The Washington times., 1914-05-25
THE BEST
Photoplay Depdrtrentrin
WASHINGTON
Photopldy Thedters
and the District
La1oS for Sunday
Observance

The decision Of Justice Gould in
the Sunday opening case viii in no
way AFFECT the moving picture thea
ters of the District.
There seems to be Il general mis-
understanding of the status of The
moving pietures under the police
regulations. not only by the general
public, but among the exhibitors
themselves The facts are these:
The regulation under which Su:.
day amusement enterprises arc gVt
erned in the DiStrict-Or have be
governed heretofore-does not app.
to photoplays in any way. So C.
termined were the trainers CT tbs
regulation that this be thorougniS
understood that they included a sen
tencs in their law which specifically
eNempts motion pictures from its
provisions. This was done so that
there should be absolutely ro doubt
as to the right of the photoplay the
aters 10 remain open on Sunday.
Therefore, there can be no -
sion for the patrons of the PhUts--Ls
or the exhibitors 10 become ;
turbed. However. DIR. Heros-. *
president of the branch Of tne ~
hibitors' League in this city. in or,se.
10 make the position Of the sNhia-
itors plain. made a statemCas To the
Photoplay Editor OF The Tlmcs. m
which he outlined the policy Of
NasniI Eton exhibitors.
In tl.is city it IS ;ne purpose of the
pronrietors of Ghe various thsaIers 10
observe the law IN tho fullest sense.
"a is net the in.s1IIoa ~ the de-
sc Of the exhibtlors 10 DO anything
that could possiblg coasiict with nub-
Tc sentiment. They do not open
Ihri. places of business until late in
the sIternoon, so shat they will Lot
Interfere in any way with church
aIteIGance. Nor is il the policy Of
the cxtibitors t. make as Uonspieu-
Gus a showing of posters in front OF
their theaters on Sunday as is the
custom on week days.
The exhibitors realize that il is to
their interest to bow 10 the senerally
accepted public idea that Sundsy ls
day apart. DR.. Herbst also wish
es II to be understood that the -eX-
hibitors are most anxious that the
public should understand there is
never a desire on their part 10 Of
fend at any other time-on week day
or on Sunday. The members OF the
league are making every effort TO
clean up the films-to present moth
ing that could be offensive to public
taste or that could cause Hufavor-
able criticism They are making a
determined effort to discover what
the public desires shall be shown in
their theaters and will endeaVor TO
secure only the best and the clean
est pictures.
DIR. Herbst further stated that his
fellow exhibitors work in co-opera-
tion with the authorities In the pro-
duction of their films and endeaVor
TO comply with the law not only
in the particulars relating 10 the
actual exhibitions but with Ies ssrence
also to the condition of the theaters,
The lighting, wiring and observance
of proper health regulations. The
theaters that are included ia the
membership Of the organization have
complied TO the letter with every
regulation OF the health and FIRE de-
Tartmepts and il is the purpose
IL the managers TO even 60 hIrther
than the law requires in providing
for the safety and comfort OF their
patrons.
The Times is glad to publish this
statement Of Dr.. Herbst and to
add its own statement that this due
observance of the law on the part
Of exhibitors is fully recognized by
the District officials having in
charge all matters rela ting to photo
plays @ VI.