EVEJCISfCP IiiiBaEB-.P3;iJDAI)Sl.3PSaA, BATTmDAT, MAY flr IfrClT. r M c inn wwmm -i.j.. . . 1 1tll I. Isx m r. AKtlSEMtiNT SECTION l Aetdmt nil commtnicatittna Independence Square, Philadelphia. THE AVERAGE NET PAID DAILY CIRCULATION OF THE EVENING LEDGER FOIt APRIL WAS 117,310 PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1916 - ,,.,,, . i if " The Censorship Quarrel Again THE enterprise of .L Howird Rebcr, the courtesy of Manager Strakosch and the enthusiasm of Messrs. Brent, Ijwln and Woodruff and tho Rovb. WheoW and Lallou produced a variegated afternoon of pro- and anti-censorship discussion for the members of the Drama Leaguo who assembled in tho Walnut Street Theatre Wednesday. But did it nil produce enlightenment? At the most it established only tvo facts tho low and violent nature of most of the, film stories today and tho general Incapacity of the State Board of Censors to deal with them. The Question of Violence Yes, the movie are violent, very violent. So' ia literature. So is tho drama. So is tho press. Possibly a larger proportion of crime and "sex" is exhibited on the screen than has been or ia being utilized in various forms of cheap Action, .cheap plays and cheap newspapers. But it is an open ques tion and it doesn't justify tho pruning knife. It may also be true that the films make a much sharper and more vivid appeal than any other form of expression; but that sharpness and that vivld iess battle as hard for the gentle, heroic and unquestionable elements- In the films. And it is almost invariably these brighter aspects on which tho movies close and upon which their whole final emphasis is flung. For the' "Crown of Asses' Ears" As for the faults of Pennsylvania's own Board of Censora and Stato boards in general, the meeting backed up tho whole case against a system of 48 separate political censorships. It showed the impossibility of finding , in nil tho many States any such body of intelligent, skilled and disinterested workers as now constitute tho National Board of Review and as might bo drafted on a Federal Board. It showed that these Stato boards are not leprcaentative qf tho art they control or sympathetic with its aims as a popu lar entertainment. It showed that from their very nature as units antagonistic, to each other as well as to tho moving picturo they cannot bo constructive. It supplied tho material for the conclusion which it unfortunately failed to make that the boards' mad desire to prove their usefulness by cutting right and left, instend of making tho few eliminations that might bo desirable in tho genuine interests of morality, leads into Inconsistencies that hold them up to public ridicule and stultify their work. It might have demonstrated ifurthcr that many of the silly alterations :modo in movie captions lead to a positively prurient result The substi tution, for instance, of the relation o' sreret marriage for a less legitimate one, without changing tho . actions of the characters, leaves the audiences suru thnt something was wrong nnd wracking their brains to Imagino a thing bad enough to suit the censor. The Children'the Crux of It .One other thing the discussion hinted at. It is tho child angle. Obviously the average film for a grown-up, just as the average book for a grown-up, i3 W suitable for a child. Tho child should not bo admitted to moving picture houses except when his parent takes him there. Ho should have his own