Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-28
MOVING PICTURE SHOWS
TO Be OPENED SUNDAY
Ordinance to Close TheaterS Dies
by Failure to Pass Over
Mayors Veto

PASADENA, Sept. 2S-By the action
of Councilmen Fogg, Hotaling and Root
in voting against the proposed ordin-
ance putting the lid on Sunday theaters
and other amusements where an ad-
mission is charged, the measure yester-
day failed to pass over Mayor Earley's
veto. Councilmen Barnes Cattell, Kors-
tian and Mercereau voted in favor or
the measure. Five votes were necessa-
ry to carry it over the mayors head.
Aside from Councilman Hotaling
stand on the question, the vote stood
as it did when the measure was passed
on second reading a week ago. Hotal-
ing returned from his eastern trip yes
terday morning in time to- swing In
with the negative side and carry the
day for the '1iberals," and amid pro-
longed applause the curtain was rupg
down on the last act of "The Hobo's
Last stand, or Who's Who in Hasa-
dena."
According to advance notices, the
curtain was scheduled to rise at 10:5O
o'clock yesterday morning, and long
before that time the 8. r. o. sign was
displayed in the lobby. Routine busi-
ness was rushed through in record time,
and the characters in the cast were in
readiness to 1915 o'clock according to
the council chamber timeptece, Whch
was found to be slow and ordered set
ahead IL minutes. This left four-mln-
ute wait, and the gallery became rest
less. The cast was made up of city
officials and citizens.
AS the curtain rose City Clerk Dyer
introduced a petition, signed by X. Z.
Eufkin and forty-nine other members
of the Christian EndeaVor society OF
the First Adventist church, declaring
that in their opinion "there are enough
entertainments during the six days OF
the week without encroaching upon the
sabbath" He then read a letter from
M. Grant Nelson, j. w. Evans and ..
w. owens, as a committee for the con-
gregation of the First Friends church,
declaring that Sunday theaters lower
the moral and religious standards OF
the city" The Painters union by let
ter asked that the matter be presented
to the people for vote.
Mayor Farley who played the leading
role, then introduced his veto letter.
which declared in substance that If the
theaters are allowed to run sundays
the picture shows would prove benet1-
cial to those who would not go TO
church anyway and who would go 10
shows In Los Angeles If deprived or
the opportunlty at home, and that the
other kind of performances will not be
a financial success in this city Sundays
and will be abandoned.
Councilman Hotaling, who is herald
ed as the hero of the play, and who was
absent during former discussions, was
asked to speak to the question. He de-
clared that his mind was made up, ana
he had nothing to say.
The place of Citizen George r. Abb
Ibott, who took one of the leading parts
at previous performances when he de-
clared that If the matter was left to
the people the hobo vote would be
in favor Of Sunday shows, was filled
bv George Mckinney, who traced to
the theaters the downfall of one of the
Young men of Pasadena. Mayor Ear
lev stated in rebuttal that Pasadena
woman had told him the day before
that she never knew where her son
was before the advent of the Sunday
picture shows and that now her hus-
band and two sons spend their Sunday
evenings at the play and go straight
home.
Replying to the statement made by
DIR. Matt S. Hughes Sunday night that
1.-The mayor must rave listened to the
voice of the billposter when he vetoed
the ordinance" Mayor Farley said:
''The only parties who have been to
see me on this question are those who
have never seen a picture show. l was
not influenced by billposters or the
atrical men" He paid tribute to the
churches of the city and declared that
If all young men would go to church
II would be q good thing. But they
won't do it," he said, 'and as long as
the churches do not provide amuse-
ment for those who do not go to church
the moving picture show is great
benefit"
Councilman Cattell was called to
order when he introduced the liquor
question into the play. He said; "Ihe me
same element which favored Sunday
baseball is behind the Sunday theater
petitions, and those who favored the
low age limit for pool rooms belong
to the same element" and was called
to order the second time for not ad-
herring to the question.
Councilman Mercereau who fathered
the anti-Sunday ordinance, then
stepped into the spot light and fur
nished the most sensational part of
the entire performance when he de-
clared: "I am here for the best morals
of the city, and they are not to be
found in the theater. Before l intro
duced this measure I went to all the
councilmen then in the city and they
declared they would support it." Coun-
ciInen Fogg and Mayor Farley both
rushed to the center of the stage and
declared that they made no such prom
ise. you did," declared Mercereau.
II didn't" retorted Fogg. "Me either"
voiced the mayor. 'It's my word
against theirs" said Mercereau, as he
turned to the audience and promised
to convince his colleagues in private
that they are mistaken.
Citizen William Easterbrook made
hit with his comedy sketch in which
he suggested that the matter might be
compromised by showing Bible pic
lures on Sunday, declaring that they
are better than sermons. With rap
of the gaveI which brought the audi
ence to attention Mayor Farley en-
tered for the final climax. He in
structed the city clerk to call the roll
and admonished the councilmen to be
good friends, no matter which way the
vote went. To this they all agreed.
hush went over the house while the
'ayes" and mays" were heing taken.
when the result was announced the
pASADENA CLASSIFIED