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


lulu. bolieles in speaking straight
from the shOU!dcr After trying out
FRIDAY afternoon move matinee tor
children TOR several months she h.E-
cerrv believes II las 'Alcd. l5ht sic
does not propose that her organization
shall give up striving tor LttleI
MOVIES for ever! body. She tells Oh
this and many other things OF interest
relative TO the movement IN d lcTse'
well written annual report winch sAe
delivered Saturday morning 10 mem,
beers Of the league at their last meet
ing until October. The report ""lCH
is we'll worth any one while 10 Tead
follows.
The last meeting OF tie league in
January was SO poorly ATTENDED thd'
the general impression might De
gained that there is no interest oelnS
taken in our work. The contrary,
however, seems 10 be SO, for day after
day find evidence that the sentiment
OF the community is with US, even
though there is no time 70 attend COM
mittee meetings.
The league is n this work TO stay
and some day will prove a powerful
factor in the commuaity's social wei
fare, but the growth is slow, and we
have to be gradually educated when
naturally entails some selt-sacrlflce. II
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
II 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, II is extremely widespread
and although war conditions may in
terfere to an extent with amusements
and recreations, it remains that the
movies are the cheapest form OF en-
tertainmept 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 IL" II that be the
case, l 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 Hearsts magazine have
such q tremendous sale? The same
houses that leave those magazines
.carelessly upon their tables for half
grown children to read, are the. same
homes that provide 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,
I have heard this same criticism:
why should q handful of women die
tate to the whole Of Honolulu what 1t
should or should not see?" and for a
second or two the instinct OF minding
ones own business proves so strong
that one stops and wonders why in
deed. There are presidents, however.
j received through the courtesy Of the
board of education thu 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
1856 was 1000, and heavy fines
were melted out to those who violated
the order Of the censor board and
these fines were sustained, as I said
before, by the fupreme court. This is
an illustration which proves that in
some states a handful of people die
state and no one but the producer feels
that his liberty Is infringed upon.
Friday Matinee Failure
During the last year, several lines
OF active work nave been tried out by
the league. The principal source I'll
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 it has proven so. Since
last January a continuous moving
board of selection has attended tina
Empire theater for 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 to
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 childrens 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,