movies, as ho has his own books. On these lines construction will pay better than censorship. Mad Mischief But there were graver matters and moro trenchant arguments that the meeting never touched. It hardly scrntchod the real philosophic and social evil of "pre-publicity" censorship. Not only is it undemocratic; not only is it at variance with our well-proved "policy in the regulation of books, pictures and plays; not only docs It threaten a political control of one form and a powerful form of human speech, "itjdoes something far worse. On the purely moral side it alma to fosslllro ethical judgment. It makes the lawa of tho past the 'only laws. It makes no nllowanco for a growth in man's ideas upon right and wrong. Obviously a question of the morality of a film should be judged by the public's reaction tot ita exhibition, not by somebody else's guess based on thocvidcnco of a year, a decade, a month or a day ago. According to tho "pros" and tho "antis" alike, the film's influence on morality is immensely powerful. If thnt is true, then to bind it with bonds that have never shackled the book is desperately mischievous folly. 'Man Is a Decent Animal Of cpurse, the whole thing comes down to a fundamental belief or a fundamental' disbelief in the decency of mankind. Those who want censors feel nnd say that manitfnd flocks to the indecent, and is corrupted. GthGrr. o us feel and say that man may flock when some one such as a, censor calls his attention to it; but that he is then cither grievously disappointed or paihly disgusted. The censorious believe that mankind has reached its present level of morality by some power not within it and not powerful enough ,to eternally guard it The r jst know that mankind's progress is a sufficient diploma of decency in this 20th century. K. M. THE MASSES DETERMINE OUR DRAMATIC GROWTH Continued from ru;e One Ing money to becomo patrons of the drama. Slow at drat, then mora rapidly, and Anally In a (food, the newly sprung play-goers announced their advent The atres upon theatres were built not In New York only, but all over the country and etlll they seemed few. The celebrated theatrical "trust,!' which had hitherto pretty much controlled things, could no longer keep Its dams In order. And still the tide of the new audience continued to-rise.- Flays had to bo found to feed them and players were found; but from tho quality of the dra matic fare they obviously relished and demanded we gauged the quality of t'.'.n new patrons. And we found, to or regret and yours, that It was not the Intellectual public that had quintupled r. was the less intelligent They were Innj pent of dramatic standards and of cul ture. To them a play wast Just a1 'ihow," They cared nothing for such things as character ' delineation or psychological analysis, or subtleties of dialogue In abort, for the things that roaka drama literature. They wanted a good "show" and their definition meant merely a sim ' THE PLEDGE OF nraiwiii Tuimiimiiim " s.,.i aHHaHaHtaWWIIff 4 f 1 jppajpPBMBfcair -SilMHHHkJNilljBHHiik aw,!