The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-01-12
ELEVATING MORAL.
IN PICTURES NOW
Ralph Talbot Discusses
Motion Picture Indus
try at Rotary Meet
CHANGE FOR BETTER
Een in Wild West Stuff
villain Is Penalized for
Criminality

rNo one can accurately predict the
ou,rope OF Fatty Arbuckle's trial
snd no one can tell what may hap
nen I, nc should he acquitted. but
ineak'rg for myself | can state
dofritoy that no Fatty Arbuckle
,irture will ever be shown I'm the
Majestic theater." Ralph Talbot,
nroprlctor Of the Majestic, told the
po,ary club at Hotel Tulsa Wedncs-
5av noon. Talbot's talk related to
tbe motion picture industry.
All picture shows cannot be
,rdgod by the pictures shown In one
~ them. nor can all pictures be
,udged by one specific picture that
IN not meet the critics ideas OF
what a good picture should be. The
films obtained by theaters depend
on the Kind OF pictures the patrons
want. But at the same time most
theaters are trying to show the best
pictures obtainablo. hoping the pub
lic will cultivate taste for them.
Some Best Sellers.
THAT they are succeeding II
shown by the titles OF the best SELL
ers In motion pictures during the
past year. Among these were "Hu.
moresluc," THE Four Horsemen of
me Apocalypse 1 nc Nilu NEST ana
others Of like character. There can
he no consistent objection to any OF
these pictures, to all of which there
is an elcvating moral. II might also
ho said In passing that pictures
shown by so-called second rate the
aters are not all bad There may be
some wild west stuff in them. but
Il at the end of the picture virtue
trlumphs over wrong and the viii
lain is penalized for his criminal
iGi5:9s.''' iitsSIc. the moral is not ''''',
Motion picture producers and
conscientious theater managers are
constantly trying to improve the
quality os pictures. Producers and
theaters did not wait for an official
ban TO be placed on Arbuckle's pic
lures after his arrest. They clamped
down with their own censorship.
Producers Immediately changed
their contracts with stars, stipulat-
Ing that they must lead moral lives.
And stars were brought to their
senses. They had basked in the
sunshine Of public admiration until
they discovered the public is as
ready to condemn as It Is to admire
II there Is provocation.
IiamOn Film Barred.
When the Clara Smith Hamon
picture was ready for release. the
exhibitors of Oklahoma asked the
attorney to rule against II
Ire atiorney-general replied thai,
there is no law under which he
could make such n ruling. Then
ihe exhibitors called on the MAYORS
thei- respective cities and towns
ana asked them to forbid It's appear
ance. The result has been that these
p'c'ifes were shown In n very few
Talbot voiced his objection to the
present form of censorship, eX-
pls'hihg that u results in partiality
oelng SHOWN TO some films and that
uoes not result in censoring con-
ASently The Kansas state board of
,yhsorship passed Midsummer
Madness without change. he ad-
Nsedi Dut when this same picture
zane to the Majestic here more than
\ .ntee hundred feet OF film was cut
out 10 eliminate an Objectionable
scthe' only out of As states
MAINTAIN censorship boards. The
oIner states allow theater patrons
" select their own pictures.
Inc management OF the flust class
Ieater today tries to make his
pace one to which the entire family
may go without fear of seeing pic.
ures mat should not be viewed by
Ielr children, Talbot explained.
nowever, he added, it would not he
mactical or possible to make all
PICTURES especially for children, for
mey would not then be interestihe
~ ADULTS A parent may read an
gUlectlonable book and keep Il
Flom ms children, but when the fam.
II ~ attends the theater every mem
ver sees every scene shown-that Is
WY the conscientious and sincere
neater manager must guard against
ne showing OF any scenes that might
- morally injurious to the young
See Before Condcmnlng.
d, most Of the objection to motion
rtauIe theaters comes from those
,ho nave perhaps not attended one
". number of years and who dc
"o. realize the rapid advancement
nu cleaner pictures produced by the
"Vuoh picture industry.
90 not mean to say the motion
hure h". industry is above criticism
Sut l do believe Improvement will
S's s more rapid by constructive crlti.
H'nl instead of destructive criticism
some particular theater shows a
\ Hahu OF pictures to which YOU OBJ.
4 ~. 40 not condemn all theater.
uat account. Go to the mana.
s,s OF The theater you do not like
NJ ta!k II over with him. Tel
T," why you don't like his pictures
,o.int % most Instances he will be glad tc
an ',ive I've your suggestions and will ACT
c,h win the aid Of motion picture
tos t"yra y and n section of n projec.
4 N iaIhot explained the principles
9Eing and screening pictures.
4 n, n,n ~ Porter read an interestina
sraa spr ON the manufacture of ic,
,,sp lts use has not become gen,
uhtiI the last few years, he said
,.,. entertaining musical selection,
We'd furnished at the luncheon
o,cSSdnesday by the Majestic theatel
Htrr,ssiSir directed by Thomas l.