The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-02
.DROWNLOW EXPLAINS
PURITY FILM BAN
Request Not to Show 1t Made
Under Rule Against "Exhi-
bition Of Nudity"
Continued from First pare)

-
hIbitor. would not think OF showing in
We have had numerous complaints
about this sort OF thing--complr lnts. as
said before. not from reformers. hut
from genuine enthusiasts for motion
p,r r, because OF my personal in
terest IN the matter we have refrained
from taking drastic action. And 40 I
say now. that II In entirely I'M to the
exhibitors themselves whether or not
their product shall be made the subject
OF discretionary censorship as exists
In other places. They are alternating
business by their methods. They are
gaining business that will do them little
good.
Up To Exhibitors.
az want them to fully understand the
situation, and II seems to me that with
their cooperation there isn't the slight
est occasion for censorship OF any
sort In Washington.
There is no censorship now. and
there will be no censorhip establihed
II the exhibitors will do the right thing
themclves. II II entirely within their
power
Moore Seconds BrownlOw.
Manager Tom Moore, OF the Strand
Theater. who has been prevented from
showing the film play Purity" COM
mends the idea OF Commissioner Brown
low that the exhibitors are the people
who can prevent censorship. Mr.. Moore
Is absolutely opposed to showing objec-
tlonable films In his house, he said to-
day.
Il have not seen Purity" Mr. Moore
stated. II stopped its showing at the
request of the Commiss oncrs. despite
the fact that IL means a tremendous loss
TO me, because I did not want to have
"a WuN nW.NW la Nl...a 4
ain this business the good will OF
the people is the biggest asset we
have. We must keep that at all haz-
entailed through our failure to show
films for which we have contracted
and which we have no way OF seeing
until they arrive in the theater the
day OF exhibition.
I'm the case OF Purity I cannot
and will not believe that the produce
ers had any idea of exploiting nudity.
| have been doing business with the
American Film Company ten years
and have never known them to do
anything like that before. / believe
they had the highest motives In pro-
ducing the film.
Appeals To Intelligence.
II also believe that Mr.. clifford How
ard. the author OF the film. had the
highest motives in writing It. In fact,
from what the people who have seen
the film have told me-and mean peo-
pie who would be quick to call atten-
ton to anything that could hurt our
busness-I am led to believe that the
film Is a particular appeal to a very
intellectual audience
But / am not squealing-let that
be understood. I want to do In this
theater exactly what my patrons want
me to do. ] cannot AFFORD TO offend
them. no matter what IL costs. I will
not show "A picture here | believe IL Of
fensive. l believe Mr.. Brownlow Is
right when he says that proper care
on the part OF the exhibitors Will elimi-
nate any question OF censorship here.
Il intend to have Mr.. Brownlow see
that film, however. because he has ruled
upon II without seeing II. viii give .
private view OF 1t whenever he can see
it-without any questions as to whether
or not we show IL publicly afterward."
The film play Purity" as has been
stated In the photoplay department of
The Times. was written 81 clifford
Howard. former president Of the Short
Story Club. Of this city, and formerly
an official OF the District. The play
was produced by the American Film
Company at its studios IN Santa BAR
bara, Cal. under the personal direction
Of Mr.. Howard. IL was approved by the
National Board OF Review In New York
and by the Maryland censors.
Miss n. T.. Harrison. OF the Maryland
state board OF motion picture censor
ship, informed The Times today that
the play was produced with certain
eliminations in Baltimore today.