- "Jgni t i in. iii r ... -ygFTS 11.1m f A ap tteija ' m. hifw T.iy r1. a uio-unt film AfbjitfEi" atjftwtimr to Drdmatie Editor Evening iLedger, ple, rapid, exciting story, told in terms of action. Now, alas I If you want an Intellectually aristocratic drama you must have an In tellectually aristocratic audience. The thing la as Burs as sunrise. Russia has the most advanced stage today; and In proportion to Ita population Russia has the fewest theatres and audiences almost exclusively drawn from the upper classes. Do you suppose that the man who drives you In a drpsky to the Art Theatre In Moscow ever dreams of going Inside? He'd as soon expect an Invitation to the Czar's garden party. Yet not a month ago I drove to a New York theatre In a taxi, and as I paid my fare the driver asked: "Boss, what time does this show beginr "Hat? past eight" "Just got time to make hi garago and get the wife," said he. 'I'm going, too." Well, there you bret Tha taxldrlver and Mrs. taxldriver or, to be more accurate, the class just above hl'n :n the social scale outnumber any otl.ur tn the average modern a tlence four i;r live to one. This Is wh4 wa have grown to call the General Public the pubile that pays the piper and there fore c.Ua the tune. And so most of us behind the curtain began vigorously to pipe ragtime. Sometimes when we got very rich or very courageous we'd take a little flier In Beethoven and Debussy and then come back and pipe ragtime more vigorously tnan ever to pay our bills. MARIA ROSA i :rr ji j i.,, -, immm ,wi' .jv cv wmmmr )) ) - mm mm mmtSS lw Mi J til mi Theatrical Baedeker Polish Novelty at Garrick Gives Interesting Turn to End of the Season New Feature Filnjs, Announced i NEW PLAYS OA.1UIWK "Through tho Ages," with Madame Voraka and Robert T. Haines. A drama by Dr. Jerzy Zulawskl, depicting- tho struggle of the body ngalnst tho soul: Tho six acts show six eras In tho world's history. Btogcd by Richard Ordynakl. BROAD "Tho Devil's Invention," with William B. Mack, Oustav von Seyffcrtltz and Eileen Van Blenc. A drama by Hiram IC Modcrwell and Carl Froybe, tell Insr.of a conflict bctweon two doctors, orio the old school physician, tho other a young man Just rising to prominence Tho triangle situation with 'a medical twist. x CONTINUING PLAYS ADELPHI "A Talr of Silk Stockings." with Sam Sothorn and Eva LiC-ward- Boyne. An English farce-comedy i of good lines and lots of English slang. LYRIC "Alono at Last." with Roy At well, Harry Conor, Lctty Yorke nnd John Charles Thomas. An operetta with tho book adapted by Smith and Herbert; mu sic by Franz Lehar. An ambitious Vien nese Importation of the "Merry Widow" school. WALNUT "Twin Beds," return en gagement of the popular farco by Sails bury Field and Margaret Mayo. First popular price engagement. PHOTOPLAYS STANLEY All week, "Maria Rosa," with Geraldlno Farrar. A film version of the play by Guldo Marbury, with Farrar as a Spanish pennant. ARCADIA Monday, Tuesday nnd Wed nesday, "The No-Good Guy," with' Wlll lan Collier. Thursday, Friday nnd Satur day, "Sold for Marriage," with Lillian Glsh. PALACE Monday, Tuesday nnd Wed nesday, "Her Maternal Right," with Kitty Gordon. Thursday, Friday nnd Saturday, "Molly Make-Believe," with Marguerite Clark. VICTORIA Monday and Tuesday. "At Midnight," with Norma Talmadge. Wed nesday and Thursday, "The Good-Bad Man," with Douglas Fairbanks. Friday and Saturday, "Snowbird," with Mabel Taliaferro. BELMONT Monday and Tuesday, n rniLADKr.rjii.VH fokkjiost i-aiik Open for the Season With Many New Features INSTANTANEOUS MUSICAL SUCCESS KRYL AND HIS BAND Msdame Jlcltne Cafralll, Hoprano Wonderful Organization of Sluilelani Famous Kololsta Hplendld I'rosramt CONCEBT8 AmaiNOOJ ft KVKN1NO FBKE TO rARK TROLLEY PATHON8 Fireworks Every Friday Night POINT BREEZE PARK Opens for