New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
SHOWNEN ENJOIN POLICE
Can't Take Any Action Until Court
Ruling TO-mOrT0u.

Moving picture shows in all parts of the city. the
licenses for which were revoked by the Mayor on
Thursday, will not be interfered with to-day. Many
OF them opened last night and did a rushing ous4-
ness This is in accordance with the terms of a
blanket injunction. issued by Justice Gaynor. in
the Supreme Court, late yesterday. restraining the
police from taking any action against the shows
pending the argument their status in court to-
morrow Mayor Mcclellan and Commissioner Bing-
ham are directed TO show cause at that time why
the order resembling the licenses should not be re-
voked and why the shows should not be allowed
to operate before.
The injunction was obtained by Gustavus A.
Rogers counsel for the Moving Picture Exhibitors
Association who earlier in the day had obtained
fnjunctions applying to only five or six places An
order went out from Police Headquarters last night
informing commanding officers of the issuance Of
the Injunction and advising them not to take steps
against the moving picture shows pending further
orders
before the Injunction was granted several places
operated their moving pictures they could be
seen from the street, but no spectators were ad-
mitted.
Z. V s oliver. jr., the chief OF the bureau
Of licenses was busy until a late hour last night
visiting the moving picture shows from which he
haG resolved applications for a renewal OF
licenses There were only thirty-ave such appIica-
tions on file when he started make his rounds
in an automobile. First he went to Brooklyn,
from which nine applications had been received.
Four OF the places found in such a condition
that a license was refused until changes We're
made in the hall In three other places in
authority TO sign the license found 1t
found that Cyrus B. Gale, who operates place at
No 6O5 Fulton street complying with the law.
and license was issued to him.
In the afternoon Mr.. Oliver visited ten places in
Manhattan Licenses for five refused the
ground that the protection for the spectators
inadequate. The proprietors four moving picture
shows refused to take out the licenses for which
they had applied. saying they had decided TO
await the result of the appeal to the courts on the
right of the Mayor to revoke the old licenses. At
the tenth place. at S6th street and Third avenue,
license issued, the proprietor being willing
to agree not to operate Sunday. He also visited
several places and six of them he said It
would be impossible to grant licenses TO.
The licenses. which being issued by Mr..
oliver. have written in ink their face: This
license is granted the condition that the Ii
censee does not operate open Sunday" The
man who accepts this license must sign il with
this stipulation. The legal fee of So is being
acted by Mr. Oliver. on the understanding that IL
will be returned If the Board of Aldermen passes
a resolution providing that fee be exacted for a
license issued to holder of a license revoked
by the Mayors order of Thursday.
Mr. Oliver has found conditions in his recent in
vestigations which he believes warrant the sweep
ing action of the Mayor, many the moving
picture halls are nothing more than fire traps He
found one where red light marked Exit
led up a short flight of steps to low window
Opening the window, he found drop of thirty
feet into well. Such a place might we'll be a
death trap for scores of persons in panic or
actual FIRE Another such exit opened onto
swimming tank. Another led into blind alley
There are dozens of where exits would
only lead persons death instead of safety in
case of a sudden rush.
As evidence of the fact that many of the places
tend to degrade morals. more than a score OF let
ters have been received since the Mayors action
commencing him for his Many of them
are pathetic and the following is said to a fair
sample this kind:
Mr.. Mcclellan; Thank God you have at last
awakened TO the horrors OF those moving picture
dens. Being cheap entertainment. many little
girls can get the price and go there and spend
hours.
NV heart has been broken by my own child
spending her Sundays at that dreadful - thea
tire Through the influence uf of the she
met there away from home with another
girl. While have her back. she came to us
ruined and viii never be the same child again. In
the name OF humanity. stand firm against those
for a few dollars. breaking our homes and hearts
| could give you the names OF many, Ii l dared
but what's the use? We have money TO fight
WITH must suffer and weep Asking God TO helm
you. am.
Justice MacLesn. in Manhattan refused to grant
Injunction restraining the police from preventing
the exhibition at the Fulton Auditorium in Brook
Iyn, the license OF which revoked on Thurs
day with the others. lie granted oEdsr, how