The San Francisco call., 1910-07-10
Board Will Meet Monday tC
Discuss Jeffries-J johnson
Films
Nominee of Local Houses Out
lines Probable Action Against
Such Exhibitions


Of police commissioners. Not only at
that time viii the censor board report
adversely on the proposition of show
ing the Jeffries-Johnson contest pic
lures in San Francisco, but steps prob
ably will be taken to prohibit the sub
sequent exhibition Of any ''prizehght
pictures.
The moving picture films of the
E'lynn-La gford lthe bone crushing
demon'), the Johnson-O Brien and the
johnson Ketchel bouts have been
shown ia this city and are now being
shown in various parts Of the country.
II is argued that these pictures were
never suppressed, and TO each set or
films may be raised the same objec-
ton that is presumably advanced
AGAINST the Johnson-J effries pictures
that they show white man being
beaten and defeated by negro.
OTHER PICTURES ALLOWED
Attorney William K. White, who is
the legal representative of the motion
picture combine in San Francisco, said
yesterday: There would not have been
the slightest objection to the pictures
If Jeffries had won: il is simply be-
cause Johnson knocked Jehrles out
that there is objection.
There has been no objection to the
exhibition of other fight pictures. Ihe
Reno fight could scarcely be called
brutal: in fact, there has been great
deal Of criticism of the contest because
il wasn't more brutal
The pictures of the Ad Wolgast-
Battling Nelson fight were permitted TO
be exhibited. and if ever there was a
bloody battle that was it.
But ii is possible that no more fight
pictures will be permitted to be SHOWN
in san Francisco.
CENsOR's ATTITUDE CHANGES
Norman W. Hail, who is the nomi-
nee of the motion picture interests on
the board of censors. discussed that
question yesterday. He said;
While I am not in position 10
speak positively for the commission,
Yet it is possible that no more hght
pictures may be shown here. For
some time the censorship commission
has considered prohibiting fight pic
lures on the grounds that they were
DANGEROUS to morals. but il has been
our attitude not to be too strict in our
rulings.
Now. however. with the governor
and the mayor in a positive position on
the question and popular sentiment
generally opposing the exhibition OF
the pictures, we shall act in the mat
ter At the meeting which will be
held Monday afternoon it is probable
that we shall draw UP a communica-
ton TO the chief of police regarding
the Jeffries- johnson pictures and also
one informing the motion picture
houses that the Reno fight pictures
must be Withheld from exhibition until
we have reviewed them.
MAYORS STAND UPHELD
7 think that order Will be sufficient,
for do not believe that the pictures
Will be offered in San Francisco at all.
But if the exhibitors want TO press the
matter. which I do not believe they
will, we shall have a review of the
pictures and then take the stand which
has already been outlined by the
mayor.
In the matter of other fight pictures,
IL would not be consistent now for US
to permit them to be shown. While we
viii not take any action, and could not
take any action, against any one who
has heretofore shown pictures of
fight, we can take steps 10 prevent the
repetition of the exhibition of any
brutal prize fight pictures in the city.
MEETING OPEN TO PUBLIC
This is not a new subject for u.s.
For several months at the meetings of
the commission we have discussed pro-
hibiting fight pictures entirely.
Our meeting Monday afternoon in
the rooms of the police commission at
the hall Of justice will be well attended,
believe. by citizens who are interested
in the movement against the fight pic
lures. It viii be an open meeting and
we invite the public Many have spoken
10 me on the subject"
The ordinance under which the CEN
sorship commission operated was
passed by the board of supervisors on
April y. 1909. The commission has
had no difficulty in carrying out the
rrrr in
PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE
The important sections of the ordi-
nance are the following:
Section Pit shall be unlawful
for any person, firm or corpora
tion to display or to cause or per-
nit TO be displayed at any NOV
ing picture exhibition or at-any en-
tertainment at which moving pic
lures are exhibited any picture,
illustration or delineation of any
nude human figure or of any other
matter or thing of an obscene, in
decent or immoral nature or Of
fensive to the moral sense or any
picture, illustration or delineation
Of any matter, murder, suicide, rob-
berry. holdup, stabbing, assaultinz
clubbing or beating of any human
being, or the commission of any
crime or any lewd, lascivious or
criminal act
Section 3-In the event that any
person, firm or corporation holding
a permit to conduct or carry on
moving picture exhibition, or
an entertainment at which moving
pictures are exhibited, shall vio-
late or cause or permit to be vio-
lated any of the provisions of this
ordinance, or shall conduct such
moving picture exhibition or such
entertainment, or the place wherein
the same is conducted or carried on
in an unlawful, indecent or i'm
moral manner, or shall cause or
permit the same TO be conducted or
carried on. the board of police
commissioners shall, in addition to
the other penalties provided by this
ordinance, revoke the permit issued
Of such exhibition or entertainment
MAJORITY OBJECTION RULES
Section 4-For the purpose of
enforcing the provisions of this or
dinance and preventing immoral
pictures being displayed and acts
Of violence depicted in such detail
as TO offend public morality and de-
cency an advisory committee Is
hereby authorized, whose duty it
shall be to inspect all moving pic
lures intended for exhibition prior
to their being displayed, and no
such picture shall be displayed or
exhibited in public that has been
objected 10 by majority of such
committee. The public exhibition
OF any picture thus objected to
shall be deemed sufficient cause for
the revoca tion of any permit there
tofore granted by the board of po-
C.T-T