the Season NEXT SAT., MAY 13 New Features Fireworks Evg. MARKET ABOVB 18TH 11 iisu. m. to jl ;15 p. m. Dustin Farnum Stanley In "DAVID QARRICK" ADDKD ATTRACTION Vlw InUrcollfUU Atbltlto Carnival. Franklin Field. April SO. ALL NEXT WKEIC OEHALD1NK FAKKAH AND WALLACE REJD la "MARIA ROSA" lOo 1J! MARKET 20o 10 A. M. to iilU P. M, Palace LAST DAY MARY PICKFORD IN AN APPEALING. DRAMA "THE ETERNAL, GRIND" Globe x fieatre juniper bts. VJ. UDEVILLHConUnuout 1 1 a w A t r -v ir o,. A ta VW A - JM W( W( - oHPo.. Lonesome Lassies Martini & Fabrini DXNC,vpw OTMEA MERITORIOUS ACTS LOCUST BSD od LOCUST STB. CASB OP irAHY PAflK i (6th ZttUodal Maw. Ptror in'-FLXJUi(i WIXH yiBE" DPI U AMf BSD ABOVK MARKET In fTM nf.AIft. la "SEN BUIft" SWBktXJNO Hf 3 TSl ADAMf gAWJT AY miMMtm PQb PUTTING HIM OUT OP BUSINESS "For tho Defense," -with Fannin Ward. Wednesday nnd Thursday, "Girl of tho Golden West." with Mabol Van Burcn, House Potors nnd Theodore Roberts. Fri day nnd Saturday, "The Code of Marcla arcy," with Constance 'Collier. LOCUST Monday nnd Tuesday, "Sal vation Jonn," with Edna May. Wednes day nnd Thursday, "The Feast of Life," with Clam Kimball Young, Friday and Saturday, "Snowbird," with Mabel Talia ferro. YAVDF.VILLE KEITH'S Adelaldo nnd Hughes, Anna Whcaton and Harry Carroll. Allan Dlne hart and company, Nonctte, Dorothy THE PHILADELPHIA Today and Tomorrow CIVIC J EXPOSITION OPENS MONDAY, MAY 15 Auditorium Building Commercial Museum 34th Street Below Spruce ADMISSION 25 CENTS Headquarters 734 Widener Building Metropolitan Opera House Monday Evening, May 15 Italian Red Cross Concert Pasquale Amato Baritone, Metropolitan Opera Company LUCA BOTTA, .Tenor, Metropolitan Opera Co. ' OINA CIAPAnELI.I-VIA.POnA Boprano, formerly of Metropolitan Opera Co. AUHCLIO aiORNI, rianlit. MAHTINI SYMPHONy OnCHESTnA Kttora Martini, Conductor 75 Muslclaiu By peroiU"'- of Local 77, A. r. of M. SeaU or.,aIo, II 09 Chestnut t V.'.eea f3 to 50 cts. Metropolitan Opera House S NUhU. Mar II Bui It, Ulrht a'Clwk BKOUAU) Do KOVKN'S Robin Hood Conducted by the Composer SUr.Ciul. Olwru. 150. 1MU. Onimttn. TKket for att. 4oo to SZ.M Mirat 11P9 Cietnut Street, ' mw " LAST 2 TIMES TODAY 10th and Hunting Park Ave. Ifi&ig n Hegel and company, Primrose Four, Six Tumbling Demons, Klrby and Ilohm, Kmeriton nnd Baldwin, Sllg Tribune pic tures. GLOBE "On Top of tho World," E. W. Wolf, Eddlo Clark and his two Botes ; Kelly and Snnvnmo. Alf Itlpon, tho Fred- i cricks Trio, Carlisle Circus, O, C. Davis, Hhetdon Sisters, Helen Jncktey. GRAND The Musical Germans, Lew Hawkins, Georgia Knrln nnd Company, Trout, Mermaid and Bubbles, the Lander Brothers, Raymond Wllbert CROSS KEYS First half of tho week Charles Ahearn, In "Cycleland" ; Brown ing nnd Morris, "The Evil Hour"; Del moro and Moore, Edith Ward, tho Sldon las. Second half of the week Wllmer Walter In "Tho Lata Van Camp" ; tho five B. F. Keith's Theatre CHESTNUT AND TWELFTH STS. ... - 3 NHCMVa DAILY 2 MAT.. 3 r. f. MOI1T3. B r. M. NKXT WKEH Anitrlra'n RrpAntn(lv Danrrr Adelaide & Hughes AmIiIdI br Edward Ilal Preamtlnar Tholr Own Evolutions Vltttt from nroadwar Triumphs Annfl-Whea(on & Carroll ,,ny . Sluilral Comtilr Farorllen In Original I'lano and Bona Belrctlo'ns ALLAN DINEHART & CO. In "The Meantut Mnn In tho World" DOROTHY REGEL & CO. Prutntlnr "Tho Olrl nt tho Clfar Stand" NONETTE Tho VIollnlMo Who 8lnn ritiMitOHn roim hiriiv s home nix Tll.MIII.INU DK.MONH RMKK8UN Si 1IAI.I1UIX