The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-07-14
First Annual Report
Of Catholic Theatre
Movement IL. U. s.
Irish Standard Recommends the
Movement to Drama Committees
Of lowa's League Of
Catholic Women.

"The Catholic Theater MOvementy:
with headquarters at 12O-l22 w. Six
tieth street, New York City, has for
it's honorary president HIS Eminence
John Cardinal Farley; director, Ri.
Rev. Monsignor M. J. Lavelle, v. G.;
Edward j. MCGUIRE, president; Ste
phen Farrelly, treasurer; l.. c. Hag-
gerty, corresponding secretary, and
the bulletin committee, which pre-
pares the months White List, con-
sists OF Joseph V. Mckee, Austin Fin
egan and John ]. Burke, G. S. p.
The Irish Standard takes great
pleasure III recommending the work
of the movement and membership in
it to the several Catholic Woman's
leagues in Iowa. I'VE quote from the
latest bulletin:
The Catholic Theater Movement"
takes pleasure in submitting herewith
to it's members and friends its first
report 1t is rendered with the feel
ing OF confidence that it will serve to
prove and illustrate two very impor-
tant facts. First, that the work which
it has already accomplished has more
than justified it's existence, and Sec
ondly, that a still larger field OF USE
fulness awaits it's endeavors and rem
ders necessary the continuation of the
work on a scale broader and more
extended than ever before.
The Catholic Theater Movement was
inaugurated in 1914 by Cardinal Far
ley and small group Of Catholic
clergy and Catholic laity. They felt
that the condition of the New York
stage was rapidly approaching or,
rather, had already reached, condi-
tion that bordered on the intolerable.
1t was felt that a mere denunciation
of the evil would not suffice to check
it. Active steps and active work were
necessary. The Movement was inau-
gurated therefore, dedicated to- the
betterment of the stage and eradica-
ton of the evils that enveloped it and
to the suppression Of the sex play, the
sociological drama, the domestic tri-
angle play, and all other plays or
theatrical productions calculated to
disgust and to deprave. From it's in
ception the work has met with great
-
success.
Chief among it's activities is the pub
LEGATION OF it's Bulletin and its white
List" The bulletin is published
monthly, except July and August, and
contains reviews of all the current
plays appearing on the New York
stage, and all plays against which no
grave moral objection can be found
are placed on the white List" The
white List" as it's name implies, is
a list of those plays which, in the
opinion of the executive committee of
the Catholic Theater Movement, are,
in the main, free from Objectionable
features. The list is designed to
meet a need on the part of those who
are already playgoers, and who have
difficulty in selecting plays which are
wholesome and free from moral faint.
The white List" is the result of
careful investigation and is presented
in good faith. 1t is not expected, nor
desirable, that the list be accepted I'M
reservedly The Catholic Theater
Movement seeks to cooperate with
lovers of wholesome plays by making
the best possible selection, taking into
account present conditions in the
theater and the prevailing standards
of public taste. The white List" is,
of course, constantly revised and
added to and issued from time to time.
1t is distributed not only in New York
City, but throughout the country.
There is constant and great de-
mand made upon us for copies of this
list from outside cities.
The executive committee is in close
touch with the various theatrical man.
ayers. If a play otherwise satisfactory
contains few Objectionable lines or
scenes, letter is promptly written to
its producers requesting withdrawal
of the Objectionable features. Re.
quests such as this have met with
favorable response in many instances,
and have brought about immediate i'm.
provement.
The Movement works in co-Opera-
ton with the commissioner of licenses
of the City of New York, and it's mem.
bers are even detailed by the latter to
inspect and report upon questionable
films. Through the aid thus given to
the commissioner many films con.
demned as unfit have been refused
licenses, and hence barred from the
moving picture theaters of the city.
During the last year the largest
theatrical magazines in the country
published and widely advertised an
article upon "The Decadence of the
American Drama" written by the Rev.
John j. Burke, G. S. p, chairman of
the bulletin committee of the Catholic
Theater Movement, which has aroused
much discussion and met with gen:
eral approval. D
The Catholic Theater Movement ,fs
frequently consulted with regard to
Catholic benefits and dramatic per-
formances. 1t has aroused our people
to sense of their obligation in select