New-York tribune., 1911-03-23
PROBED PICTURE SHOWS
Fosdick Tells Mayor He Found
Moral Tone Improved.
FAULTS LIE IN OTHER WAYS
Commissioner Cites Poor Sani-
tation, 0vercrowding and
Lack of Fire Protection.

| The moral tone Of the pictures eX-
! hibited in the moving picture shows
| throughout the city has greatly improved
during the last two years hut the Condi-
| tions surrounding their presentation are
| far from what they ought to he To assure
safety and health To the spectators.
| That is the gist of the report which Ray
| mond B. Fosdick. Commissioner of Ac-
| counts. sent Yesterday TO Mayor Gaynor,
! after conducting a systematic ipvestiga-
tion Of tho moving picture shows AT the
Mayors request
There are now no ordinances which pro-
vide for the adequate regulation of NOV
! ing picture shows according to Commits
eioner Fosdick. and he recommends that
a committee should he appointed to co
operate with tro Board of Aldermen in
drafting such ordinances.
Pending such action. certain measures
appear 10 he immediately necessary" Mr..
Fosdick says and We beg leave Ia make
the following suggestions
"l That u committee fire officials
be instructed TO make a careful cNainina-
tion Of all moving picture shows in the
city. and that the licenses Of such places
considered unsafe nc revoked
80 That the Police Department he in
structed vigorously TO enforce the law in
regard TO overcrowding.
"3 That action he taken either to on
force Section 4s4 of the Penal code. rcla-
tive TO the admission of children under
sixteen years of age. or To- secure It's
repeal by the Legislature"
commissioner Fosdick says that too
many departments of the city govern
ment are charged with duties respecting
moving picture shows-no less than seven
departments-and that the abuses Of such
shows are largely ascribable TO this lack
of centralized control 10y the municipal
authorities.
The presence in the Building code Of
section which virtually restricts the NOV
ing picture business TO the small store
front" shows. and the lack Of definite laws
and ordinances and uniform regulations.
are the other causes contributing 10 the
undesirable conditions
Section 1G9 of the Building Code is the
Objectionable section II relates 10 places
Of public amusement and makes the build
ing requirements as hard for the moving
picture man as for the proprietor Of
theatre. which IS unreasonable according
10 Mr.. Fosdick. when it IS considered that
the picture show does not require a stage
and scenery The result is that the ma
iority Of moving picture shows are housed
in the so-called store fronts" constructed
TO have a seating capacity of less than
three hundred
\ special study was made Of fifty shows
selected al random in Manhattan Brook
Iy-p ba l1p bai of
the store 'front.' variety.
"Generally speaking. the conditions found
10 exist" says Mr. Fosdick. ARE such as
attach to cheap and impermanent places Of
amusement namely. poor sanitation. dan
gerous overcrowding and inadequate pro.
lection from fire or panic. In thirty one
Of these places children under the age of
sixteen were admitted unaccompaniod by
a parent or guardian
Referring to the moral tone Of tho pict-
ures exhibited, Commissioner Fosdick says
1t is not claimed that the pictures are OF
the highest class. and that some may he
claSsed as silly. but through the efforts Of
the board Of censorship the character Of
the pictures has greatly improved I'm the
last two years.
This much cannot be said for the vaude-
vile which frequently accompanies the
motion pictures Mr.. Fosdick adds. (which
Is of a much lower order II is not
possible to extend over the vaudeville the
same kind of censorship tnat holds for
motion pictures. Under the present condi-
lions, with the industry practically re-
stricted to the small store front shows
the Low price paid for vaudeville cannot
obtain on the average, q SUI erior grade