Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-18
CITY FOR
HONOLULU Thing
OF GREAT Value
This Opinion of Mrs. Doremus
SCudder if Cooperation With
Y. w. c. A. is Assured

If, at the outset, the local Y. w. =.
A. can cooperate with the filmmakers,
there is no reason why most OF the
unfortunate conditions cannot be OBJ
waited and the business be made of
real value. ...~:.
Thus comments DR.. Doremus Scud-
der, former pastor Of Central Union
church.. who, in the August number of
the Friend, sums up Mrs. Scudder's
investigation of conditions of movie
cities" on the mainland, her work
along this line having been brought
about by a movement to establish the
Aloha Film Company in Honolulu
Mrs. Scudder, after visiting some OF
the settles" in California, prepared her
report, which is outlined in DR.. Scud.
der article. .~. IBID"
IL part, thu article Is as follows:
81 Several months ago. when it was
announced that the Promotion Com.
mittee was welcoming to the islands
with open hand and discriminating
cordiality a concern for making NOV
ing pictures to be known as the Aloha
Film Company, number of Honolulu
women conversant with some of the
unfortunate social conditions char
actizing the business of producing
films in Los Angeles, took alarm.
These women went at once to head
quarters, where they we're put in i'm.
mediate touch with Mrs. Rose Jano
WITT. one of the moving spirits in the
Aloha concern. Mrs. Janowitz more
than met them half way, acknowl'
edged the dangers besetting girls and
women in connection with the new in.
dustry and proposed that the local \.
w. C. A. should work so closely in
sympathy and cooperation with the
film company as to minimize if not
entirely counterfeit these dangers.
In this connection Mrs. Doremus
Scudder was requested while in Los
Angeles to look into the experience
of that city with movie concerns and
bring back to Honolulu the results
which had crystanzed in the minds
of the Christian women who are deal.
ing with the problem there.
"The profession demands not only
youth, but also men and women of ad.
yanced years. A lady thrown upon
her own resources by death in the
family aid entirely at sea as to means
of support, applied for work, was
chosen, developed rare power and is
now one of the magnates of the bust
ness. These tales duplicated many
fold have filtered throughout the
country and have stirred new ambi.
tions ih thousands OF hearts. Girls
from AL over tue nation have flocked
to southern California and besieged
the employment offices of the movie
men. When large numbers of, people
are required Ior scene it is COM
mon practise for entire families IN
Los Angeles to flock to the place of
engasement. One of the most impo-t:
ant and well paid functionaries in the
Eliminating business is the person
who chooses the actors or actresses
for the various parts in the film plays.
When extras are needed this dis
penser Of fate wanders through the
throng of waiting applicants, and
pointing to one and another with an
4 want you calls the lucky ones to
possible tame and fortune, though
oftener to a mere temporary task as
supernumerary at 81 per day head
Yet the business is legitimate
enc and Les Angeles has been forced
to meet its challenge. A minister OF
large influence and ability brought
into contact with the tragic side OF
the problem pictured it to his congre-
gaticn with unusual power. He found
that his arraignment of the film COM
panies produced no effect whatever
on his businessmen, because Los An
geles was deriving such large finan-
ciaI gain from this industry. The am
cunts spent in producing certain film
plays are almost beyond belief. For
many months one Of the concerns
had been staging play entitled The
Mother and the Law" dealing with
ancient history. IT'S cost is reported
to have totaled 100000. Other plays
have far exceeded this. A year or
more may be required for the COM