonous to the adult patrons. In answer to a question by Councilaan Bichstaedt as to how the selection of films was made, Manager Melarkoy said this is determined from the ideas gleaned by the manner in which the patrons talk of the various perform- the national in prove er; Councilman Porter asked about | making selections of film: 3 Me- Jarkey said that they are gone over | in the head office and a synopsis i sent here in advance of the films. Was ‘A Woman’s Honor' passed by the national board?” Councilman Porter asled. “Yes sir, the same film was shown in Hartford and Meriden Intact, with no opposition from the authorities,” answered Mr. Melarke Councilman Porter asked if a syn- | opsis of each picture could be fur- nished the comm®tee. The speaker d it could be done but would en- tail an enormous expense. Mr. Melarkey said that many of the had gone to Hartford to witness the presentation of A Woman’s Honeor” and had later why he had taken, it off. believed it was all right. He him after it had been requested that some changes be made in the film. Manager Hallaby. George Hallaby, manager of the Scenlo, was the last speaker. He did not throw much light on the sub- ject other than to say that the giving of a children’s Saturday matineo would be Injurfous to him, becausa his theater was “only a five cent house.” He was Informed by the chairman that the hearing was to de- termine whether a censor was needed for local pictures and not to discuss finance. He was excused. A brief rec was taken by the members. When the hearing was resumed Chalrman Mueller said that he beo- lieved that the common council had picked out a dificult job for the com- mittee. Councllman Steiner addad that the only information he got at the hearing was the way P. S Me- Mahon n his theater. Councilman Porter sald that he be- lieved that if a censorship committee was formed, the national board of roview would Teport to it. At present there is no head or tail to the sifua- tion. If the committee has the power te go ahead and draft an ardinance which will provide for better morals in the city it should do so. He spoke of the power invested in the board of health and the dactors to look after the physical health, sa. someting should be done to look after the mioral health of the city. In this way the morals will be better conserved and the reputation of the city along those lines will be greatly increased. Councilman McDonough asked the former speaker if he meant by his re- marks that they were to be giyen the power to go ahead and say what was and was not right. Councilman Porter said he believed that this was . Councilman Steiner said he didn’t believe a censorship was golng to do much good, and before he voted for such a project he would have to “be shawn.” Again Councilman Porter spoke about the city being without anyone to receive reports regarding the nature of films which are coming here. “Have you ever heard of any having a similar committee?” Cauncilman McDonough. “No, I can’t say that I have,” Coun- cilman Porter replied. “Well. T have it from a source that there is no such board in the United States,” said Councilman McDonough, Councilman Porter then asked the sixth ward representative what hig ideas on the matter were. ‘“Ta rely, on the wisdom of the nationa] bdard of censorship,” said Councilman Mc- Donough. “Jollying” the Censors, Councilman Porter gave the board some of his experiences while con- nected with moving picture produc- tion several years ago. According to his own statements his duties ‘con- sisted of “getting to’! the censars and city asked to eliminating objectionable scenes. He Belicved. that any scene that is in any | way objectionable could not pass Umi national board. He did not believe | that a manager would jeopardize the popularity of his theater by allowing | an immoral picture to be shown. Chairman Mueller asked, “Are pictures fit for children to witne Wants Censor for Library. “Oh, I cowldn’t say as to that,” was McMahon's answer, after some dellb-r eration. Continuing, he said that at | His house Wild West pictures and | other storfes such as books in the li- brary have are shown, and he believed | that if & censor was appointed for pic- | tures there should be a censor for the | Yibrary. Mr. McMahon then asked Chairman Mueller if there was not an prdinance governing picture houses. “We are here to draft one,” was the reply. | “Well, the chief of police and the mayor have the power to stop pictures which re considered unfit. The draft- Jng of an ordimance is going to cause a | Jot of troubley”” Mr. McMahon sald. | Chatrman Mueller asked Mr. Me- | Mahon his vlews in giving a perform- pnce for children on Sataurday after- noons. Mr, McMahon’s