ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE MOVING PICTURE INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA Rare Document

The Document uses the authority of the Royal Commissions Act to issue a summons to the actress Louise Lovely to attend the Commission on the 10th June 1927 to give evidence on various subjects relating to the industry.

The Document is signed by the Chairman of the Commission, Walter Moffit Marks in fountain pen. Marks was a lawyer, yachtsman and politician. He participated in the trials of the Americas Cup Yacht Race in 1914 before serving in the war as a lieutenant.

When he returned to Australia he became Federal Member for Wentworth, the seat now held by the Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, and had a colourful career as a politician picking up the nickname of Douglas Fairbanks because of his dashing good looks. 

He headed the Royal Commission into the Moving Picture industry in 1927. A number of notables from the film industry were formally summoned to appear at the Commission and provide evidence on various aspects of the business.

Louise Lovely was born Nellie Louise Alberti is generally regarded as the first Australian actress to become a star in America. She signed a contract with Carl Laemmle of Universal Studios and became a contemporary and rival of Mary Pickford. Carl Laemmle was responsible for choosing the colourful stage name of Louise Lovely. She starred with Lon Chaney in two films before being dropped by Universal after a contract dispute in 1918.

She then worked with 20th Century Fox appearing in a series of Westerns before returning to Australia in 1924.

The document is a single page summons with various extracts from the Royal Commission Act printed on the back. Attached are a number of printed pages of Louise Lovely's testimony with had written comments added – presumably by Louise Lovely. The testimony provides a fascinating insight into the industry at the time.

 

 

One of the questions referred to the effects of violent films on children…

"Do you think they are an incentive to violence."

 Answer from Louise Lovely "No. In my opinion, the more you attempt to hide things from children, the more eager they will be to find them out."

This is a rare and important historical document, unique and significant both from a political and movie related standpoint.

Condition is good. There are light foxing marks and some creases.