HdlK Trllmno IMtturto May 15 EVELYN NESDIT & JACK CLIFFORD GARRICK Last Mat. & Evg. TUB TJNNIEST PIA.Y IN THE WOnLD IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE in.3nnyst May 9 Seats Now ERNEST BIIUTEIt announces for tho Loyalty Productions Co., Inc. The Hupremo Hnatlon of Europe THROUGH THE AGES BY JEIlZV ZULAWSKI Willi Mine. Yorska Robt. T. Ilaiaes and a powerful nupportlnr company of 00 A MOST DARINO flTAOB EKFOUT SYM. DOUZINQ TUB BTIlUaOLB OP TIIB , SOUI, AGAINST TUB BODY PRICES: Nlhts and Sat. Mat, SOc to J1.50 Boat Bat 1 at popular Wed. Matinee BROAD Last Mat. & Evg. MR. CYRIL MAUDE in GRUMPY MS? Mori. Evg. w'Hau The 20th Century Way Produclnr Co, Prwnta a now and powerful American drama THE DEVIL'S INVENTION By Cart E. Freyb and Itiram Uorierwell Caat Includu William B. Mack, Ktchle Una, Ellaen van niene, Katharine Emmet. Joetph Ilrennan, Violet de Blcerrl and Qiutav von Seyllcrtltx. Beet State 11.80 at Popular Wed. Matinee FORREST Lat Mat. & Evg. THE OIOANTIC WAn MELODRAMA UNDER FIRE JPr FORREST Next Mon. Evg. DAILY MATlTMEItEAIjrEn AT ,I5 NEW EDITION DE LUXE REX BEACH'S THE SPOILERS THREU ACTS TWELVE REELS BIOOEB AHrEBKrTEaoTUAN EVEn WILLIAM FARNUM AND ' KATHLYIS WILLIAMS PRICES Dly Uatlaeea. 15c and 33a WftU. J 8c, 290, BOO UHOAIt ANII HDNfllAUVUV t. a. Mion-Nlrdliajer. . ..... dio, Mir, Dally Mate.. 10. va., 7 3. 15a loe Musical Gormans 0 8liiU Jurenile Hutklaa I'rwt, leraaii A Man. a' Woman, oTwater. tS BW ACTS AND PICTURES PiiUdlphi TditkU at 8:15 vtrqmmmn. - r t r wt-KZXv J( h.M m ,.... tm. tavI nViH Rtnfford. Lllo and Dupont, Ann, the Prenllso Ti STOCK KNlCKBnBOCKBIl "On Trial." Til t--i ..1. K .1.a AMttn nr fnA KniCKfir hnrkni- tilavirq' shows them In Itclzen stein's melodrama. BVULESOiJB DUMONT'S Dumont's Minstrels, In satlro and on matters of turrtnt Interest, OOUINO tA'ntC 'Town Topics," with Bert Lcs- llo nnd Sophie Tucner. KKITH'S, May IB Evelyn Nesolt nnd Jack Clifford, "Petticoats") Albert Whelan, Howard, Klfiel and Herbert, Harry and Kmma Sharrock, At Herman, the International Olrl, Ilheft Hess and Het tie Hyde, Musical Johnsons, Scllir Trlbuno Pictorial News. SHALL THE BANDBOX VARY ITS OFFERINGS? (Smtlnaed from Tate One which has remained n classic through nil the years, as done at the Bandbox Is so cut and mutilated to reduce tho playing time, and, furthermore, tliff atAglns Is so mannered ond freakish, that tho real val ues of the piece Are quite lost, and It Isn't worth while lp spend any time discussing It. Not only Ib this production n traversty on tho original, but It Isn't oven nmilslng on Its own account. It was fAr better acted nnd staged at the Drama I.enjrue Convention In Philadelphia two years ago. ltowever, the thrco original pieces are worth while and well donoi on tna wnoie, wo think, better acted than any yet Been nt tho Dnndbox. In curtain Instances, others have been well noted, but on no bill have three plays, one after the other, all been presented with so little hint of tho amateur, so professional nn ease nnd as surance. It Is worth noting, too, that tho Wash ington Squaro Ptayera are drawing re cruits from other parts of the country. In tho first play tho negro mother Is played by Miss Mary Morris, of Boston, while the small girl friend of tho suffering child In 'Tho Age of Ileason" Is played by Miss Elinor M. Cox, of Indianapolis, who was doubtless discovered there by Samuel Eliot, Jr., when he was director of the In dianapolis Little .Theatre. Doth players JUitlfy their Inclusion In the ranks of tha Bandbox Company, WALNUT "tsr" TTXXJU1HJ iL NoHiRhcr Pop. Mats. Tuca. & Thur 25cT5bc Rc:olar Matinee Saturday Monday Night Bcjrins the 2d BIG WEEK of Selwyn & Co. 