views did not Indicate a success for the undertaking. He ended his remarks by saying: “You fellows can say whether or not there shall be pictures for chiidren.” Again pressed for an opinion Chairman Mueller in regard to giving of shows for the children, Mr. McMahon said he didn’t see any need of it. “What is your idea of a chil- dren’s show ?” asked Mr. McMahon of Chairman Mueller. The Third Ward representative answered that the board was sitting to get his ideas and not to give them out. Oensorship Would Be by the Inconvenience. Councilman Porter asked if the passage of such an ordinance would inflict an inconvenience on theater pwners. Mr. McMahon replied that it would as it would mean that each picture would have to be shown b. fore the first performance and a ma would have to be detailed for the job. hat I had thaught of it aud w have had a man here fromn rom the ‘Moving Picture 11 about the manmner in h pictures are selected and cen- h ed. Chairman Mueller rmed him that all this would e been unnecessary as plenty of ata had been secured by the com- mittee. vir, McMahon said that at the time Jtev. L. S. Johnson was probation of- er he had some ideas in regard to pictures. But, after reading the “Mov- ing Picture World,” (which he gave him every week), these ideas were changed. He, as vice president of the Exhibitors’ League, had neves seen or heard of a bad picture, and if such pictures were shown in his theafer his patrons would rush out and tell him about it. Councilman McDonough about managers selecting their pictures, to which Mr, McMahon plied “In all my experience in asked owa re- the ---ONLY A FEW LOTS LEFT-- You Wiil Never Again Have a Chance Like This to Buy the Finest Building Lots in New Britain AND YOU MAKE “jollying them along” during the showing of the films. “The first time they came it was Rt. Rev, this and Rev. that and Dr. so and so, but later it was thelr seoretary or office boy that came to censor the picture,” he said. “Yes, and this wauld be the same outcome with the proposed local cen- sor board,” was Councilman Mc- Donough's rejoinder. Speaking in regard to what was considered maral and immoral in rictures, Chairman Mueller said that while out-of-town recemtly he wit- riessed “A Woman’s Honor,” which he did not consider merited frem a theater, but which he would rot recammend for children. The law which governs moving picture houses against allowing chil- dren under 16 years to attend without being occompanied by older persons was discussed. Councilman Me- Donough said if the board of education was on its job it would see to it that children of school age were in attend- ance five days a week. which the moying picture houses ar conducted in Providence, R. I., was shown in letter ta the committee from the sec- retary of the national board of review ¢* motion pictures. In that city Ser- geant Richard Gamble is assigned to the task of viewing all fillms shown vhich have been passed by the na- tional board of censars. The letter refers to a newspaper clipping quoting Judge B. F. Gaffney as saying the pictures are badly doctored after leaving the censors. The secretary denies that such has ever been found. Councilman McDonough said he un- derstoad that a law is now being ar- ranged by a committee from congress vwhich would make a local board of censors unnecessary. He also pointed cut that the mayor and chief of police have the right to prevent the showing o7 any picture which they consider n.orally unfit, The manner In Alderman Jester asked what was done in case where the censors did not agree whether it was unfit Councilman McDonough said that as long as a picture had not been con- demned it was permissible to sho Councilman Porter asked if sense of the meeting was that committee thought there should be a censor board but didn’t know how to go about it. Councilman Steiner said that when Councilman Landers stated in the council that the local body v undertaking a proposition that as perplexed some of the ablest men in the country including the federal au- thorities, he was undoubtedly correct. Councilman McDonotgh said a perus- al of the roster of the censor hoard will show that some of the brainiest the the men are on it and an ordinance com- mittee or a common council di1 not measure up bright enough to tell what was right and what was wrong. Councilman Porter said, “We asked by a fair and intellizc of citizens to draft this ordinauce. “I don’t believe it is’right for one man to tell the citizens >f th town are body removal | | dently believed that their position was | ordinance committee a| what they shall have,” Couucilman Steiner quickly came back wich. “Weli I don’t think that I am In a position to speak on ths public