Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-05
But Good Films League Will
Not Give Up Its Work,
President Asserts


from the shoulder" After trying out
a Friday afternoon movie matinee for
children for several months she sin
ccrely believes it has failed. But she
does not propose that her organization
shall give up striving for better
movies for everybody. She tells OF
this and many other things Of interest
relative to the movement in a terse
we'll written annual report which she
delivered Saturday morning TO mem
bers OF the league at their last meet
ing until October. The report which
is we'll worth any ones while TO read
follows:
The last meeting OF the league in
January was SO poorly attended that
the general impression might be
gained that there is no interest being
taken in our work. The contrary,
however, seems to be so, for day after
day find evidence that the sentiment
OF the community is with US, even
though there is no time TO attend com
mittee meetings.
The league is IN this work to stay
and some day will prove powerful
factor in the commu1ity's social vel
fare, but the growth is slow, and we
have to be gradually educated, which
naturally entails some self-saCrifiCe. 1t
has been suggested that We should all
pledge ourselves to avoid plays that
are questionable. Whether that be
the will Of the league, | ,annot say.
1t does seem as though we might WELD
an influence toward lettering the tone
Of the general programs.
Must Do Pioneer Work
This sort Of work is not confined to
Honolulu, 1t is extremely widespread
and although war conditions may In
terfere to an extent with amusements
and recreations, 1t remains that the
movies are the cheapest form OF en-
tertainment and will endure. Also, the
money Of the people continues to be
invested in the production OF pictures
Invariably to an inquiry, why do
the theaters show such trash
movie man will tell you: Because
that Is what the public demands. The
box office shows it." II that be the
case. / think that unless some OF US
are willing to take hold and do pioneer
work, the next generation will DRIFT
hopelessly upon moral reefs. A man
interested in the production OF the
moving pictures said, in answer to the
above question: why do the Cosmo-
politan and Hearst's magazine have
such q tremendous sale? The same
houses that leave those magazines
carelessly upon their tables for hail
grown children to read, are the same
homes that provide a family audience
to see indifferently moral pictures.
Court Backs CenSorS
There seems to be, however, consld
cradle difference of opinion as to the
standard OF moving pictures, and In
many conversations upon the subject,
/ have heard this same criticism:
"Why should q HANDFUL OF women die
tate to the whole of Honolulu what 1t
should or should not sect" and for a
second or two the instinct Of mtndtng
ones own business proves so strong
that one stops and wonders why in
deed. There are precedents, however.
received through the courtesy OF the
board of education the report OF the
Pennsylvania board Of censors, and let
me say, ladies, their power is not a
nominal one, and whatever or whoever
dictates the standards they maintain,
they have been backed by the courts
OF their state in every instance where
an appeal has teen made. This board
is supported by the state, the money
incident to its support is paid by the
state and the governor OF the state &C.
cepts its report To be brief, the num-
Der of reels thy examined in the year
19l5-16 was 1000, and heavy fines
were melted out to hose who violated
the order Of the censor board and
these fines were sustained, as said
before, by the fupreme court. This is
an illustration which proves that in
some states q handful of people die
tate what shall be seen by an entire
state and no one but the producer feels
that his liberty is infrtnged upon.
Friday Matinee Failure
During the last year, several lines
of active work naye been tried out By
the league. The principal source eli
activity, the Friday matinee, has
/, proven a failure. At least, SO it ap-
pears to me, and those Of US who have
followed the try-out can understand
readily why 1t has proven so. Since
last January q continuous moving
board Of selection has attended tn
Empire tneater Tor possible short reels
and up to the present time not more
than a dozen reels have been reported
to me as possible, so that one may
readily see that the material for the
children's matinees has not been pro
Life. Many people have objected toI
the length Of the matinees and the
personal attitude of the children to-
ward these programs will be found In
the teachers reports.
Special Matinees?
Personally, am opposed to carry
ing on the Friday matinee under our
auspices any longer. l would suggest
that when, at any time, there comes
here a film that is attractive to the
children let US run it as a special mat.
inee il it can be placed at our dis.
posal, but let US discourage any so
called children's matinee which may
be advertised without our sanction or
consent. 1t has been suggested that
We stand for something more definite
that We have heretofore, and pledge
ourselves, as members of the league,
e. refrain from taking our children to