'a Laugh Festival Hr Salisbury Field AND Margaret Mayo It's a Long Lingering Laugh BANG! , T,IK J-t ui SSKaVMlilit H BilVfl Bf 1 NliiiiiiiklHllkiaiiH I m fvftT;Wttr.1DAY fe --XMAOriLhHMlaV,aii WSmPHILADELPWA HAS EVER SEMN jmN&i&fW8 When That ClUntMs or aaletr Tha InVamprab1a $100,000 Maitea! Rto "TOWN TOPICS" ,... .. . COMEH TO ADD A ZEST TO HI'RINOTISfR WITH THE CIIASII'ION AI.UHTAR CAHT OP TUB WORLD, INCXUDlNO Ocrt Leslie. Sophie Tucker, Wellington Cross, Lois Josephine PETER PAOE. MAHIK UWARRE. OARIIERRY I1ROS., J1HMIE VOX. ARTIE MEHMNOEH. JOHN JOHNSD.V, FANNY KIDSTON. MAIIKI, ELAINE, jii.iir.ua- unauum, Tiir. THE WONIIEUFU SEAT BALE OPENH ADELPHI CYRIL HARCOURT'S DEUaHTFUtLY SU-RT COifEDY mmlkb f Iff ; Mmrttm immm hsmpmjxmmm J m mm U-,r. ;'".tf:i:Vi'ft'. rttjr"v laJLl. 10 ,.-T:OrIIIi;..-.-njIVlJ:' ,..';'": "' '" -f "-i,"' .''. .' ZZifr-W' : ... i;f'iaJs!vfe;'fc!&i.V'"i ' ' : ' " :-'-- - ' T-""1' - ' ' lretoted fcr Wlnlhraw Aran' OrUiaal N Yerk Utile Theatre Caft "A DELICIOUH PMY THAT EVERY ONE 1 H HDRK TO T LOYB."--Baeef 4. T "VERY CLEVER AND KXCKK1HNOLY tOI'FINO?'WEwiiIo JLeAjM. flKK THIS ONE IF VOU HKEK JOY S " mmzwmmm i mi nil iii i.ii ..r. I'-ir.nirmTwf ..y DESHAUER'S SVJU'HONY OKCiEStti I" 'UAtfHU' liV.-VIH..J.:il.i 1 ' I (ttSWAV aKo"x1)W,V Norma Talmadire la Vtrat Ffexeattbtr ef AT MIDNIGHT A4JI . Alo-njtUuroiaw Jy I -timwft-p DeepSeaStadlettLiHt StrltaxTUiarC Kewe w. VKlaVY AND SAYUKDAY MABBL TALIAFKJtKO 4rh SNOWBIRD" m m PAOtlAT.P. AHfAirn ThC dlatinmilghcrl hnrltnnA aL. i Metropolitan, who will sine; hS M nt tho Itnl an TIM Cm. ti.-iS? ffl MoylS. ""'"'" Thank Heaven! Ono thing I insisted on, ma' that was a complete departut from stage tradition in drawin. room manners. Amclie Rives. rH MARKET JUNIPER 8TIV In the Heart of tho Hhopplnr DUtrtd CONTINUOUS 11 A. M. TO UP. If, I . 15c. as I rnuiKH , lor, HAIlllV AM PreneaU A Sllnlatojre Mimical Comrdjr See Fun IN Toyl; and 11 Artlata Montlr Olrla Sri50I.lT. ADDKT) JTATUnE K. II. WOI.r Offert r.HL,U.KVSS ASTAIa k IN JINGLE liAND CI.KVKK HINOEnS OM5VKR DANCKBS' CI.nVKR MUSICIANH OT1IKK MKIIITOUIOUS ACTS T1II1VTHK Market below OOlh Sired Mat. Dally, 2:30 I venln, 7 4-0 IVt bient. 10f I 10..lc.ua0e MONDAY. TUKSDAV and WEDNESDAY CHARLES AHERN Presents Himself J ANli1 in'ri' COMPAN V "IN ICYCLELAND" FUSNIKHT , 1 A(!T OK TUB HTAQK TIIlinHDAY, FRIDAY and HATfllDAa' WILMER WALTER & CO, IN COMEDY SKETCH. ENTITLED ' "THE LATE VAN CAMP", OTHER ACTS WORTH WHILE ciUN ok this iwi ay 1 S rAaiuun liikui.13 BAnu una f VLM&smWE MM WMkWWfWi tFUJ. SS0.000 KAHIIION HHOW WITH FORTY JtODEnH NEXT THURSDAY iUlU Oil I) KIM NOVl POPULAR SI MATINEE THURSDAY MATINEE TODAY, 2;15 -2t " ' ' " I ' I " UARKKX b, tmt t'ONTINUOftf A. M. TO llilS V, . ..itt vv ao ar,iinuaf AND WONDERFUL KIMBALL OS-OAtf , i ' VNTII. H0, lffe EVENINOlJ, UN. P WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY Douglas Fairbanks farMgf. Hiiro CeoHilr. Mr. nj Hra,. V BUstr Dree b Hrhele Href m gyr lilHadp Bvwiitown Ttt OMe, OtuWI Be. ho prtet 3 eWra at mt rjjU. CAJUM.VW SM1L HadH. mmbmwut Mtfe-OKi Ckai s $i$imk1$&8F4r k-,; fig & ,-ui jibs vii m. mmtpitetoik' jAtfT m KSL-4K-ti.:.g. TSS-ftK.' WNT t aVMMt4M a ''" 5Tiiw"- 5H- r p-TrtMj