Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-19
MAYOR RECEIVES REPORT
ON EVERY MOVIE FILM
Aihsiic Says No Film Excluded Else
where Has Ever Been Shown
In Richmond.
BOSTON PLAN FOLLOWED HERE.
Every Manager Files i'm Advance
Certificate From CcnsOrs in State
Where Film Was Manufactured.
Would Withdraw Doubtful Films.

NO hlm that has been excluded else
! where has ever been shown in Rich
! mond. SAID Mayor George Aiuslie yes
! icrday, discussing the proposed cen
( sorsbip Of the movies. The Mnvor said
that every motion picture that comes
! 10 richmond il censored before /:
reaches here: that n report on every
picture il received by the Mayor prior
to the production here Of the film
/ and that in the case OF every doubt
/ full picture, c.lssor is detailed from,
! the Police Department TO pass upou
It's merits or dement's
When The statement was made here
! that six motion pictures were an
! nounced for production in Richmond
/ that would not he allowed in Chicago.
! sent the announcements for that
! particular week to Chief OF Police
| Heaiy. of Chicago. said the Mayor
lie had man make Il report upon
'hcm The plays had been censored
and fault had been found with two OF
them. not ON tho grounds YOU would
naturally expect here in Richmond bur
because OF some crime. shooting, or
murder.
These TWO pictures, or scenes in
/ TWO of the six films were cut out in
Chicago and. thus censored. the pic
lures were shown here in Richmond
Chicago has Il large population OF
IN" class That breeds criminals Con-
Se0ucn'ly they will not allow there
hlms which show a burglary. or black
mail. or murder, o: a man breaking
his way out Of prison through prison
| bars. They think such pictures arc
an education in criminal matters and
tend to excite crime. That is why
I they arc excluded or censored
RICHMOND Follows
riIE BOSTON PLAN
We pursue the same method here in
itchm"nr us they do in Boston All
tho pictures are censored by regularly
appointed state boards wherever they
ar" made y rcport Of each picture
Is sent and no thcatcr manager would
B think Of presenting one without
the censorship OF the board OF CEN
scrs II might cost him his license
IN some cities. like Boston. for instance
wh'rc tho bureau that grants the
theatcr licenses. which is attached TO
, INC Mayors office. has the authority
y" revoke license. An appeal may
lie taken from this action to some reg
, ularly appointed tribunal. but theater
managers do not care TO run such risks.
according 10 my experience.
III there is n Kick on any pcture
after it is presented. although APP
proved by the board OF censors, man
IL sent 10 inspect IL. We do tina; here
only once ar twice, and that was while
was out 81 the city. has any thentri-
| cal manager he"u asked TO Withdraw a
! film. and that was Ar the request IF
! CHIEF q! Police. who aid so TO obl:ge
! some women. The manager was per
/ fcctiy willing to comply With the re-
, quest
1T should ne horne III mind that The
| thcater is a place OF public entertain
/ ment and not for religious instruction
! or enucaton ] dare say that no pic
| ture could he presented here bu, that
some fault would be found with IL by
someone II is strange that we learn
nov that The Black Crook which has
been on tho stage forty years and a
i'arisian Romance which has been or
'ne stage Tor twenty, arc now regarded
~ immoral