New Britain herald., 1930-08-26
CLEAN OWN HOUSE
 STAGE DECIDES Il q
Threat Of Political Censorship
 Responsible

New York, Aug. 26 A The theater having watched with mixed emo- tions turning gradually to alarm the efforts of practically every moral agency hereabouts to purge the stage of certain impurities, has decided to do its own housecleaning.
 The general idea is not new. But actual results from this or any other cleanup program would be definite ly unique. Consider the present sit uation:
 Earl Carrolls "Vanities," pro- nounced inexcusably smutty by crit icg, and raided by police as an in decent performance, has passed in spection by grand jury. And only few hours after the absolution of Carroll and his undraped cuties. the Catholic Theater Movement. led by Cardinal Hayes and supported by other religious bodies, returned bit ter indictment against the "Vanities." Likewise included under the ecclesi- astical displeasure was "LysistrSta, the rowdiest of rowdy adaptions from the old Greeks.
 Actors Took Action
 Bishop William T. Manning and Rabbi stephen Wise insisted that 1t was quite within their power to demand that their congregations should not go to such plays" But the abstinence of their flocks has made no difference at the box of- fees. The "Vanities," which is as dull as it is dirty. would have had trouble surviving without police publicity. Now both shows are likely to run for months.
 But back of these vain attempts at stage e-cleansing, or perhaps be- cause of them, turks a real threat in the form of political censorship. That is why Actors Equity Associa- ton has planned a course of self-reg- ulatfon, according to Frank Gilmore, president.
 Gilmore said that Equity now Is considering an amendment provid- ing for the establishment of citizens play juries of five or seven members to be named by the American Arbl- tration Association. In order that there could be no qualification of opinion concerning what is and IS not offensive. a new jury would De selected for the judgment of every new production.
 For professional reasons if for none other" continued the Equity president, we are anxious to set up some workable system. We do not want to say which line is salaclous, or which situation unpleasant, but only to aid in placing the theater un- der representative control of the public which supports it.
 Another thing: the stock con- panies of the nation are dependent upon the New York theater for ma terial. If productions here continue to be too sophisticated and rlsque for other cities, stock company man. agers will have nothing worth while to produce, and more actors will be out of work"
 The play jury plan first was tried in 1923 and 1924, with Equity, the Managers Association, the Dramatic Guild and some 35 welfare and re- |ligious organizations participating. A. panel of 400 jurors was drawn in the office of the district attorney, from which individual groups were named
 At a time when such productions as Ladies of the Evening. Desire Under the Films" and The Harem" were sending vice crusaders into mysteries, the clamor for legal cen- sorship was stilled by introduction of the plan. But it flopped, and the press, which had published the names and addresses of the citizens huries, was unintenionally responsi- be.
 Men and women who had volun- teered to serve in defense of civic decency found themselves under Twin storms of criticism, abuse and even threats - both from the pur- tsts and the liberals. In a short time It appeared that there were no con- petent and unprejudiced citizens in bll Gothanis five million who were willing to serve.
 So if and when the jury system established, Gilmore said, iden ities of the representative playgoers Eill be kept in strictest secrecy. Only hen can they act with anything like mpunity against the nude, the crude nd the lewd.