American Cinematographer - June 24, 1921 - 1

LOYALTY-'-PROGRESS-.- ART-'-tn~~~~~~ii~

THE- MEN WHO MAKE MOTION PICTURES

Copyrighted, 1921, by the AMERICAN SOCIETY
VOL. 2.

NO. 13

LOS ANGELES,

C .;\/b;Mr\

,UGKAPHERS.

CALIFORNIA, JUNE 24, 1921

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. TEN CENTS A COpy

Too Much Johnston!
The Passing of a Genius

Educational Pictures

The motion picture industry
and all picture
enthusiasts
mourn the loss of George Loane
Tucker, particularly known as
the producer of "The Miracle
Man." This picture was photographed by Philip E. Rosen,
who gave a brief account of his
association with Mr. Tucker.
He said:
"It was ten .weeks of very
pleasant relations.
The outstanding
feature which endeared the staff to Mr. Tucker
was his enduring patience. As
a director he was artistic in
every sense of the word, He
paid great attention to detail.
As an example of his painstaking methods, he spent two
months on the continuity of this
picture and three months on the
cutting."

By H. Lyman Broening
From the mind of man there
has been no greater invention
than the motion picture. As a
medium of entertainment it has

------

Right and Religion
"It is better to be right than
religious. I prefer to dwell with
the wordling and be true to my
inner self than to live with the
saint and betray it."
So declares the Rev. D. He
Jones in commenting upon his
withdrawal as pastor of the
Huntington
Park
Baptist
Church during the present J3lue
Sunday law fight which is being
waged in the town. For be it
known that Mr. Jones has come
out frankly and openly in behalf
of good, clean motion pictures.
He believes that such pictures
should be shown any time and
anywhere and it is this belief
that causes his congregation to
take offense.
In taking the stand he does,
this
minister
is sacrificing
.much. He has lost many friendships and perhaps some would
say, failed professionally. That
may be so but when Mr. Jones
puts character before profession, manhood before hypocrisy,

who can say he is a loser? He
sums up the entire blue law
situation when he says:
"It is a wonder to me how
many bad things good people
see in the movies; fortunately,
if you are so disposed, you need
never be disappointed. To condemn movies because
some
things are objectionable is like
refusing to eat fish because it
contains bones."
Despite the evidence to the
contrary,

it is possible to be re-

ligious and still remain right
even though some provincial
congregations can't see it that
.way and there are many of us
who would like to be in a congregation over which presided the
Rev. D. H. Jones.

advanced

to a position of unlim-

ited value. As an instrument of
real educational value its possibilities are yet to be more
fully realized.
The recent incorporation in
New York of the "National NonTheatrical Motion Picture Company" is a move worthy of note
-to those for whom it has been
created - it is worthy of support. The purpose of this company is to organize a system of
exchanges catering to the needs
of societies, schools, churches,
colleges, etc. This mayor may
not be the first time such a
scheme has been attemptedbut it is certainly time it were
made a solid institution.
In the mad rush of the meteoric advance of the photoplay,
millions of dollars have been
spent in placing the motion picture upon a theatrical basis.
The recent slackening up of this
class of production may give a
few serious minds an opportunity of devoting a bit of attention to the furtherance of the
educational film.
The theatrical and non-theatrical picture is as different as
day is to night, and to mix them,
as is being done, with the present order of things, can hardly
be called a successful effort.
The mind of the grown-up does
not care to be burdened with
"dramatic-educationals."
Educational pictures will have
their greatest value upon the
minds of the young in the institutions established for that purpose, such as colleges and
schools. It has been demonstrated that the child's mind is
quick to remember by sight.
Much

pondering

can

be done

away with by a mere animated
illustration which would otherwise require lengthy description. To the average child a
school book is the most uninteresting thing imaginable, but
like bitter medicine-it must be
endured. The motion picture,
however, may help to "sugarcoat" the same medicine.
Let us suppose, for instance,
that the government would produce an historical picture of the
History of the United States.
Can you imagine the value of
such a picture, if carefully produced, upon the mind of every
child for generations to come?
Propaganda should commence
at home and it's never too soon
to begin. The cost of such it

The Black?
Card Controversy

"We do not want a protective tariff on foreign pictures."
So writes Mr. William A,
By Charles H. Thimme
J ohnston, editor of Motion PicIt has come to the attention ture News.
WE? Now just whom does
of the undersigned, in numerous
instances, that there has been, the writer mean by we? Preand still is, a decided difference sumably he means Mr. Johnof opinion prevalent among ston, the Motion Picture News,
many connected in one capacity and such other interests as he
or another with the title indus- may represent.
try, as to the value or advisabilNOT the great mass of fair
ity ofa
highly glossed black thinking public spirited Amercard for lettered
ti ties, as ican citizens.
against the ordinary dull black
NOT the vast membership of
in common use. It is my pur- the American Legion.
NOT the majority of Amerpose in this article to describe
as clearly as possible, in plain ican producers, directors and
terms, the actual advantages affiliated workers, and
NOT US.
and use of this particular method, as against that most faWe, the American Society of
miliar in general USe.
Cinematographers, consisting of
It is no easy task to combat a majority of representative
(Contiued on Page Three)
American cameramen, as well
as the others we have menpicture. would naturally be high, tioned, DO want a protective
but the burden could be divided tariff.
among the states, each contribAs an excuse for his stateuting according to its size or ment
against
protection of
population. The life of a picture American industry, Mr. J ohnof this sort would be indefinite ston resorts to criticism of the
and could be preserved for a Actors' Equity Association.
permanent reference.
We know little about that orScientific pictures offer an un- ganization but we do know the
limited field to draw upon, es- aims and ideals of our own. We
pecially with the methods of are not attempting organization
"stop-motion" iluustrations so or a dues paying campaign, nor
well
developed.
Geography are we a band of agitators inwould be a day's outing with dulging in so-called bunk.
the aid of the cinema camera
So much for that.
and scenes and customs of the
Like ancient Gaul, the motion
"four corners" of the universe picture industry seems to be
are easily accessible with travel divided into two parts.
The
films. Then there are Biblical part which Mr. Johnston repreand industrial pictures which sents and which cannot be taken
occupy important places upon seriously by the thinking Amerthe curriculum. Of course, pic- ican public, is quoted above.
tures cannot be applied to all The other part consists of the
studies, but it helps the monot- American producer, the Amerony of book-learning.
ican director, the American
To make the motion picture actor and the thousands of
truly successful as an educator, other allied American workers
a national move must be made----- in the motion picture industry
the
instructors
themselves which can and will be considwould have to study the value of ered by that self-same public.
pictures and just how to apply
Mr. Johnston says that a
them to advantage. The few tariff will be a monopoly for the
schools and colleges equipped American producer, but he does
for the purpose are insufficient not give any .of the following
to make it worth while-a more facts and figures:
concerted and unanimous effort
"Passion," the first foreign,
must be instituted.
made picture shown in this
The problem is a big one and country since the war, cost
require- big men to handle it,
about $20,000. In two weeks at
but success cannot be attained the Capitol Theatre in New
if commercialism and graft are York City it earned in excess of
tolerated
A greater use of the $100,000. This represents the
cinema for education and there earning power in but one thewill be less condemnation of pic- atre in but one city.
tures as an "inspiration
of
Will American
producers
crirno and evil."
spend half a million dollars to
Children want to see "movies," make a feature here when it
so we hope the school systems can be purchased for $20,000
of America will give them the from the Germans?
kind that will do them the most
In a very short time the picgood - Educational Motion Pic- ture market of this country will
tures!
(Continued
on Pag-e 'I'wo)

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