Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-19

SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS AND THE >aMovIE"
.#...- FIELD. s:.. "a


Are the conditions which surround those who are
engaged in the profession of producing plays before
the necessarily dangerous or detrimental TO
the women and girls who undertake il? .
This was the question propounded TO Mrs. bore
mus Scudder, and she asked to make a study of
the socalled Movie Cities and motion picture
studios of Southern California to secure: the an
swer #.~ ...... H.
The prOpounders Of the query were earnest, Chris,
tian women and social welfare workers of Homo,
lulu The occasion was the expected advent of a
motion picture producing company and the estab-
lishment Of permanent studio in this city.
Some Honolulans were alarmed at the prospect of
conditions such as their reading told them existed
in similar places the mainland being brought
kAefe TheS desired TO learn at near tirsthand as
possible whether the reports which came to them
were correct whether reported evil conditions were
necessary attendant upon moving picture produc-
ton. r.
~ Mrsgscudder has made careful and lengthy study
of the subject and her observations and her reply
are given in an article written by DIR. Doremus
seudder which appears in the August number of
The Friend.
The establishment of permanent studio for the
production of motion picture plays here will not of
necessity bring about undesirable conditions need
ranks Of producing company to influences unde-
sirable and highly dangerous, is her conclusion.
She finds that the project may prove very profitable
not only to businessmen of Honolulu but to women
and girls men and boys whose services the company
may require Her suggestion is that if at the very
outset the good and earnest women of this city
Through such an institution the Y. w. c. A. will
cooperate with the flmmakers, and inferentially if
the filmmakers will cooperate with these women
and with the association evil conditions may be
either avoided or greatly mitigated.
Mrs Scudder's study of the subject and her in
vestigation of conditions surrounding women and
girls who enter the movies" combined with her
knowledge of our local conditions, undoubtedly fit
her to answer the question fairly and without bias
Her answer will tend to remove the doubts OF the
Christian women who sought her advice. At the
same time it is satisfactory to those who propose
or favor the entrance of Honolulu into the moving
picture world Already in advance of the advent
of such industry here her proposal has received
consideration and is favored by many. 1t would
mean a new field for our Y w. G. A., new duties
and new problems for its workers. But they are !
problems which the association handles elsewhere
and which it could as we'll handle here as in such
other places. 94
Whenever woman or girl leaves that home life
which is more or less sequestered and enters upon
business or professional career she meets prdb
1ems new difficulties and new temptations, To help
her solve overcome these is of the provinces
which the Y. We. A. undertakes and with great
success. So would it be for and with those who en-
ter upon motion picture acting. To surround them
with the requisite safeguards, to give them oppor.
tune help and advice as Mrs. Scudder suggests,
would undoubtedly make the way palmer, make the
path smoother save fall perhaps, and is all within
the field of the association.
The article in The Friend can be recommended toll
the careful study of all thinking people of Hawaii |