The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-09

: copyrisht 1920 BY Public Ledger Go;
IoNDoN. Jan. $50 many Aneri,
can friends have written TO me aoous
the methods OF the censor OF Aims IN
- Enxiand. that I think a short sketch OF
ths methods will be interesting hns
! growth OF the film industry in tnStano
has perhaps. followed the same L'nes -
In your own country. II was. FOR con
siderable time despised. and the vest
:, ed interest In the theatres and music
halls fought against II. II was also
REGARDED as one , S 'r roiisr stating
which would captivate tho whole world
for a while and then leave empty NAILS
tiF For this reason the film with US may
. be said to have started in mo PENN nS
~ ,Ean-that ia 10 say the lowest anu anu
:. ensAoes, kind Of small tneas5ei IN his
ioyly side OF the theatrical business
=, ~ bs imagined: To call them Get
rioS quick waIl!ngfords you'd d. na ane
to-dats manager. Of the musie hall, halls
- -SSrNn TO realize all the money tneTe
/ was In the business. and the Dig cap
, talist began TO exhibit; so mere ~
. betutiful cinema halls began TO Dc
, srected. The penny gamer disappeareo
, with the penny gam and thers CAM
into tho business superior GLASS; "
men.
But there was a remnant Istt; anu I-
Aims were put on tho screen which OK
.-stted a good deal OF public eTni th.r.
wouid be q powerful combination
against II OF the church and tho iax
courts Sermons were preached asanss
The Aims as immoral. and every maglss
rate VIII, wanted 70 say something. and
every little criminal hypocrtte VINO
wanted 10 find an excuse, declared tnat
, he had learned TO thleFe IN INC oE CIV 70
hall. The trade was wise enough no
see that this strong tide against Nno
cinema could not be allowed TO go on
without exposing It to serious dan mid
- ruSlic departments-turnsd on inc
. trade IT'S paSiIisk eye and was prepared
TO compel government ownership.
- The trade realized a. once IN" .nrT
-erable position in which the trade "ouIo
sesbe placed II II were left to the mercy
---of a clerk in a public department. Nor
~pait Is = clerk. OF course. who ~outo ue
~--cide and not either the head or the nn,
susder secretary OF the home OFFICE. GiHtI
have their merits. but. with
..-us. their lives are bit SlolS,ereo; enu
besides. every EoVeEnmhsnT C k.n"orrics
ssrwith certain arrogant contempt for
~s-the general public.
49, The trade then took the resolution OF
sensor OF It's own. There were OBVIOUS
TO such resolution. inc
--Inain objection being OF course that as
the censor was the servant OF the trade
...ha could not act with independence.
SssTS,t this objection was removed by an
on the part OF the trade to
leave TO the censor full. even dictator
~. No Appeal Prom Censor.
-. There Is no appeal from his decision.
ana recently his power has been enor-
-mously increased. since took the
office, by two facts: First. that the
i trade has passed resolutions that no
J. exhibitor or producer or manufacturer
. ;. shall be allowed TO continue in their
ORGANIZATIONS who does not comply
e@-with the decisions Of the censor: and.
,a~secondly. that nearly all the hundreds
-..or licensing authorities in the country
.s,.haye practically agreed 10 take the de-
- cision Of the censor. This means that