The Washington times., 1921-03-03
Film World Arms For
Driue on Blue LalUs
viii Line Up All Factions Of In
dustry TO Beat Paid Re-
formers Efforts.

representatives of seventeen differ
ent organizations of the MIN world
present ana with every branch of the
motion picture business on the Pacific
Coast represented. nationwide
drive has been launched here against
so-called blue laws and all perni-
cious and essonable forms Of CEN
| sorship.
The meeting. which was one of the
most enthusiastic OF the Kind ever
held In the history of the industry.
was notable for the fact that II
marked a sincere attempt TO align all
factions together In what was termed
a declaration OF independence" for
the worlds leading form of entertain
ment.
Many suggestions were made for
creating sentiment In favor OF the
drive, and committees were appointed
and an organization backed by ade-
quate resources, as well as the best
brains In the industry. will immedi-
ately take shape.
ENDLESS CHAIN OF LETTERS.
Two OF the plans brosched by
speakers at the meeting for keeping
the night OF the MIN men In the eyes
Of the public were:
/. The creation OF an endless chain
OF letters through members Of the
American Legion and designed to
reach every city and hamlet in the
nation.
g. A nlm play Intended as a
masterpiece OF it's kind. TO be written
by the greatest photoplay writer's.
directed by the most successful direc-
tors and acted by the greatest screen
stars. This play would illustrate the
evils of unreasonable censorship as
well as being highly Instructive.
The meeting was held at the Los
Angeles Athletic Club in response TO
a letter sent out two weeks ago by
William ID. Taylor, a well-known mo-
tion picture director. and director of
the Motion Picture Directors Asso-
citation. Two others who have been
active in assisting Mr.. Taylor in ar
ranging for the meeting were Regi-
nald Barker and Frank T.. Woods, OF
the Screen Writer'S Guild OF the Au-
thors' League.
The various phases OF the industry
represented included: Motion Picture
Producers Association, Motion Pic
ture Art Directors Association, AS
sistant Directors Association, Ameri-
can Society OF Cinematographers, So
ciety OF Illuminating Engineers,
Screen Writers Guild of the Authors
League, Western Motion Picture Ad-
i
citation, Los Angeles Film Exchange,
Theater Owners Association, Los An
geles Theater Association, Motion
Picture Operators Union. Ethical Mo-
tion Picture Society OF America, Girls
| Hollywood Studio Club. Actors
| Equity Association OF Los Angeles,
Motion Picture Directors Association.
and Hollywood Post OF the American
Legion. composed OF men from the
= film world who were in the service.
DIsSENsION IN EAST.
1t was stated that while in the
East there has been a dissension be-
tween the Motion Picture Theater
Owners and the National Association
OF the Motion Picture Industry, that
the industry in the Far West Is solidly
united, and IL Is hoped that the tenn
porary difference between the East
ern organizations will be healed.
Mr.. Taylor. in his call for the meet
ing. said: THE necessity of immedi-
ate and united action on the part OF
itself against legislative menaces OF
censorship and so-called "blue laws"
Is recognized by every member Of this
industry.
"Our motion picture trade publica-
tions are urging united and unselfish
action of every one connectci with
producing. distributing. and exhibit
ing OF motion pictures to defend this
great Industry against those who
would weaken and destroy it,
AFTER PAID REFORMERS.
at Is regrettable to note at this
time OF peril that some factions are
quarreling with each other at time
when paid reformers with millions Of
dollars behind them are preparing to
come over the top from the opposite
trenches. 1t is imperative that any
petty differences be forgotten until
the paid reformer Is definitely de-
feated in his attempted assault on the
screen"
| Speakers at the meeting declared II
worked an injustice on producers and
all others concerned in the making
distribution or exhibition OF a hlm
play to have their products garbled
and distorted by censors, when the
same subjects in book form or even
portrayed on the speaking stage
would be untouched
MAY COME TO THIS.
II was declared that IL the paid re-
formers were unchecked this would
be the program for a blue law" Sun
day:
No Sunday movies or theatrical per-
formances OF any kind.
No Sunday newspapers.
No Sunday concerts.
No Sunday automobiling.
No Sunday golfinG.
No Sunday bathing.
No Sunday tennis.
No Sunday stores. except pharma-
cies. and they would be limited to the
sale of medicines on that day.
One speaker quoted ono OF the lead
ing 'blue law" agitators as having
said: I'VE are we'll financed. Our
lobby at Washington will be an effcc-
tive and experienced one. We shall
work In every congressional district
in over State. We shall agitate and
spread propaganda and cause voters