The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-19
NAME CENSOR FOR
MOVING PICTURES
City Electrician Must Say How
Much Light. Is to Flood
Theatres.
LYONS DEFENDS MOVIES
Ordinance Aimed at What
Trainers Believe Is Too
Much Flirting.

Under an amended ordinance recon-
mendcd last night by the Council Or
dinance Committee, City Electrician
Thompson is intrusted with the duty OF
regulating the amount OF light that
shall obtain in the city's motion picture
theatres during the exhibition of pic
lures. The original measure rs intro
duced by Councilman Moore vested the
light regulation with tho Police De-
partment.
The provisions OF the ordinance re-
quire every motion picture theatre in
the city TO maintain enough light in
the house TO enable every person pres
ent to see. within his line OF vision
every other person in the theatre and
what that person is doing. 1t is ad-
mittedly aimed at the petty flirtations
which. IT is charged. flourish under
the protection Of the enveloping dark
ness which characterizes some Of the
cheaper theatres
Says Theatres Don't Need 1t.
Every regular theatre in the city,
said Manager Ed. ~. Lyons. of tho
Lyric. who appeared before the com
mitteo In opposition to the measure,
carries now as much light as 1t can
stand. To admit more light would be
TO impair tho clcarness and entertain
ment value OF the pictures"
Mr.. Lyons told tho, committee that
he asked the city editors of Richmond 8
two leading papers If in their eX-
pcrience they have ever handled cases
of immortality directly traceable to the
darkness in motion picture houses. and
that they had replied in the negative.
II was impossible to legislate morality
into young people. said Mr.. Lyons. and
to attempt to enforce 1t by requiring
more light in motion picture theatres
was idle.
ID. l. Toney. owner of the Thcato,
was OF the opinion that the moving
picture show evil has been exaggerated,
and that motion picture crowds COM
pare favorably with large congrega-
tons of any other nature in point OF
behavior and general decency.
Fears Abuse.
Every theatre owner in the city, said
Mr. Lyons, would favor Il regulation
that would elevate the tone or the
theatre and at the same. time do no
injury to the exhibition. He feared
that If the ordinance were passed. As
drawn. that an unskilled person might
be placed In the position OF judge as
TO the amount of light that should be
maintained, and might in this manner
make arbitrary rulings that would In
iure the theatre.
Mr.. Lyons thought that no theatre
owner In the city would OBJECT 10 me
regulating function being vested in the
City Electrician. who, he said. was an
expert Judge of the light needed for the
most satisfactory projection. Acting
on this suggestion. Councilman Wonder
lehr offered an amendment, which was
adopted, authorizing the City Elec-
trician to conduct Investigations and
recommend changes wherever needed.
The Police Department Will enforce his
rulings.
Councilman Moore, patron of the or
dinance. reiterated his claim that dark
motion picture houses are the recruit
ing grounds OF petty vice, supporting
his position by the testimony or n
number Of citizens who were or the
same opinion. The amendment offered
by Mr.. Nondcrlchr. he said. was en-
tirely satisfactory, and did not detract
from the police regulation provided
for by the act