The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-13
MAYOR FAVORS
SUNDAY MOVIES
Outlines Position in Letter to
W. E. WiIkerSon, of Signal
Amusement Company.
URGES UPLIFTING FILMS

Mayor Chambliss Monday released
for publication correspondence be-
tween himself and w. Il. Wilkerson
president of the Signal Amusement
company, outlining the position Of the
city's chief executive upon the sub
Ject lof Sunday pictures.
The mayor states that he Is person
ally in favor of Sunday recreations
and is not opposed to Sunday exhibits
for the picture shows.
In his letter to the management
Mayor Chambliss suggests that the
Sunday pictures could be confined
strictly to educational and generally
uplifting subjects and scenes. Along
this line the executive of the city
calls attention to some pictures which
were shown recently against which
complaints were made
Mayors Letter.
Mayor Chamhlss' letter to Presi-
dent Wilerson follows:
Dear Mr.. Wikerson: beg again
to bring to your consideration the de-
STABILITY of combining your exhibits
on Sr-day to class OF pictures in
more or less degree in harmony with
the generally accepted sentiment of
the day. 1t seems to me and to many
others who have approached me in
regard to the matter that this could
be done without material cost or loss
to YOU and with very helpful results
to the, public. Not only might you
wen eliminate on Sundays the sug-
gestive and morally questionable inns
more definitely than you are perhaps
able to do week days. but it seems TO
me you might even proftably to your
selves conf1ne your Sunday pictures
strictly to educational and generally
unlifting subjects and scenes
IT was struck with your eecent ad-
vertisment of the Tivoli theatter which
you are soon to open. in which you
promise a medium that makes for bet
ter morals, that instills courage. that
teaches the uplifting influence of art
and music, that drives away mental
WEAKNESS and despair.
at the Fine Arts so Long Lefty
which you had exhibited previously I
believe. at the Rialto on a Sunday
and which was complained of at that
time. On the same dav you showed
at the, Rialto What Women Love-
fialce of much of the best sentiment. |
'In this connection 1t has been |
urged by representative church and |
business men that you arrange to |
close the picture shows during the I
evening church services on SUNDAYS. |
and l pass this request on to you for |
your consideration.
Personally / favor Sunday recrea-
lions and am not opposed to Sunday |
exhibits of the picture shows and the
Wy l AIN sure, is nOl
disposed to be unreasonable. but I be-
iieve you will find it to your interest
in the long run to give s6me consider
alton to these suggestions"
Wllkerson's Reply.
Mr.. Wilkerson's reply to Mayor
Chambliss as it refers to Sunday
follows:
Hon. A. W. Chambliss, Mayor, City
of Chattanooga:
MY Dear Sir-I am pleased to ac-
knowledge receipt of your esteemed
favor of the 10th instant in which YOU
discuss the quality of pictuers exhibited
In Chattanooga on Sunday, and also
the question of the closing of picture
shows during the evening church serv-
Ices on Sundays
VI do not use the words pleased and
esteemed convontionaly, but advisedly.
Your good letter exhibits a fine spirit
and 1 assure you that 1t is deeply ap-
preciated and will be'given the gravest
Your attitude toward
Sunday recreations has always been
The Signal Amusement company OF the
Tennessee Enterprises, Incorporated,
appreciates your position and also the
position of the city government on this
subject.
1--WE are always glad to have sincere
made of pictures shown and
ire anxious to have specific mention
rade of any picture that contains OBJ
ectionable features.
II am passing your letter. together !
With copy of this letter, to the general
manager, L. II. Dowler, Jr, for his in
ormation. We shall keep all you have
aid firmly in mind, and be assured
hat we shall do everything possible
o live up to the high sentiment ex- ,
PRESSED in our recent advertisement of
he Tivoli theater, a portion of which
,ou qoute with approval in your letter.
Again thanking you for your letter
md with most cordial regards, may !
emain yours truly,
''W. Il. WILKERSON."