The Washington herald., 1920-01-11
NEW YORK CITY
By %. o. McNTYke


New York. Jan. 1o.zNational ex-
hibitors OF moving pictures are grow.
ing fearful that those who, like
Ibsen's. Brand, are for call or moth
ing" will soon begin a campaign OF
determination against the movies.
There are curious signs on the hori-
zon. Ohio has strict moving picture
censorship and SO strict in the CEN
sorship In Pennsylvania that exhibi-
tors declare that the State Is costing
them thousands.
represented such a huge Industry that
many refused to believe that 1t would
be wiped out. The moving picture
men, profitins by this attitude Of
thought, will take Immediate action
, to resist at once any efforts to kill
this huge branch OF the theatrical in
dustry.
Rumors have been trickling back to
the New York exhibitors that many
States have strict moving censorship
bills ready for forthcoming legislative
sessions. Arguments are advanced
that the rural legislator is In control
of so per cent of the Legislative power
of the country and that they have no
vital interest In the movie and II they
can be convinced by the Puritans
that the moving picture spectator has
his mind taken of OF tho sins of Ne
world-well. exhibitors argue. the
movie Is doomed.
r. H. Cochrane. head of the Uni
yersal, is out with a statement this
week that the feeling that American
films contain dry propaganda rap
idly Is assuming alarming proportion
in foreign countries. especially in
England. but also in the wine drink
ing countries. France, Italy, Spain.
and Portugal. as well as the Latin
American countries. This, he says. II
being bruited about in America by
those who wish completely to prohibit
the presentation of moving pictures.
Nothing" said Mr.. Cochranc,
could be further from the truth. of
course, but II Is natural feeling
growing in wine drinking countries
out of the antagonism felt toward
dry America. 1 know of one case
where objection was made to bar
scene on the ground that Is en-
coCraSed drinking"
The fight against Sunday pictures
has already assumed gigantic propO-
sition. South Dakota reformers are
trying to repeal a law which al
laws educational films on SUNDAY.
Connecticut. Georgia. Illinois, Indi-
ana, Iowa. Massachusetts, Michigan,
Nebraska. New Hampshire New Jer-
sey New York. Pennsylvania. Texas
and Rhode Island are facing Sunday
closing fights.
d. w. Griffith sounds a warning
note. He says: Effects of prohi-
bition may be good at first, but ex-
hibitors must not chortle too soon
as reformers released from that job
will be busy with other alleged re-
forms that may include a censor
ship on motion pictures"
The movie has long progressed
from the nickleodean stage. 1t oc-
cupies an artistic place in the world
of the theatsr. 1t has symphony or
chestras. urban stage settings and
the best vocal and instrumental
numbers. People in New York 60 to
the movies in evening clothes and
ride to and from in limousines.
Greece in her best days honored the
stage as the custodian of the ma
tional traditions. but the serious IN
England and France really despised
1t: would have insulted Shakespeare
but for his great friends and did
insult the dead body of Moliere. Ap-
psrently there are some who would
like to bring back this spirit of
intolerant distTust OF the moving
picture.
II seems that there is always an old
hotel dying and a new one arising
in New York. This is illustrated at
the moment by the passing of the
old Holland House. The Holland
was opened thirty years ago. Scores
ef skyscraping hotels have reared
their peaks TO the clouds In that
time-and what scores have closed
their registers!
In the past fifteen years the follow
ing hotels have closed: Fifth Avenue.
Gilsey. Hoffman House. Albemar1e.
Victoria. original Metropole. Ashland.
Putnam. Florence. Belvedere, Grand
Union. Everett. Continental. Morton.
Sinclair. st. Denis and the. old Astor
House.