morals of the city,” said Counciliman Porter. Councilman McDonough said there was a legal question involved. He claimed that the picture must be shewn before it can be considarel un- fit. Councilman Porter than repliel that Liv these statements h: a:cepted it that a person must be afflicted | with infantile paralysis before he could be kept out of the city. School Board Defended. In defending the school board for not appearing at the hearing, Coun- cilman Porter said that this body evi- shown clearly in their lotter to the council and there was nothing ta be sained by attending the hearing. Conulman Steiner criticised the at- titude of the school boar1i in ign~ring the mueting and not doing anvthing to assist in the solution of the prob- lem. He did not belleve that the was selected with the view of its having 1o take suggestions from the school board on how to transact its affairs. Councilmgn McDonough took the parting shot at the school board when he said, “The letter or petition of the school board to the commou council explains the views of that body, but it should be rememberad *na. they are not by any means Infallloe. If you members will jog your memories a little recent occurrences will show where this same school board makes mistakes.” After considerable delay in which the members seemed to wait for the other to malke a motion, Councilman McDonough moved that it be recom- mended that an ordinance be drafted, which would prohibit the showing of any pictures in local houses other than those passed by the national board of censors. Cauncilman Por- ter amended that the matter be tabled and that more time be asked from the council to consider the mai.iae. At this juncture Councilman Arata sug- gested that progress be repoited to the council. The amendment of Councilman Porter prevailed and the meeting adjourned. FAREWELL FOR MISS SW NSON. A farewell surprise party was held at the home of Miss Bsther Swanson, 1748 Dwight street, last evening by thirty of her young lady friends. Miss Swanson is soon to tnter the training school at the New Haven General hos- | pital. Miss Swanson was presented with a traveling bag. THIRD TO ! CCEPTED. Pumping Engine Given Test on Main Street This Afternoon. Following a successful test at the corner of Main and East Main streets Big this afternoon, the third pumping engine purchased for the fire depart- ment was officially accepted and Established 1880 Globe Clothing House Hart, Schaffner & Marx Fall Suits are Ready e Head of the List Comes VARSITY FIFTY-FIVE All in One Big Sfyle Idea, $!8 up Look for Us When You Want Full Velue in Boys’ Suits $3.00 up to $10.00 Fall Line of Sweaters for Men and Boys spection and field day with the Hart- ford police will be held. Upwards placed in commission. Today the auto chemical formerly at the central station was placed in service at No. | of 100 policemen, the fire department 5 house, The junior pump will be [ with its motor apparatus and the located at the central station and | police motors will parade through Engine company 4 and 5 will each | Main street to Franklin Square where have one of the big pumps, thus |they will be reviewed. They will having a piece of motor apparatus at | then disband for the baseball game between the Hartford and New Britain police at Walnut Hill. eath house. A week from today the official in- PREIPARFEDNIESS THE A FEW DOLLARS INVESTED TODAY SOUVENIRS Handsome gifts to all who attend. An adver- tising feature for which I have become well known. GIVEN TO ALL WHETHER YOU BUY OR NOT A feature to make you come and observe op- portunity. Tt cultivates the spirit of “Go after what you want.” Everybody welcome Whether you buy or not, just come, MEANS FORTUNE TOMORK PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE ‘TH AT IS REAL PREPAREDNESS SALE ALL DAY TODAY, SATURDAY and § CONTINUES SUNDA At BARNESDALE s | In the City of New Britain, 8 minutes from the center, Trolley Fare 5c. ENTIRE TRACT OF 22 (3 { » CHOICE RESIDENTIAL LOTS WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE OR PROT ABSOLUTE AUCTION SAL T ON THE PREMISES LI RIGHT ON THE GROUNDS IN A MAMMOTH TE! “BULLDER OF CITIES” America’s Pre-eminent Land Auctioneer—300 Sales in 40 States in 20 Years. SCTION AT THE PRICE ALL DAY TERMS on day of sale. cent. tract. BALANCE 24 OR 6 MONTHLY PAYME inte balanc 10 per on signing of con- cent, ali 6 per st on s cash in full A discount cent. for with in of per 30 ‘GEORGE C. BAKER o = days FUTURES” 7 EAST 42d STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y. BY ORDER OF UNITED STATES REALTY CO., OF WATERBURY. NEVER AGAIXNX A CHANCYE LIKIIE Representatives and Salesmen Will Be on the Grounds Ali Day Sunday DEEDS AND CONTRACTS THIS FRE