Scope of Movie Drive Widened to the Theatre

Definitely expanding their activities to include theatres, dance halls and burlesque shows as well as motion pictures, the committee on social ethics of the New York Board of Jewish Ministers will continue its drive against obscenity by consolidating forces with the Interfaith Committee of Catholics and Protestants.

The committee, under the supervision of Rabbi Sidney E. Goldstein, will meet today at 2 p. m. at his study, 40 West Sixty-eighth street, to discuss policies to be followed in the joint meeting of all groups to be held this Monday.

Within the Protestant church pledges have been sent all members in accordance with an announcement issued by Dr. Worth M. Tippy, director of the Protestant division of the Legion of Decency.

The pledge, binding the signer to refrain from attending offensive movies, is intended to influence a vast majority of the more than 70,000,000 Protestants in this country.

Protesting against the “regimentation” of amusements, foes of drive for cleaner films have incorporated under the name of the Association for the Preservation of the Freedom of Screen and Stage. This group has announced a mass meeting to be held at the Hotel New Yorker on Monday at 8:15 p. m.

Dr. Charles Francis Potter, head of the First Humanist Society, and Rabbi Harry G. Borwick of Williamsport, will address the meeting. The new association claims to have the backing of the Intercollegiate Democratic League with a membership of about 35,000 men and women.

Disclaiming any connection with movie producers or any other organization, Robert I. Broder, organizer of the society, declared it was founded purely in the interest of those who are satisfied with the present state of affairs in the films and the legitimate stage.