§ 18. License to operate moving picture apparatus. It shall not be
lawful for any person or persons, save as excepted in section eighteen-a
of this article, to operate any moving picture apparatus and its
connections in a city of the first class unless such person or persons
so operating such apparatus is duly licensed as hereinafter provided.
Any person desiring to act as such operator shall make application for a
license to so act to the mayor or licensing authority designated by the
mayor, unless the charter of said city so designates, which officer
shall furnish to each applicant blank forms of application which the
applicant shall fill out. Such officer shall make rules and regulations
governing the examination of applicants and the issuance of licenses and
certificates. A license shall not be granted to an applicant unless he
shall have served as an apprentice under a licensed operator, for a
period of not less than six months prior to the date of the application;
the application must be made in writing, and contain a verified
statement to that effect; it must be accompanied by the affidavit of the
licensed operator to the same effect; before entering upon the period of
apprenticeship the applicant must register his name and address with the
officer issuing such license. The applicant shall be given a practical
examination under the direction of the officer required to issue such
license and if found competent as to his ability to operate moving
picture apparatus and its connections shall receive within six days
after such examination a license as herein provided. Such license may be
revoked or suspended at any time by the officer issuing the same. Every
license shall continue in force for one year from the date of issue
unless sooner revoked or suspended. Every license, unless revoked or
suspended, as herein provided, may at the end of one year from the date
of issue thereof be renewed by the officer issuing it in his discretion
upon application and with or without further examination as he may
direct. Every application for renewal of license must be made within the
thirty days previous to the expiration of such license. With every
license granted there shall be issued to every person obtaining such
license a certificate, certifying that the person named therein is duly
authorized to operate moving picture apparatus and its connections. Such
certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the room where
the person to whom it is issued operates moving picture apparatus and
its connections. No person shall be eligible to procure a license unless
he shall be of full age. Any person offending against the provisions of
this section, as well as any person who employs or permits a person not
licensed as herein provided to operate moving picture apparatus and its
connections, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding the sum of one hundred
dollars, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months, or
both.