The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-10
FIGHT PICTURES
DISAPPROVED BY
CITY COMMISSION
Appeal May Be Taken to Cir
cult Court-CommiSSion-
er Harrison FaVorS
Showing of Film

Showing of the Dempsey-Carpen-
tier prize fight picture in Birming
ham will not be permitted by the city
commission.
This decision was reached yester-
day afternoon at a conference held in
the office of D. E. McLendon, presi-
dent of the commission. Official
action will be taken at the meeting
of the city commission Tuesday aft
ernoon it is stated.
1t is reported that a petition for
an Injunction to restrain Mr.. Cloe.
commi ssioner of public safety, and
the other members of the commission
from interfering with the showing of
this picture will be filed in the chan
Gerry division of the circuit court
within the next few days and in the
event that the temporary injunction
is granted the picture will be shown.
1t is pointed out that there is no state
law or city ordinance prohibiting the
showing of films of this character,
and for that reason the injunction
will be asked.
Mr. Rudolph stated that the rea-
son the picture was not Endorsed by
the national board OF review was
the fact that this board does not pass
on news events, and this film of the
prize fight was a news event of both
the United States and France. 1t has
passed every board of censors, before
whom it has been presented, he
stated, and is clean, educational
picture and not bloody fight.
Claim Violation
While only members of the COM
mission were present at the confer
ence, according to Mr.. McLendon.
Commissioner w l.. Harrison was the
only member of the board in favor
of permitting the picture to be shown
here.
Members of the commission, with
the exception of Commissioner w. D.
Dickson viewed the film at a private
showing yesterday morning at the
Rialto theatre An invitation was ex-
tended by W. G. Rudolph, who has
charge of the film and who appealed
to the commission from ruling of
Mrs Neil r. Wallace, theatre inspec-
tor.
At an adjourned meeting of the
commission, held Thursday morning,
Mrs. Wallace stated that she had de-
clined to permit the picture to be
shown as il was not Endorsed by the
national board of censorship, and as
an official she had the authority to
stop the showing of any picture not
Endorsed by that board, However,
she stated Mr. Rudolph has the right
to appeal from her decision to the
eommi ssion and then that body shall
pass on the matter.
The concensus of opinion of the
board members was that since it was
a violation of the federal law in re-
gard to Interstate commerce and Mrs.
Wallace had declined to allow the
showing of the film they did not feel
that they could ceuntenance it.
Harrison Likes Picture
Commissioner W. l.. Harrison of
public utilities stated that he en-
joyed the picture very much and
could see nothing wrong with il at
all. an fact, think the events lead
ing up to the fight were most inter-
esting" said Commissioner Har-
rison, "and was educational. It
shows just how the muscles can be
developed and how men may be made
splendid athletes through training.
on the other hand, there are large
number of people who would enjoy
the picture and who were prevented
from seeing the fight because of the
large cost in making the trip to Jer-
sey City People who do not wish
to see the picture do not have to and
the showing of it gives those who
would like an opportunity to do so. l
really see nothing distasteful in the
picture at all and it is clean cut
film"
1t is stated that Commissioner w.
r. Cloe of public safety will inform
Mr.. Rudolph of the boards decision
in order that he VIII not be required
to remain in this city until after the
meeting Tuesday afternoon.