The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-20
MINISTERS RAP
SUNDAY SHOWS
Movement Started by Pastors of
Hancock Churches For Closing
of Theaters on Sunday.

on saturday afternoon last com.
mittce of local pastors called upor
the proprietors or managers OF tn,
local thcaters and moving picture ant
vaudeville houses with request tina,
Sunday performances be discontinued
Ever since the first picture house was
opened i'm Hancock about five years
ago Sunday afternoon and evening
performances have been the rule. but
as there appeared to be no pronounced
public sentiment against the practice
no steps were taken to prevent them,
until u was announced last week that
the Burgess Stock company would
open their weeks engagement at the
Kerrcdge theater on Sunday evening.
The committee on Saturday obtained
the views of thcater managers and
others on the subject and the mat
ter was discussed at length from the
pulpit yesterday.
Rev. Mandus Barrett, pastor Of the
congregational church, took the
morning sermon hour to consider the
subject and at the close asked all
present who would promise not to
attend Sunday show to raise their
hands, the response being practically
unanimous. Mr.. Barrett stated that
the committee had asked the show
managers to close and gave the ans
Wers that had been made by each
one man had refused to close unless
he was compelled to but offered to
allow the pastors to suggest Sunday
features; another had said that he
could not take action personally as he
was but one of a number interested,
but he was willing TO cut the vaude-
VILE on Sundays. showing only pic
lures. third was willing to close if
the others did.
Kerredge Gives Views.
Mr. Kerredge had said that it had
always been against his principles to
give Sunday performances but that the
keen competition in the show bust
ness resulting from the numerous
picture theaters made 1t nee
cssary for him to get all that was
possible out of his theater in order
that it might show a profit instead
of a loss. If the ministers could bring
him assurance on Sunday morning that
all the other show houses would close
ON Sunday he would cancel his sun
day night performance.
The purpose of the movement Mr..
Barrett said, is to ascertain whether
pr not public opinion favors Sunday
shows, and to bring about such a sem
ilment as will be effective in enforc-
me- the law forbidding performances
IN the Sabbath.
At the Methodist church the pastor
Rev. W. f. Marvin, devoted time TO
the discussion of the subject and at
81. Joseph's, st. Patrick's, the Swedish
Lutheran, Finnish Evangelical and
other local churches and also in the
churches of Houghton the theme was
considered at more or less length.
Con Sullivan Talks.
Con Sullivan, manager or the royal
speaking on the subject this morning
from his viewpoint, said that under
he existing conditions. in view of the
sharp and keen competition resulting
from the rapid increase in the number
II picture houses i'm Hancock, he had
10 give exhibitions on Sunday or quit
business. lie had tried the experiment |
In Ishpcming and was Obliged to give
1t up. He did not sec any h2rm in |
moving pictures. on the contrary
most of the views shown conveyed al
moral lesson convincing and impress
sive than many sermons, n board of
censorship passing on them before they
are released for exhibition. Many
scenes Of foreign travel are shown, of a
highly instructive character
What is the difference" asked Mr..
"bctween showing moving
pictures i'm my theater and using magic
lantern slides I'm churches to illus
trate Sunday night lectures? II
charge an admission at the door, that's
my salary; the churches take up
collections that pays the minister's
salary.
so far as vaudeville is concerned
Mr., Sullivan says that he Is willing to
meet the wishes of the ministers tot
the extent of cutting out that part oil
the show on Sundays.