Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-24
Putting a
Patch on
the Censor
How William of That Ilk
Called the Drama to Free
the Photoplay

Monday Philadelphia saw an interesting
suspensive but by no means great picture
put over" into popularity by accessories
devised by young manager who was once
upon time SO humble a thing as a
dramatic critic, Twothirds of THE Ne'er
Do Welis' success must be laid at the
door Of William Moore Patch, managing
director of the Pitt Theatre in Plttsburg,
under whose personal supervision the pro-
duction at the Forrest was made, and who
has combined, with the film proper, a
unique entertainment, consisting of spec
tacle, good music and instrumental and
vocal speclalties
1t may be truthfully said that Mr.. Patch
has paved the way for the development
of pictures along new and distinctly broader
lines. At any rate, since he first produced
"The Ne'er.Do.well' in his theatre in
Pittsburgh last winter, 1t is interesting
to note that several big picture men in
New York city are beginning to follow in
his footsteps. Mr.. Patch has a counter.
part in the West, in the person of w. H.
Clune, of Los Angeles, producer of IRA
mona" The latter gentleman also believes
In combining with picture. opera, drama
and spectacle His theories will shortly
be put into practice, as far as Philadelphia
is concerned-for rumor has 1t that IRA
mona" may be the next attraction in the
Forrest Theatre following THE Ne'er-Do-
Well"
It is a perturbation of Helen Hunt Jack
the mission Indians and the spirit of the
story is carried out not only in the film
Itself (Which was taken on the exact
spot described by Mrs Jackson in her
book but also by means Of three massive
stage settings. instrumental and vocal
music, singing and dancing and other spe-
cialties that are said to be quite unique.
New York has already seen Ramona" So
has Boston. At present 1t Is running In
the Auditorium, in Chicago, and in the
Pitt Theatre, in Pittsburgh, where It is
now in Its sixth week.
The most recent example Of combining
film with operate music and spectacle may
be found in Thomas Ince's civilization"
now running in the Criterion Theatre, in
New York. civilization "opens with an
atmospheric stage setting which strikes
the keynote Of the story of the picture. and
lends great deal to It's dramatic effect
iveness
Mr.. Patch's readiness to add to tho photo
play the decorations of sister-arts came in
handy at least twice during the last sea-
son. when the Pennsylvania State Board of
Censors thought to eliminate portions OF
films that the Pitt Theatre was showing.
When THE Battle Cry of Peace" was first
presented to the censors, they banned the
most vital scene in the film, the moment
when the American mother Is forced to
shoot her two daughters lest they fall into
the hands of drnk-crazed invaders, When
where the elimination was made Mr.. Patch
had him stop, hauled up the screen and had
the banned scene acted out in dumb show
by flesh and blood actors 1t was a stag
gering blow. The censors signifed their
willingness to give In.
Over The Ne'er-Do-Well" Mr.. Patch had
a somewhat similar fight The banned por.
ton IN this case was n leader, in which
married man accuses a young bachelor at
dinner party, of having led his wife into
infdelity, AS the censors passed the pic.
ture all the essential part of the accusa-
ton is screened except the words MY
wife,! Mr.. Patch, at first. tried to throw
the ellminations on the screen by means of
a slide but as slides come within the legal
supervision of the board, he was forced to
have recourse to cutting off the projecting
machine, raising the screen and showing
the leader painted on an illuminated sign
At the Forrest Mr.. Patch Is presenting the
film without the use of the sign. One Of
these days he may put another spoke in the
censors' wheel by having one of his Off
stage voices-whlch he uses again and
again throughout the flm--shout the
cusing words at the critical moment, The
result should be strkingly effective. And the
censors do not yet control the human voice.