The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-26
Inspecting the Movies

|HH N LTHOUGH my appointment A\ was made several days ago
 c S as inspector of the moving
 pictures it was not confirmed until last
 Friday, and I did not take up my duties
 until Tuesday of this week." said Mrs.
 Neil R. Wallace, whose newly-created of- flee has caused widespread interest throughout moving picture shows" and moving picture fandom."
 "Of course, there has been much
 amusement created at my expense about
 my views in regard to kissing and love-
 making. and that sort of thing, and
 don't object if it has aroused interest,
 Mrs Wallace continued, "but there is
 more serious side to the subject which needs attention, and the first thing that ought to be emphasized, is that the newly appointed officer for the city of Birming- hem is in no respect czar or dictator. The inspector is merely appointed to see that the laws already on our statute books in regard to places of amusement are properly enforced. It is not that the authorities regard the movie directors as being anxious to evade or defy the law any more than they think architects, con- tractors, plumbers, etc, of the city wish to infringe on the laws There is in- spection of the work of these men to see that the building ordinances and plumbing ordinances are carried out, so why shouldn't there be a theatre in- spector to see that already existing ordi- nances are properly observed in regard ! to places of amusement. Our merchants and manufacturers have no desire to see | their stores and factories burned or their ] employees cremated, but nevertheless we have city inspectors of fire hazards at these places
 Tt used to be so about our food" Mrs. Wallace continued. "We have an excel lent food law in our code, but we have now no fod inspectr. We have had ana will no doubt have again food inspector at some future time. Then another thing to be stressed is that this move IS for the purpose of building up great industry. , such as the motion picture is, to be force for good in the community. It IS the business of every good man ana woman in this town to support the movies and make of them a factor in the building of future citizens for this community. "The young people patronize the movies more than older people, partly because they are cheap and partly because they are open in the day when young folks are downtown Mrs. Wallace continued. III the movie men are sincere in their ex- pressed wish that children should be kept away from the movies. why do they en- courage their coming by admitting them at less than half price? But in my humble opinion the great harm that is done py some pictures is not to the children be- tween s and IS. to whom most of the sug- gestive scenes in the movies mean noun l ing, but the young people between It ana 2l are the ones, most influenced for evil by the plays of the vampire type. They see evil and they do not see it punished properly.
 "Drama," said Mrs. Wallace, 'is the struggle between good and evil. and evil must not triumph, nor must evil conduct be condoned. I do not object to wee being portrayed on the screen if it IS properly punished; the felon or the forger or the murder shown, but he must expiate his crime; he must be punished so that vice is not encouraged.
 "The plays of Shakespeare-'Othello