The much questioned practice of admitting minors with adult strangers to theatres came up for a test before Recorder Pickersgill at 7 o’clock last night, when Morris Streiff was fined $15 for admitting six little boys to his motion picture theatre at 189 Hall avenue. The law permits that children under age may be admitted to theatres when accompanied by “parent, guardian or adult friend,” but Recorder Pickersgill contends Streiff did not have the right to permit a man to take in six boys whom he met outside of the amusement place, even as an adult friend.
Patrolman Andrew Jensen arrested Streiff after he had repeatedly warned the man to refrain from admitting children under the age limit unless within provisions of the law. The last and final warning was extended by the officer two days ago. When he saw six boys, ranging between the ages of nine and fifteen years, enter yesterday, he summoned the patrol and arrested the proprietor and took the boys along as witnesses. They testified that they had been admitted without parent, guardian or adult friend, by each paying a nickel to Streiff.
At the hearing the question arose as to the right of children to be admitted by persons posing as “adult friend” when the person left them after once inside of an amusement place. Recorder Pickersgill said he considered it unlawful for an “adult friend” to take children to a theatre and then leave them after they were inside of the place.
Perth Amboy Evening News, Perth Amboy, NJ, August 20, 1913