Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-15
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1917.
PICTURES AND THEIR CENSORSHIP.

TN view Of the movement IN this State to have the
= moving picture censorships OF Pennsylvania and
Maryland apply 10 tho production Of films here, tho
following from tho Cleveland Plandoaler. should be Of
interest;
There different kinds OF motion picture censors
The National Board whose decisions respected by
the reputable producing companies composed OF
end women who serve without salary and without Off
cial authority This board has recently taken action
which will measuraby benefit the motion picture busi
ness IL has decided 10 pass more white slave"
films. films which have a sensational appeal based
on alleged disclosures OF the social oyil.
The big producing concerns which responsible
IN corporation with great majority OF the theatre
owners for the present high level of the cncmaograph
As popular recreation have not been guilty OF offer
ing these atrocities for public entertainment The
highly sensational offerings wholly without artistic
merit are usually made by inferior companies or by
companies called into being especially for the purpose
They are accepted only by few theatres in each city
but their exhibition anywhere, always iurdly advcr-
Used by glaring posters o. eeyating influence
and is harmful TO the moving picture business
The National Board of Review has no authority 10
enforce us decision but as ruling viii nevertheless be
Of advantage Degrading exhibitions which are not n-
frequently labeled educational thus put definitely
under the ban and their display becomes deliberate
anront against good taste.
Strangely enough the Ohio Board Of Consors which
does have authority has NOT deemed q advisable bar
these harmful pictures from the State Thcy still
displayed in Cleveland while highly artistic produc-
tons or harmless comedies rclcntossly scssored.
This alone. account FOR OF the existing doubt
rs 70 the advisability Of maintaining auocrac body
10 dictate tho details or the popular OF an forms
Or entertainment.
The work OF tho National Board OF Review on Moving
Pictures which established by the Peoples Insti-
tute Of New York. affords tho alternative lcgalized
censorship 70 which It IS opposed The National Board
asserts that Il represents public opinion expressed
through the non-ofical review OF films by adequate
committees OF representative citizens as against tho
arbitrary and often erratc rulings OF small and re-
strlcted number Of political appointees
In any event. n we are to have censorship in Dela-
ware that is above the censorship Of the National
Board it seems to us that 1t should be Delaware cen
sorship and not imposed by either Pennsylvania or
Maryland.
There are many persons here who think that the Ma
uona Board censorship IS ample for the protection OF
the public against suggestive and indecent films Ger
isnly they do not want either the public or the NOV
ms picture men placed at the mercy OF a political
State board II we 10 have censorship OF our own
Il should be sensible that viii bear IN mind at all
times that tastes different with respect to films lust as
they do with respect to plays and that an such
tastes should be catered TO long they are within
the bounds OF decency