The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-04-18
CATHOLIC THElTER MOVEMENT
A NEW LIST OF "WHITE PLAYS"-
THE CONDITIONS TO BE CON-
Piled WITH BEFORE A PLAY Is
APPROVED-A CAMPAIGN OF
EDUCATION.

The Easter issue of "The Bulletin"
of the Catholic Theatre Movement,
published in New York, advance proofs
of which have just come to hand, is
a white list" number In it are the
titles of one hundred and fifty plays
deemed safe for Catholics, young and
old.
"The Bulletin" opens with a word
of heartfelt thankfulness and cordial
greeting to the generous friends who
from every part of the country, from
school, convent, home and workshop,
have answered the call of the Catho-
lie Theatre Movement with sympathy,
with understanding and with practical
support. "The missionary labor vol.
UNFAIRLY assumed by Catholic men and
women in behalf of the cause is full
of promise for the extension and per-
manence of the movement. Every
mail with it's promise cards brings
evidence that the continuous ballot.
ing and depositing of the silent vote
goes steadily on
With it's present white list" con.
tinues 'The Bulletin" ''the Catholic
Theatre Movement enters upon an
other stage of what His Eminence
Cardinal Farley aptly called it's cam
paign of education This action may
indeed prove the beginning of course
of self-education for the Catholic play.
goer, upon whom the very existence
of white list will enforce the neces
sity of personal investigation into all
forms of public amusement, in order
that he may be saved from exposing
those near and dear to him to the
dangers of contamination.
''To make as clear as possible the
basis upon which the present list has
been prepared, as well as to avoid any
imputation of narrowness or proscrip
tive censorship, it will be necessary
to repeat here the conditions given in
the first issue of The Bulletin which
would entitle play to place on a
white list These conditions indicate
the limitations of the list and it's spe
cial application.
''The conditions were:
"a play must not, with regard tc
morals, occupy debatable ground.
"There should be general agree
ment that a play is clean and whole
some.
"The appeal should be simple and
universal.
''The play should be fit for theatre
goers of all ages, and suited to varied
tastes.
This, too, was stipulated: that the
choice of plays should be made with
due regard to practicability, and that
counsels of perfection should not be
insisted upon.
"The conditions could be summed
up in one sentence: A play to be on
the white list should be one that
every member of Catholic family
young and old, could safely attend.
ut is not intended to impose the
unqualified acceptance of every play
on the white list upon those who
after investigation and for reasons
good and sufficient to themselves, fine
some of the plays unsuitable. The
white list is put forward not as ar
inducement for people to go to the
theatre. 1t is designed for Catholics
who are already playgoers and who
may find the list useful"
The "White List"
Much additional matter of an ex
planatory nature precedes the list, and
the statement is made that it has not
proven feasible to make an absolutely
complete list nor to include the very
latest play ''The list, however, is
comprehensive enough to form some
sort of standard by which plays il
does not include may be judged, after
the personal investigation. which it is
one of the purposes of the Catholic
Theatre Movement to foster and en-
courage on the part of it's members.
Following is the list:
Admirable Crichton, Alabama, Alias
Jimmy Valentine, Along Came Ruth
The Amazons, The Auctioneer, Ari
IONA.
Barbara Frietchie, The Bells, Ben
Hur, Brewster's Millions, Broadway
Jones, Broken Hearts, Brown of Har
ward, Bunty Pulls the Strings.
Caste, The Cavalier, Classmates
The College Widow, Confession, The
County Chairman, The Crisis, Cyranc
de Bergerac.
David Garrick, Diplomacy, Disraeli
Duke of Killicrankie.
Everyman, Everywoman.
Father and the Boys, The Fortune
Hunter, The Five Frankforters.
The Gentleman From Mississippi
The Girl 1 Left Behind Me, The Girl
of the Golden West, The Ghost
Breaker, The Governors Lady, A
Grand Army Man, Gringoire, Grumpy
Held by the Enemy, The House Next
Door.
Jack Straw, The Jilt, Jim the Pen
man.
King Renee's Daughter.
L'Aiglon, The Legend of Leonora
Liberty Hall, The Lion and the Mouse
The Little Minister, The Little Prin
cess, Little Women, The Littlest
Rebel, The Lost Paradise.
Man From Home, Masks and Faces
Merely Mary Ann, A Message From
Mars, Mice and Men, The Mfddleman
Milestones, The Mollusc, Monsieur
Beaucaire, Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage
Da+oh Tho Music Mocfnr
Nathan Hale, The New Henrietta.