The New York herald., 1922-12-22
ARBUCKLE AT WORK
TO RETURN TO films,
PROTESTS SPREADING
Finishing New Picture for
Release i'm Six Weeks,
Despite Criticism.
EXHIBITORS SURPRISED
Say Comeback of Fatty,
'PardOned' by Hays, Is
Up to Public.
THREE SHOWS ON TAP
Dispatches From All Over
Country Show Women's
Clubs Indignant.

While storm OF protest was gath
er.ng against the return OF Roscoe
/ (Fatty) Arbuckle to the films in this
city and other sections of the country.
1t was learned yesterday from source
inside the hlm industry that the ro-
tund comedian is making ready to
! finish a new picture for release In
about six weeks. He has been quietly
preparing to produce a new comedy
| during the last few weeks, It was said,
in anticipation that VIII II. Hays
might grant his plea for pardon"
There was nothing to indicate that
Fatty had been acting before the
camera In Hollywood, but simply had
been finishing the early prelimlnaries
30 that the picture could be shot" as
speedily as possible. The fact that his
manager, Joseph M. Schenck, left here
for the coast last Monday is taken
as confirmation of the report that
studio work would commence soon.
His pictures. 1t was learned, will be
distributed again by Paramount and
not by Associated First National, as one
erroneous report had it. Schenck re-
leases his production for Norma and
| Constance Talmadge through First Ma
tional. but the arrangement for Arbuckle
was made with Paramount and still!
holds.
No Plans, Paramount Says.
At the local offices Of Paramount
l 4 Iaaf cf Ind han
officially reached as to their future
action with regard to Arbuckle. and that
no plans had been made as to the
marketing Of the three completed pie
! tures which were shelved after he was
| acquitted on charges OF manslaughter
| growing out OF the death Of Virginia
/ Rappe.
! Later. It is expected II his first new
picture succeeds the three other Ar
! buckle pictures will be released. but
| so unostentatiously that most fans will
not recall they were ready while his
trial was still fresh in the public mind.
II the New York public shows a willing
ress to forget bygones during his next
production 1t Is confidently believed in
| the film trade that the rest of the
country Will follow suit In tho mean
| time Paramount officials are holding
back in order to observe the attitude Of
1 the public and the exhibitors.
An adverse viewpoint was expressed
on the part OF exhibitors yesterday by
the Motion Picture Theater Owners of
America at 132 West Forty-thlrd street
in the following statement:
we at the national headquarters of
the Motion Picture Theater Owners OF
America were much surprised TO learn
OF VIII II. Hays's move TO reinstate
Roscoe ("Fatty') Arbuckle as motion
picture actor as the same was revealed
In the articles from Los Angeles in the
newspapers to-day.
Question Up to People.
"As theater owners having the only
direct contact with the public, we know
Of no new developments to change the
minds OF the people, on the Arbuckle Sit
uation. AS the public alone constitute
the judges OF what should or should not
appear on the screen the American peo-
pie will determine whether or not they
want Arbuckle films. No act OF any Of
icial can make UP the public mind In
this matter.
kilograms coming TO the national Of
fee of the Motion Picture Theater own
ers Of America indicate general opposi-
tion to the return OF Arbuckle TO the
screen. We are now awaiting more
general expression OF opinion. in this re-
lation. as the same Is being obtained
from the public by theater owners In
different States and districts"
The New York state Censorship Com
mission has taken the stand that Ar
buckles pictures. under the law. could
be barred by It only II each picture
from It's own character was offensive.
A similar position was taken yesterday
by william J. Brennan, Director OF Puo-
lie Safety for Newark. lie said thai
whether or not pictures OF Arbuckle
would be shown In that city would rest
with the Theatrical Managers Assocla-
tion. a local organization
Can Bar only obscene Films.
Director Brennan pointed out that al
though his department Is authorized 70
exercise a semi-onicial censorship OF
films, he could not stop the showing 81
an Arbuckle picture here unless the pic
,ure Itself was obscene. lie would have
no power to act on any other basis. al
though his department could apply TO the
Chancery Court here for an Injunction
to prevent showing OF the picture.
No official action has been taken by
the New York City Federation Of
women's Clubs. but one Of the officers
said last night that the question had
been discussed informally among the
members and the consensus OF opinion
was opposed 20 Arbuckle's return