The New York herald., 1922-02-13
Says. People Are at Fault if
They PatronMe a Sala-
ciOus Show.
DEFENDS MARY PICKFORD
Broke 10 Times in 20 Years,
:" Says Manager; Always
Broke, Retorts Pastor.

William A. Brady. theatrical man
agcr and producer, took the pulpit in
Calvary Baptist Church yesterday
afternoon, and while his audience
hissed and jeered and booed and be-
came. so tumuItuous that several po-
licemen looked in to see il a riot had
Begun, he made an impassioned de-
Tense OF the moral standards Of the
theatrical and motion picture profess
sions after conditions in both had been
assailed bitterly by DR.. John Roach
Straton. pastor of, the church.
The debate between Mr.. Brady and
DR.. Straton had been widely heralded
and the church was crowded VIXEN the
session started. Most Of the crowd.
however, seemed to be members Of the
church, and most heartily in support
of whatever assertion DR.. Straton
made.
The scenes that ensued when Mr..
Brady tried to refute tie arguments
Of the minister have not been dupli-
Gated in New York church for many
years. The audience howled, jeered
and laughed, and several cliques tried
industriously but unsuccessfully to
hoot the theatrical man down. But
Mr.. Brady would not be stilled, and
he spent all Of the time allotted to him
in telling tkc audience. massed three
deep at the back and sides OF the
church and in the gallery, that there
was nothing wrong with the morals
OF American actors and actresses.
Brady Finally Hobs UP.
1t appeared for a time as though the
widely advertised debate between the
two men would have to be called Off,
and DR.. Straton. in fact, had delivered
almost quarters of his lengthy
indictmept Of theatrical morals wien
Mr.. Brady rose from his seat in the
oenter of the church and asked to be
allowed to refute. some OF the state
nents from the pulpit. Previously he
had refused to debate with DR.. straton
owing to a controversy over conditions
of the debate and because he did not
think church the proper place to
discuss Theatrical! morals.
Mr.. Brady arrived at the pulpit
flushed and angry. He paced UP and
down, darting angry glances at DR..
.Straton and william II. Anderson of the
Anti-Saloon League. who. sat side by
side on the platform, of the pulpit smil-
ing placidly while the producer launched
into vigorous rebuttal. ss@
lie said, in part. in his answer:
II have listened to DR.. Straton for an
hour and half and haven't heard him
produce single fact. Why doesn't he
pick out conditions in society or the
department store, or any other place
where men and women are thrown
ress that exists therey shall take
pleasure in picking out some of the
horrible crimes perpetrated by ministers
of the Gospel and make them public
at the next debate.
81 will show that more murders have
heen committed by members OF the
church than by the acting profession
and that there are more church people
In States prison than there are stage
people. and will back these statements
with facts and figures when meet
Dr. Straton again on the platform
Mr.. Brady spoke extemporaneousiy
and Il was evident that It was only his
impulsivcness that led him to challenge
Dr.. Straton and assume the, speakers
place at the pulpit. He said he just
couldn't SIT In the church and hear the
stage people reviled and keep silent
although he had intended to keep silent
and marshal facts and data for another
debate ON neutral ground. challenge
which DR.. Straton had already accepted
Ovation for Theatrical Man.
Mr.. Brady got spontaneous ovation
when he reached the pulpit, from FRIEND
and foe alike In the audience. and ever
DR.. Straton paid him the compliment al
the close by declaring that 'he was 9
scod fellow" and had made "splendIc
showing from his Viewpoint" The onls
statement by Mr.. Brady that brought
down almost unanimous disapprobatior
in an avalanche OF boos and hisses
when he spoke Of poor little Mary
Pickford" as hn-ing been "slandered'
~ Cf. Straton. who mentioned hel
among those OF the profession who hac
obtained divorces that might be ques-
toned
when Dr. Straton ISLANDERS poor littlt
Miss Pickford." he said, ''he should
acquaint himself with the motive be
hisid the action OF the Nevada author.
itics."
Mr.. Brady said he spoke with knowl
edge and authority when he made tht
statement that there were ten goot
plays to one bad ono in New York. ant
II salaclousness were permitted II wal
the public's fault for patronizing tha
class of production.
Give che stage square DEAL" sal,
------------------- ' ~
Continued on Pare Four.