The sun., 1919-07-02
FILMS 90 PER CENT.
BUNK, SAYS QUINN
Cooperative Association Head
Calls Pictures "World's
Biggest joke"
HE SCORES STAR SYSTEM
Many Screen "Queensp Unfit
for Stock Companies, Is
One Charge.

The movies as they are presented by
the present day breed Of producers had
a rough afternoon at the Hotel Aston
yesterday. during the monthly meeting
of the Motion Picture and Theatrical
Cooperative Association. J. A. Quinn,
president of this organization which
seeks the house cleaning of the movies.
scored the current starring system as
based on favoritlsm by the managers
and not on merit. and characterized most
of the producers to-day as'"fournushers."
In fact Mr.. Quinn. who has exhibited
in numerous theatres throughout the
West and has documents showing he
has the backing OF all tho exhibitors
In his homo city OF Los Angeles as well
as film showmen in other parts OF the
Pacific coast. grew so wrought up over
the matter that he issued q challenge
to the producers to name committee
from their own number, before whom
he would place his evidence exposing
screen conditions in the form OF affi-
davits.
Mr.. Quinn was stirred into burst of
denunciation by an accusation made
against him from the producing side that
he was telling only half truths about
the existing state of the movies. That
sltTteO MIN OIL as IOHOWS DtlOEt an
audience composed Of exhibitors. pro-
ducers, movie directors and players:
I'm not going to tell any half truths
at this meeting. The time has come
wren the four fiushers and bunk pro-
ducers should be exposed. The motion
picture as II stands to-day Is the biggest
Joke in the world. and unless the pro-
ducers wake up the whole structure viii
collapse. We haven't single trade
mark to-day that the people believe in.
and their belief In the honesty of any
particular firm Is disappearing.
The people are starving for some
thing worth while and they aren't get
ting It, Instead, conditions which are
rotten already are getting worse. Out
of every 100 pictures which are being
made to-day ninety contain from 1000
to 1000 feet of junk. This conviction IS
the elimination of three years OF close
study OF movie conditions"
Another glaring fault. In Quinn's
mind, was the fact that many stars are
raised to that cmlnence at the behest OF
a producer when they don't deserve such
position. 1t is done, he said. through
fiamboyart publicity. though the So
/ called star" II presented on the speak
ing stage. could scarcely make good in
| a theatrical stock company.
/ Inc producers reply Was NO4Nth "
Jesse j. Goldberg general manager OF
the Frohman Amusement Company. An
swering the imputation OF intquity in
side the motion picture studio, he as
serted there was as much dereliction
outside it, He laid the blame for bad
conditions in the movies on the public
declaring that the Aim business could be
elevated Only through the education OF
the public and citing instances where
good photo plays had failed while poor
ones had thrived.
other speakers who upheld Quinn's
stand were Mrs. John Francis Yawger
secretary OF the association and former
president OF the New York Federation
of Womens Clubs, who presided; Mrs
Warren Foster, editor OF the Community
Moving Picture Bureau; Leon ]. Rubin
stein, Dr. Edward Stitt, District Super
intendent OF Public Schools, and Deputy
Police Commissioner Ellen O'Grady, who
hoped the time would soon come wher
pictures would be made clean 30 thai
children would be permitted to enter
movie theatres. The president announced
| that the association, which has many
| branches in the West, would have simi
lar bodies started soon in the leading
| cities of the East