Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-11-27
[AUOS FIGHT BY
STAR ON FILM EVIL
CONTINUED From First Page,

boarding a train, cigar in mouth, and
finally landing in a garden where he
not only ordered the choicest viands,
but embraced the waitress as well.
True, he last picture showed him being
tortured by demons, but it seemed to
me that the children in the audience
would not consider the moral of the
picture story, but realized that by
stealing a pocketbook the good time
could be had"
The section of the law that the Board
of Education is trying to enforce and
which was quoted in the letter sent out
last week Is:
Amy person having the management
or control of any theatre. or any place
wherein theatrical, acrobatic or vaude-
vile performances are given by said
performers, or wherein any moving
picture show is given, his agents or
servants, who shall admit thereto, or
permit or suffer to be or remain there
in any child under the age of 16 years,
unaccompanied by a parent, guardian
or adult friend, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and be punished by a fine
not exceeding $780,"
The Public Welfare Committee of Es-
sex County is making an effort to have
the law enforced, but as yet has ct
with little success
Captain C. Albert Gasser, head of he
department of combustibles and fire
risks, III looks after the safety of
moving picture audiences in cas- Of
fire, and who has been commended for
his work in this direction, was seen
by a reporter and asked to give his
views.
'.whnt we need Is less regulation of
moving picture shows, not more reGu-
.lation,', said Captain Gasser. There
are too many laws and ordinances gov
erning these places of amusement. If
there should be a disastrous fire in a
booth not absolutely f1reproof, due to
electric wires, in. a moving picture
theatre having more than 299 chairs,
without adequate toilet facilities, and
with children in the audience, the SUI
pe%rintendent of combustibles, the Board
of Health, the license department, the
building department. the electrical in
spector and the palice department
would all be to blame. but who would
be responsibIef Nobody. Toe much
law, not enough responsibility. not
enough Observation-Disclosures are the unfair
conditions which exist. There must be
a change, soon. Why not nows
Il respectfully suggest that the STAR
compile all hi Law and ordinances
relating to moving picture places and
print a digest of these regulations. l
make the further suggestion that an
ordinance be drafted, covering the en-
tire field of moving pictures and like
places of amusement, fixing the respon-
sibility upon n official or one public
board. Then, if the Common Council
will consider such a proposed ordinance
and pass it, after a public hearing, we
will forever afterward find it a simple
procedure to regulate these places as to
construction, seating capacity, santa
ton, light, moral effect, fire and panic
safeguards, and all the many details
which are now looked after by nearly a
dozen different branches of the munich
pal service"
A bit of interesting information is
contained in the letter given below
which shows that violations of the
minor act, and almost every other act
applying to moving picture theatres
were and are frequent.
The letter printed below shows that
at least one nan was forced out of
business because of the many charges
made against, him by the bureau OF
combustibles and fire risks.
Proves STARS Contention.
1t was sent to the STAR Office and
bears out the truth of all the state
ments made in the Evening STAR that
greater supervision is necessary and
that the law must and can be enforced.
The letter reads as follows:
September 20, 1911.
ITO Whom it May Concern:
THE undersigned, owners, proprietors
and lessees of a moving picture place
at $50 Springfield avenue, hereby agree
to abandon, close, discontinue and re-
move the appurtenances constituting