PICTURE SHOWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 2

PICTURE SHOWS.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir,—ln Mr Hayward's interview h© says that '' the picture entertainment has become a power." Now, it is precisely for that reason, that khiematograph pictures that are to be witnessed by multitudes of people should be scrupulously chosen. Degrading and defiling features should not be countenanced. The best pictures can and do always command large audiences. Even when double prices are charged, admission is often difficult from the numbers drawn to fine subjects. This surely must be "good business" from the managerial point of view, and is a proof that it has no real cause to carp at the public taste, which is for the most part sound and clean. We humans, city dwellers and country cousins, are all of us many-sided and most of us who have not grown ; too old or crabbed love a good laugh. j Wholesome and hearty fun is wholly deI f'ensible; grossness and lewdness ar* : wholly indefensible.—l am. etc., PICTURE LOVER, TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Being a constant patron of th* picture shows in Christchurch, I feelit my duty to take up a little of your space in writing an answer to " Picture Goer." He speaks of low-olass " American films." Yet all these films are inspected by a board of censorship, consisting of one hundred and fifty citizens of both sexes. As Canon Chaso says, the lav;, not censors, must detect and punish guilty exhibitors avA film manufacturers. There is far more harm to bo found in Continental films than in American productions. I saw " Ono Round O'Brien," and I saw absolutely nothing in it that I would not . allow my own child to see. As far as children are concerned. " All is pure to the pure," and I am afraid it would be a pretty old child that could mak* harm out of this picture. Life is serv ous enough without paying to see its seriousness acted on the screen, so whj should "Picture Goer" crotest against clean and wholesome comedy.—l am, etc., ~..;'; •A MOTHER k