The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-04
LOCAL THEATRES
WILL NOT SHOW
CLARA'SPICTURES

Managers Harry Lowenstein of the
Palace Theatre and L. c. Cox of the
Princess Theatre stated today that they
would not show any picture in which
Clara smith Hamon appears. 1--WE
have never intended showing these pic
lures" both managers stated. They
will not be shown at the new theatre,
now under construction, nor will they
be shown at the Theatorium."
The following taken from the Even
ing Gazette of Grand Rapids, Mich.
is herewith published by request
Managers of four leading moving
| picture theaters here today emphatical-
| ly declared they would not consider
showing pictures in which Clara Smith
| Hamon, recently acquitted at Ardmore
/ Okla. of the murder OF Jake l.. Hamon,
I is starred. The opinions here are that
while the verdict may have been jusu-
fled, they are not disputing that the
entrance Of Clara Hamon into the
realm Of movies is because of the motor
iety which she has obtained rath-
er than because Of any dramatic tai
| ent which she may possess.
The stand here has been for clean
er pictures and the fact that local
managers have turned down on several
occasions, pictures Of which there
might be u question in the public mind,
| is indication of the continuation Of that
stand.
Arthur Il. Weld, manager of the
Strand, declared his theater would new
er show Clara Hamon production so
| long as he is manager and that he
would exert his influence on his sue
cessor to preserve that policy. Mr..
| Yields opinion like that of the other
managers is shown when he said:
while Clara Smith Hamon may be
able to make the most acceptable OF
photoplayers, yet there remains the
motive her manager has in placing her
before the public. A man died at her
hands; the jury acquitted her of quit.
1t seems to me it is the publicity she
gained that has caused someone to eX-
plot her for profit and not any real
dramatic talent that has brought her
into the business.
ut is safe conclusion that the
Strand could not hold the audiences
that would flock to its doors to see
this murderer in feature picture,
but the Strand holds itself as u com
munity asset and not merely pile
of brick and mortar into which the
public may pour its quarters. As
such an institution, it will never show
Clara Smith Hamon picture-nor
that of any other player who gained
access to the cinema field through
channels of crime or immortality
II. l.. Andrews. manager Of the
Isis, said mo" when asked the policy
OF his theater ON the picture. He
pointed out several instances Of SINH
| lar character in which a person noted
because Of criminal court case had
entered the moving picture field but
| had proved that it was the notoriety
and not talent that was the cause and
that the public had realized it.
$. A. Westcott, manager of the
Palace is emphatic in his stand against
showing the Clara Hamon pictures II
they are placed on the market. He like
the other managers IL against those
pictures which have as their sole draw
ing interest the notoriety OF the star
in such as the Hamon case.
A similar stand is taken by william
Hemsky, manager Of the Crystal who
is in the movement for high class pic
lures of real dramatic or comedy tai
| ent