The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-21
CITY ORDINANCES

any torture scene, or any hanging, lyncn-
 ing or execution of any human being.
 And it shall be unlawful to picture, dis
 play, illustrate or represent in any nov
 ing picture show, theatre or other place
 of amusement any scene depicting drunk
 enness of any female unless the scene
 is reduced to a flash, or any rape or at- tempt at rape, scene, or any childbirth or
 maternity scene in whole, or in part,
 or any scene or picture depicting domes-
 tic or conjugal infidelity of an Immoral
 nature on the part of either the husband
 or the wife, or any scene in any immoral house of a general character which Is forbidden by the ordinances of the city of Birmingham, or the laws of the state of Alabama, or any scene, picture or show illustrating. showing or describing the plying of the trade of any procurer, procuress or cadet or any person or per-
 sons who profit directly from the prosti- tuition of any female person or any se- duction scene, or any scene showing or depicting any attempt at the seduction of any person, or any scene or picture de- picting or setting forth immoral, unlaw- full relations of any person or persons or either sex with another person or per sons of the, opposite sex; provided, how ever, that nothing in this ordinance is meant to prohibit or to make unlawful any picture show, scene or illustration
 
 vestigations or the report or reports of the findings of any inquisitorial or in vestigating committee, board or organiZa- tion expressly provided by the laws of | the United States or of any state or of any municipality in the United States when such picture show. scene or illus traitor is ordered, directed or permitted by the expressed will or wish of such board, committee or organization to be q nj provided such film or show shall first 1 be displayed or shown in whole and in detail to the commissioner of public ! safety or to some person or persons duly l elected or appointed by the commission ! of the city of Birmingham to witness and l to pass upon the fitness of sl&n film or | show, said the commissioner of public l safety or person or persons to render his 1 or their decision in conformity with the provision of this ordinance, and if | deemed necessary or expedient by the commissioner of public safety he shall | then issue an order either prohibiting or 1 allowing the showing of the picture or show or limiting or specifying the ages l or sex of persons who may witness such ! picture or providing that such picture | shall be shown on separate occasions only l to members of either sex separately; and 1 the commissioner of public safety or any ] other duly constituted person or persons 1 may order cut out of said picture or | film such scene or scenes or legend or 1 legends or descriptive phrase or phrases as he or they may deem unfit to be ! shown at any one or all exhibitions of | such film or picture; and provided also . that any picture of a medical, scientific, I historical, classical or other similar na- l ture in which may appear scenes pie | lures or legends which would in ordi- 1 nary pictures or shows displayed for the entertainment or amusement of the peo- | pie, be prohibited and made unlawful ' within the strict construction of this or 1 dinance. then such scientific, medical, ! historical, classical or other similar film | or picture, shall first be shown, as above 1 provided for the showing of pictures or l films depicting the findings of duly au- ] thorized vice commission or boards to the | commissioner of public safety or to other i person or persons designated by the com mission of the city of Birmingham. and | he or they shall thereupon issue an or der or orders forbdding or allowing such | film or picture to be shown and if al I lowed directing how same may be shown I with regards to ages and sexes as pro- | vided hereinbefore.
 Sec. ?. It shall be unlawful for any person. firm or corporation to rent, sell | loan, give. furnish,' deliver or manufac- | ture to or for any other person, firm or l corporation to be exhibited in the city | of Birmingham, any moving picture film | show, scene or legend of the nature or 1 character forbidden to be shown or ex- hihted in the city of Birmingham by
 section 1 of this ordinance,
 1 Sec. 3. It shall be unlawful for any 1 person, firm or corporation to show ol | illustrate in moving picture show theatre 1 or other place of amusement or enter l tainment in the city of Birmingham any | obscene, filthy, vulgar, profane or sug. 1 gestive text, legend, phrase or werbiage l accompanying or describing any moving I picture or motion picture film or show l Sec. 4. The commissioner of public l safety is hereby directed to have printed 1 on suitable cardboard for fra ming as many copies of this ordinance as are | necessary, and each person, firm or cbf- l pora ton owning or operating any mo- | ton picture show, theatre or other place 1 of amusement or entertainment where | picture shows are shown or where theat- rical performances are held, and tc l which an admission fee is charged are required to frame and hang in con | spicuous place in the entrance, foyer oI | vestibule of such theatre picture show 1 copy of this ordinance printed as above !, described and furnished by the commits | sioner of public safety.
 | Sec. D. This ordinance shall not be con- strued to repeal any ordinance of the | city of Birmingham now in force and ef- l feet, unless such ordinance conflicts with | the provisions of this ordinance, and 1 then only such parts of such ordinances are hereby repealed as do so conflict with | the provisions of this ordinance.
 Sec 6. Any person, firm or corporation | violating any provision of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be punished | within the limits and as provided by sec 1 tion 1216 of the code of Alabama.
 1 Sec '. This ordinance shall be and re- main in full force and effect from it's l passage and publication to and including March 31. 1917, but any prosecution which may be begun while this ordinance is in 1 force and effect shall continue after 1 said last named date as though this or dinance remained in effect.
 Approved December 20, 1916,
 GEORGE B. WARD. President Board of Commissioners. A true copy.