100 YEARS AGO IN THE SARATOGIAN

Wednesday, March 20, 1918. The withdrawal of an appeal of the conviction of a Schenectady movie theater proprietor disappoints local theater owners and movie fans who had hoped for a Court of Appeals ruling legalizing movies on Sundays, The Saratogian reports.

The appeal of Victor Bergstrom was expected to resolve once and for all New York State’s contradictory stand on Sunday movies. For the moment, different rules prevail in the different departments of the state appellate division.

The main issue is whether movies are covered under New York’s blue law, which bans “public amusements” on the Christian Sabbath. The movie industry contends that the ban doesn’t apply to movies because they didn’t exist when the blue law was enacted. The second department of the appellate division, which includes New York City, endorsed this view. The third department, which includes Saratoga Springs, holds that movies are the same as theatrical exhibitions for the purposes of the law.

In practice, enforcement of the blue law depends on local government. In Saratoga Springs, the ban has been enforced since last year, but other cities in the third department, including Troy, elect not to enforce it.

A Court of Appeals ruling would impose uniformity on all departments. The prospect of a ruling imposing a statewide Sunday ban reportedly led New York City theater interests to persuade Bergstrom to change his lawyer and withdraw his appeal. Saratoga Springs’ three movie theaters will remain closed on Sundays until city authorities decide it’s safe to let them open.

Potato Week

The State College of Agriculture has declared the week of March 18-24 “Potato Week” as part of an effort to get New Yorkers to eat more potato products as a wartime substitute for wheat products.

Saratoga County emergency home demonstration agent Alta Jane Emerson is in charge of the local Potato Week campaign. The Saratogian reports that she “has arranged some interesting features,” including a display of “the largest potato grown in Saratoga County” in a Broadway store window.

Emerson will host “Potatoes for Patriotism” demonstrations on March 21 in Schuylerville and on March 22 in Ballston to show “what delicious and economical dishes can be prepared from the humble but highly important ‘spud.’” U.S. and allied troops have first claim on wheat products for the duration of the world war.

What’s Happening

“Star Supreme” Ethel Barrymore appears in the Metro picture “The Lifted Veil” at the Broadway today, supported by a live vaudeville program fearturing The Gardners, a song and dance duo.

The Palace offers the Fox Photofantasy “Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp” while the Lyric presents William Russell in “New York Luck.”

— Kevin Gilbert