The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-10-05
MOVEMENT FOR PICTURES
FOR CHILDREN.

ter Films for children, and a number /
of women interested in al that per- /
tains to child welfare are undertake
ing such a movement in Pensacola. |
This is in no way censorship of the
films, as generally understood, but
an effort to promote more entertain |
ing as well as more suitable films |
by presenting films with special
appeal for the child. The managers
of the moving picture concerns in
Pensacola have already been APP
preached on this subject and are will
ing to lend their cooperation to this
movement The Journal believes
that is a good one and from
time to time will run some special
material along this line which has
been gathered from various sources,
relative to the work that is being ac-
complished in other cities. 1t must
be remembered that if this work is to !
succeed it must be cooperative. The
women of the community must stand
together and work together for Bet
ter films for children or the man
ayers of the theatres cannot make it
success.
Mrs. James F. Phillips has person
ally taken up the matter and will en-
deavor to enlist the various organi-
zation of the city in the movement. If
these organizations will cooperate in
this work it can be made most sue
cessful and The Journal will gladly
lend its columns to the work but such
work should and must be done on a
broad basis and with cooperative
spirit, to be success.
The Woman's Home Companion,
which is at the head of the Better
Film movement in the United States,
publishes the following letter from
the Atlanta Woman's Club, which
will be of special interest here, where
Mr. Jake Wells is so well known:
/ The Atlanta Woman's Club en-
Idorsed enthusiastically the plan for
a children's matinee. The Play
lground and Recreation Committee,
which had the matter in charge, Sc
tlected as an advisory committee, to
be present and discuss the subject
with us, the president of our city
j Board of Education, the president of
the County Board of Education, the
vice-president of the Chamber of
| Commerce, the chairman of the Play
ground Committee of that body, and
the manager of the Grand Opera
House, our largest and most attrac-
tive movie" house.
A few days following this meet
ling, when our Board of Education
met, outlined to them the plan as
decided upon by our committee. The
board not only unanimously endorsed
our work, but the superintendent was
INSTRUCTED to notify every teacher of
the system, and also to explain the
object and the advantage of cen
sored pictures for children, and to
urge the pupils to attend.
On the opening days we had one
thousand children present.
We needed no stronger argument
than the applause and laughter of
the children, that they, too, endorsed
the plan.
! Our local papers gave some SPLEEN
did editorials on the Importance of
our work, and each week they give
US space for "story" about the next
performance.
Teachers, parents, and business
men have expressed appreciation for
the work inauguaretd by our COM
lmittee. Mr.. Jake Wells, president of
the wells Amusement Company"
who operates the Grand Opera House
has been untiring in helping US to
secure the best pictures for the chill
dren. 1t was due to his courtesy also
that our committee was able to send
to every school-teacher in the city a
season complimentary ticket for Sat
urday morning. He also had printed
for us the poster which is placed in
ievery school building in a conspicu-
GUS place. When we asked the school
authorities for permission to display
them in the buildings, they consent
! ed without moments hesitation,
saying: go ahead, it is a fine
thing"
| OuF largest SlHgie dCIeHQdnce was
1 ,264 paid admissions.
. Almost every Saturday we have
children from some charitable insti-
tuition come in complimentary"
: l feel there is a great deal more
) in this work than simply providing
! wholesome amusement every Satur-
r day morning. The educational value
cannot be over-estimated.
1 believe that if there is a proper
cooperation between the school auth
critics, interested civic authorities,
the local picture houses, and, finally
4 the film producers, this movement
will spread all over the country, be-
; cause of the clean, wholesome and
}. educational atmosphere surrounding
!. it.