Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-30
Ex-Warden Says !.
Movies Do Not Tend
To Increase Crime

New York, Dec. 29.-(AP)-Motion
pictures of the higher type, furnish
a healthy outlet for the natural crav-
ing for the excitement and adventure
that might otherwise be used HARM
fully, in the opinion of DIR. George w.
Kirchwey, former warden of Sing
Sing prison, now head of the depart
ment of criminology of the New York
School of Social Work, as expressed
to The Associated Press today.
For the last ten years DR.. Kirchwey
has been devoting his time to the
study of crime and his conclusion is
that the motion picture is upon the
whole exerting beneficial influence
upon the community at large. He does
not agree with those who believe that
motion pictures have an influence to
increase crime.
I'm my ten years experience In
dealing with the, criminal" he said
Il have never heard of an authentic
case of any person who committed a
crime because of the influence Of a
motion picture.
"The sensational character of many
crimes during the last few years
which some people attribute to the
suggestion of the movie is due not to
w
new device for furnishing enter
tainment and instruction to the peo-
pie who make up our American COM
munity but>to the automobile, which
) has furnished a new means of max
ing quick getaway to the bandit.
This has impaired spectacular
quality to crimes of this character.
"a new invention which transforms
the ways of living of multitudes of
our people must be judged by it's
total results. Just as the good effects
of the automobile vastly outweigh it's
potentialities for evil so, believe, do
the constructive and educational in
fiuences of the motion Picture over
balance any bad influence it might
have.
at seems to me absurd to say that
movie eXerts demoralizing effect on
the minds or characters of those who
patroniZe that form of entertainment
There may be in the multitude of
movie patrons few who overdo it
or who are SO unstable that they get
harm from excessive indulgence. to.
whom 1t becomes a form of dissiva-
ton. But l don't see any way in
which the world can be made safe
for morons. For the vast majority
believe that the mind is broadened
and stimulated by motion pictures as
they are today. Motion picture en-
tertainment is used regularly in many
prisons, hospitals, institutions for the
feeble minded and orphan asylums
for just the same purpose that 1t
serves for the general public-to
furnish an outlet for the craving for
adventure and for allowing the mind
to relax. believe it to be great
boon to all such institutions and
real means of reducing infractions of
the rules. Hospitals find that the
motion pictures, like music. have
tonic effect upon the inmates, stimu-
lating them. preventing them from
brooding and putting them in men,
tai condition that is helpful in re-
storing health.
Americans are the most progress
sive of people, the hardest working,
the hardest playing, the most inyen-
tive, the broadcast in vision and the
quickest to adopt to their own uses
any new idea. They go in for amuse-
ment with the same exuberant en-
ergy with which they throw them
selves into business-to live a full
life, to satisfy the craving for action.
for adventure, for relaxation, even
for instruction. If they flock to the
movie it is because they find in it an
outlet for these perfectly natural and
wholesome impulses. The roots of
our excessive criminality must be
locked for elsewhere"