The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-13

discuss the "better film" movement
 came about through the national council Of women; the Studiosis club received q request from the national chairman of the better films committee. Mrs Myra hhgman Miller, president of the Ma tional Federation of College Women, to the effect that many clubwomen all over the United States have written appeal ingly to the chairman to know how bes- ter films can be secured, and she would endeavor to tell them
 Let me quote from Mrs. Milier's let -ter,' said Mrs. Trout, as she perused a recently received communication from headquarters. This is what the national chairman says:
 Others have written asking me to send them the names of film dramas that might be shown in their city which would bear the stamp of approval of the national committee. Several of the stata universities have asked me to bulletin them regularly the list of our approved sfilms. My several years study and sur vey of the situation have brought me to certain definite conclusions which. as co-woriler, you are entitled to know.
 First to insure the showing of good pictures, we must patronize them when they are shown.
 Second, to do this we must know when and where they are to be shown.
 Third, some one in authority and in whom we have confidence must give us this information.
 Fourth, this information must be given us prior to the first showing of the picture in our city and our informant must, therefore, be down to date In the previews.
 Realizing these facts, your national committee has decided instead of mak- ing only formal annual report, to do something really practical, constructive, ana helplul to you in your community, but we must have your assistance. r 1t is our plan to send you Cat such intervals as they may be discovered) the name and description of any films thai are to appear in your city that may be considered exceptionally fine from all points of view, or some specific point ot view. You may then inquire of your exhibitors when and where they are to be shown. Ascertaining this, talk it, tell or It, get up matinee party, have it chronicled in the society columns of the local paper, have the drama reviewed 1t the cluo-a.ny or all of these will do; and otherwise patronize and advertise it. If the local exhibitor can see even a small gain over average receipts when a pic ture indorsed by the women is shown, you may be sure he will raise his stand ard immediately, eliminating the other'. 50 1t IS up to the community-to you! And, remember, it is to the women or your type tEat the world is looking to to keep up the morale of our nation. In these times of tension, do not fail your country, but assist us to maintain it's poise.'
 "So far" said Mrs. Trout, i've have in- terviewed only one local manager, Mr. H. F. Kincey of the Strand theatre, anI if everybody else is as nice as he Is ana as anxious to cooperate with the Stu- diosis club. we will have no obstacles in the way of making our better film movement great success. MT Kincey tells us that it is the thing he would like most of all to do--to raise the standard of pictures-because it is the thing the public wants the picture shows to do. MT. Kincey says that from business standpoint it is of the utmost value to the managers, because people do not like vampire plays, sex ploblems plays, in- trigucs, and suggestive plays. He de- clares that the largest gate receipts so to speak, that he has ever had at his playhouses have come from simple, beau- tifui, wholesome pictures presented. He says the children love William S. Hat,