The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-01-30
, NEWS, VIEWS AND
GOSSIP OF NEW YORK.
BY Glenn Guernsey.

NEW YORK, Jan. 30.-Canvasback
drama will hereafter be produced only
under the most moral and sanitary
conditions, if the rules imposed by the
alleged trust controlling the moving
picture business are put into effect.
These new regulations were adopted
at a recent meeting of the film manu-
lecturers and rental agencies, held IN
this city. and WI becomes effective
On Monday
Pictures of crimes and immoral and
Indecent scenes are now under TABOO
ltf the ten manufacturers and import
ers who supply America with Its NOV
ling pictures. The small fry among the
moving picture theaters, whose places
Of an usement consist of unsafe ana
| i'll ventilated storerooms are to be
| driven cut Of business by SO per cent
raise in the renting price of films.
The film exchanges, which act as
lniddlemen between manufacturers and
] theaters, are to be given chance to
reform the business, but if they fail II
| is allesed that the manufacturers
| threaten to deal directly with the
| shownle !, A license fea of 81 a week
VII! be cl1a1 ged against all exhibitors.
1t is also provided that after Monday
no theater will be provided with films
unless it uses regularly licensed
picture projecting machine. 1t is
! stated that this rule was adopted to
prevent accidents likely to follow the
use of cheap and unreliable machines.
| Another ruling that has caused much
discussion, and which may be aband-
oned ewing to the opposition of the
theaters affected, demands the elimina-
! ton or all vaudeville stunts with the
e.. er,ion Of illustrated songs.
1t IS admitted by the film makers
and distributors that the new regula-
tions were adopted as a defensive
measure against the crusade that is
now being waged against canvasback
drama on account of immortality and
lack of physical safety. The reforms
are similar to those enforced by the
Chicago authorities in regulating the
| moving picture business in that city.
] In order that the film manufacture
ers may be forced to live up to their
resolve to eliminate all immoral pict-
ures. a $4,000 fine is to be assessed
against any firm violating this rule.
A censorship has been established by
the makers themselves, and in case of
doubt as to the moral standing Of any
| picture, it will be referred to COM
mttee whose decision will be final:
| This rule has already served to put
! the pictures now being shown on a
| higher moral plane. AS case in point
| one manufacturer designed a series OF
pictures, graphically setting forth the
| horrible details of the Guinness muir
ders at Laporte, Ind. The other manu-
| facturers promptly decided that such
a picture would serve to bring the
business into disrepute, and the threat
| of imposing the $4,000 fine caused the
| offending firm to withdraw the film.
! Although the articles of agreement
between the picture makers have not
been made public, the salient features
are said to be as follows:
| "No pictures of an immoral. indie
cent, or shocking character or en-
bodying suggestions pernicious to the
| minds of youth shall be manufactured.
the penalty for each violation being a
fine of $4,000.
| "The establishment of a large, COM
| modiOus and safe theaters shall be
encouraged. while the multiplication of
| the small mushroom type of amuse-
ment place shall be strongly discOur-
| aged.
| "Theaters shall be required to fur
nish expert operators and to obey the
health, fire and police regulations.
| Moving picture theatersI shall be
! required to eliminate vaudeville acts
with the exception of the illustrated
song.
| Exchanges shall be required to raise
| the minimum film rental to a figure
that will keep the irresponsible small
| fry of showmen out of the business"
The alleged moving picture trust is
known as the Moving Picture Patent
company, and was incorporated in
| New Jersey six months ago. Ten con-
Germs, seven American and three Flu-
ropean. are said to control absolutely
the moving picture films used in this
| country. Neither machines or films are
to be sold outright, under the new
rules but only leased, and the old
machines and damaged films have to
be turned back to the trust
The firms interested in the move
ment to reform the picture business
are the Edison. Kalem. Melies. Vita
graph and American Biograph COM
panies Of New York; George Kleine,
of New York and Chicago; Essaney
and SeHg Polyscope companies. of Chi
cagO: S. Lubin of Philadelphia. and
Pathe F'reras, Of Paris and New York
In addition to Pathe Faeres, the