Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-12


the school and the church would con-
ceivably be undone in little while by this
insidious means
So many subjects may be pictured, vice,
seduction, vulgarity of thousand kinds
ind their way into films, and without
some oversight It is difficult to say TO
what lengths the makers of the photo
play might go. The manufacturers who
are most careful of their output should,
and do, welcome the establishment Of
suitable standards. Already some effect
has been produced upon public sentiment,
and with the passage of laws similar TO
that Of Pennsylvania In other States and
the arrival at some uniformity Of view
the production Of corrupting and degrad-
ing films will cease.
No one who has not viewed film as ii
comes to a censor's screen day by day
can quite understand what is the volume
Of the pictures which, if they do not con-
travene the principle of good morals, bor-
der dangerously upon the impermissble.
Indeed, this is in very many cases the
ostensible aim of the manufacturer The
exhibitor seeks such a film SO that he
can plaster the front of his house with
a lurid poster and attract the public by
appeal to some prurient taste.
When the methods of the Pennsylvania
Board Of Censors are understood and the
purposes which they have in view are
considered public cooperation will be ac-
corded them on all sides They welcome
suggestions in regard to their standards
and from any part of the city and State.
II men and women will address the office
on the subject of pictures running in
their neighborhoods, their letters will be
gladly received. In this way the board
can attune its work to public opinion and
inform itself as to the course OF exhibitors
in remote places which may not be easily
| reached through its regular agencies,
The process is very simple The films
when they are brought in prior to their
exhibition in the State are sent to the
| projection rooms. Here they are thrown
| in turn upon the screens II they are
| duplicates or travel pictures which are
certain to contain little to fall under the
ban they are run through rapidly. Photo
plays particularly of the vulgar slap-
| stick comedy type and those dealing with
sex problems and the like are subjected
/ 10 careful examination. The board aims
to arrive at its judgments in all fairness
| and proceeds along the lines laid down
for it by the law without fear or favor.
Rather than condemn q film in it's on
urety it will If possible, recommend elm
| nations OF scenes or incidents in order to
save to the manufacturers and distribu-
| tors property which has cost them in
many cases very large sums of money.
In this way ii has recently proceeded
! with reference to The Clemenceau Case
and Ghosts" These were perilous sub
| jects to introduce into film, and from
some points Of view many who have
| seen them may have supposed that they
| might better be condemned in toto. But
both these works by Dumas and Ibsen,
| respectively, are nearly classics, and The
| opportunity for the public to become ac-
| quainted with them, through appeal to
the eye for the small price which is
| charged for an admission ticket to a
| noti0n-picture house, is unusual The
| hIms represent the picture-taking art at
| its best, and, with Objectionable scenes
eliminated, the board believes that it has
made no mistake in lending them the seal
| Of its approval
For the week ending May Is the board
ordered eliminations to be made in 40
different films. During the next week OBJ
Jectonable legends or scenes were cut
] out Of 81 separate films. For the week
ending May @ eXcisions were found to be
necessary in IS.
From the organization of the board on
June l, 1914, up to this date, therefore dur
Ing year, B films have been condemned
absolutely and may not be shown legally
| In the State. They may be named for the
| Information of those VINO are interested
In the administration and enforcement Of
the law. They are as follows:
Exposure Of the White The Firebur
| Slave Traffic Tainted BloS5
| The Suicide Club Return n MsurBce Dor
horrors OF White Slav- nelly
| cry Ty{IIar5 Tobr-o,, rSsA,
! Victim OF Sin: or Dam slides No EisA'
! aged Goods Rack 10 fbc ~,
| LLSle OF ,EEelyn IhaW iWillard-Johnson Fight
York Tho IJJsbbf,5--z
| IIInS IN Souls The DarkeninE Trail
| Struggles of the Eu- Prince
ropean War Spirit N the T,opp,,
| Wooed by a Wild Man Iirbts arJ Sboitjfayy,- -,
| Tie Niger C'hinsfov-p "S "A
kreutzer Sonata The TIouee or pord,,a
! me blshops Silence Twilight Sleep
The censors feel that they have the
support Of public opinion; that the need
of their interposition is great They will
go forward during the coming wear in the