The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
SUNDAY MOVIES 1. FAST BECOMING 4 VERY LIVE ISSUE Conference Between Pas tors Union Committee and Commission Postponed | FORMAL PETITION
 FROM OPERATORS Committee of Negro Preachers Ap- pears Before Lane-Dr. Field and
 Dr. Walker of Ensley Indorse
 Sunday Movies

An exceedingly spirited contest between various factions may be expected within the next week or so in regard to Sunday motion pictures.
 The proposed conference between the Pastors union and the city commission on this subject was postponed yester- day afternoon until next Tuesday on ac- count of the departure of Commissions CTS weatherly and Ward for Montgom- cry yesterday afternoon.
 A formal petition asking that general Sunday operation of theatres be allowed has been presented to the commission by the leading theatre owners and man. agers of the city.
 The Birmingham Trades Council. it is generally understood. intends to lend it's every assistance toward securing Sunday motion pictures.
 Jack Woods of the Trades Council stated yesterday that the operation oi the theatres of the city last Sunday for charity, the net proceeds going to the Trades Council for the aid of the city s unemployed, had netted the Trades Coun-
  ficials of the council were much pleased.
 4500 People Saw Shows
 From the reports of the operations for the seven hours between 12 and o'clock Sunday afternoon it is officially estimated fully 4500 people attended the shows The $350 which is the Trade Councils share of the proceeds is the net proceeds of the box offices.
 A delegation of negro Baptist preach CTS waited upon Judge A. O. Lane yes terday afternoon and presented him with a memorial asking that Sunday picture shows he prohibited on the grounds thai they were a material and spiritual in jury to the occupants of the pulpit The delegation laid considerable stress upor the fact that their Sunday collections were materially effected when Sunday negro motion picture shows were in op- eration.
 Dr. E. T. Field and pr. c. R. Walker prominent citizens of the Ensley pre- cinct. formally appeared before the com mission yesterday and stated their strong indorsement of Sunday picture shows. Il is reported that the Pastors union is by no means unanimous in it's opposition tt the Sunday shows as far as persona views are concerned, 1t being stated that g great majority of the Episcopal clergy men and the Catholic priests of the city as well as some very prominent minister. of other denominations, are personally il favor of Sunday shows.
 Judge Lane is so far the only one O. the three commissioners frankly com mitted in favor of the Sunday shows He told the negro delegation yesterday his views in no undecisive terms. Forma action on the petition of the motion pic ture show owners is scheduled for actiof at the meeting next week, Commissionel Weatherly making the motion that the proposition lie over one week.
 Petition of Operators
 The petition is as follows:
 We the undersigned taxpayers an6 large license payers of Birmingham, dc hereby petition and urgently request you to allow us to open our moving pie ture shows on Sunday afternoons at o'clock, for the purpose Of showing pie lures that teach moral lesson, and uo be allowed to charge our usual ad- mission for same. We feel that as oui licenses and taxes are so high, we should be allowed to make all the money we can out of our picture shows and at the same time greatly benefit the community by giving a clean, moral place of recreation and pastime on Sun days. There are large number of hon. est working people in our city who do not have time to take their families out for recreation on any other days A large number of the progressive cities of our country are now show ing moving pictures on Sundays, and we feel that there is no good reason why Birmingham should remain behind these up-to date cities Respectfully,
 "Abernathy & Colman, Odeon 1 and ? and 2.
 "P. B. Orr, Bell Theatre.
 "E. H. Colley, Princess.
 "E. M. Grimes, H. J. Huey, Champion and Utopian.
 "A. R. Boone, Princess.
 Joe Steed, Idle Hour.
 ''H. M. Newsom, Trianon and Amuse-U.
 M L. Semon, Majestic