New-York tribune., 1910-07-12
MAY CENSOR FIGHT FILMS
Opposition to Exhibition OF PIct-
ures Alarms Promoters.
BOARD WILLING TO DECIDE
viii Exact Agreement, However,
That Manufacturers Abide
by It's Decision.

In the face of SO much opposition TO the
! general exhibition OF the Jefrfes-jennsoh
/ fight pictures it is likely that the manu-
! facturers controlling the rights TO the picf-
ures will decide to submit them TO the Ma
/ tional Board of Censorship of Motion Piot-
ures which was established by the People :
Institute. and co-operates with most OF the
manufacturers of moving picture films
throughout the country. for the board s
opinion as to the ethical merits of the pict-
ures before placing them on public exhibit
ton
A general meeting of the J. & j. Com
pany, which includes the moving picture
concerns licensed under the Edison patents
which control the fight pictures. has been
called for this afternoon to decide the ques-
! ton. J. S. Blackton. vice-president OF the
Vitagraph Company of America, which OBJ
/ tanned a dominating interest in the pictures.
said yesterday that he was confident the
board Of censorship would approve the pict-
ures if they were submitted.
THE meeting of the licensed manufactu-
rers who are interested in the pictures has
been called for tomorrow, and viii be de-
termined at that time whether We VIII SUD
nit the pictures TO the censorship board
said Mr.. Blackton yesterday. I'VE are per-
fectly willing that the pictures should be
censored. and am confident that the board
viii approve them, as they did the Johnson
Ketchel fight pictures. and have done with
all our pictures in general. However,
can't tell what the decision will be until
after the meeting.
Walter Storey, secretary of the National
Board of Censorship said yesterday that II
the manufacturers decided 10 submit the
pictures the board would pass upon them
Immediately in order not to delay any busl-
ness arrangements that the picture men
might want to make.
I'VE haven't any legal standing said mr.
Storey. and act only as focus for punhe
opinion but we have agreements with most
Of the individual moving picture manu-
facturers which bind them to stand by the
opinion of the board as TO the production Oh
their pictures. We could not consider 1t
breach of faith on the part of the manu-
facturers who are in the syndicate conlroi-
ling the Johnson Jeffries pictures ii they dld
not submit the pictures 70 us, because we
have no agreement with the syndicate.
I'VE have found the censorship of moving
pictures beneficial to all interests concerned
and if the fight pictures were submitted to
us the manufacturers would have to run
the risk of an adverse decision, as we would
the matter according to the boards de-
cision. If they should break such an agree
plent we would decline in the future 10 pass
upon anv pictures Of the companies con-
cerned.
Plans for Public Exhibition.
Unless he is prevented, Percy q. Will
Jams will begin to exhibit on Monday NOV
iua pictures Of the Jefries- johnson hgh'
in three Brooklyn theatres-the Orpheum'
the Novelty and the Gotham. Nothing else
will be shown, the pictures constituting the
entire entertainment
These will be special sporting perform
arres." said J. Stuart Blackton, vice
president OF the Vitagraph Company OF
America. Children will ne barred and the
price will he so high as to keep away most
people except those who are interested in
sporting events. Nc films will be run in
the hundreds of little places of amuse-
nent freuuented by women and children
Beginning next Monday, the pictures will
also he shown in three Manhattan theatres
and in Detroit Philadelphia and Chicago. ,
Canon William Sheafe Chase, OF Christ
Episcopal Church, in Bedford avenue
Broollvn. had a long talk yesterday with
Assistant District Attorney Robert H Eli
der On leaving Mr- Elder Canon Chase
said 81 wanted TO assure myself whether
OF. not the District Attorneys Office thinks
that the law on this matter is clear and
adequate ] may say that something will
he done but Just what I am not now 81
liberty to say
The audience at The Savoy Theatre yes
terday afternoon indulged in a denloustra-
ton against the exhibition OF pictures OF
tha Jeffrfes Johnson fight From the signs
that had been exhibited outside the the
atre they were led TO suppose that The
pictures were moving pictures Instead of
that they were taken with an ordinary
camera. Somebody yelled "Fake!''. and
there was a stampede in the theatre and
the lobby so that reserves from the Ten
derloin police station had to be called out
to disperse the crowd. Those who asked
for their money back received It.
In the evening the signs were changed
SO that no one could misunderstand the
nature Of the pictures.