Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
v WORKINGS of censorship
\ ~ rules and laws are strange
" " in their relationship to

M rules and laws are strange
Wv in their relationship to
the motion pictures, and
many of them are entirely beyond
all understanding. With the alb
sence of national laws In the mat
ter, States, counties, municipal
ties and communities have passed
their own censorship laws, thereby
creating a great deal of con-
fusion, especially among the pro-
ducers and exhibitors. In the old
days, before the sound pictures,
the cutting of a film was a simple
matter. The manager of theater
often acted as censor for his en-
tertainment. After viewing a pic
ture in the SecluSion of his own
projection room, he was able to
grasp a pair of scissors and elm
mate such parts as he considered
unfit for his particular portion of
the great public. The same the
alter manager often resorted to
the same scissors when a film ran
too long, and he wanted to shorten
his entertainment.
Now, however, the theater man
ager must exhibit film as he re-
ceiveS it from the can. The COM
ing of sound makes the cutting
process a delicate matter, to say
the least. Cuts must be made by
the producer. All this tends to-
ward making the censorship prob
lem a big one, for the rules and
laws are different all over the
country. A picture which might
be entirely suitable for Washing
ton might not be able to pass in
another nearby city. A film which
might be accepted by a COM
munity board of censorship might
fun against the rocks in another
community just few miles dis
kant.
One of the most stringent
boards of censorship in the coun-
try works in Chicago and environs.
The picture "Alibi," with a crime
plot, passed most of the censor
ship boards, but it was banned in
the City of Wind. Not only were
the exhibitors ordered to take it
from the screens, but films and
apparatus were conflScated. All
this took the matter to the Su-
preme Court of Illinois, and the
latter body handed down ruling
this week. The men high in the
States law affairs declare that
Chicago is well within her rights
in censoring and banning certain
pictures, but the move to confls-
cate films and apparatus is in
valid.
IA ND in the mornings mail
comes list of pictures espe-
cially approved by the National
Board of Review of Motion Pic
lures. Here are the titles: alias
French Gertie, "The Benson Muir
der Case" Captain of the Guard"
"Crazy That Way" Divorce"
"He Knew Women" Ladies Love
Brutes," Ladies of Leisure"
NANNY" 1.-THE Man from Blank
leys," 'Der Meistersinger" (im-
ported from Germany, Melody
Of Hearts" "a Notorious Affair"
"One Embarrassing Night" Para
mount on Parade" prince of
Diamonds" and what Man"
.~* \ -. X
ONE of the very great sorrows
of we fellows who have never
succeeded in growing up is the
passing of the old-time circus.
There was tinsel grandeur to
the tent show, a sort of lure and
appeal which seems to have
passed with the circus being
placed on a busineSSlike basis.
Not the least of the attractions
of the fold-time show was the
"slinging Of English" by the pub
licity promoters, who were then
known as press agents. Those
chaps, in planning their news
paper and billboard stunts, were
past masters of the adjective,
throwing it here, there and every
where.
Now, in this day of mergers and
placing of a mantle of dignity
around the tent shows, the old
fashioned press agent seemed to
have gone to the Never Never
Land. Imagine my surprise when
] discovered, this week, that the
old circus press agent was still
alive, still on the job and turning
out his excellent copy for the
reading public. He has simply
''gone movie" signed a long-term
contract, bought a snakewood
walking stick and donned white
spatS. Here is an example of his
newest work, written especially for
the understanding public:
Twin Meteors of the Air Tn
eorpolate' for the mightiest all
time attraction. The breathleSs
magic of radio and the God-given
genius of Man have wrought in
Amos and Andy the Grandest
Phenomenon in the Sweep of All
Show Ages - Unexampled Fan
tastic. One of the most superb
and amazing manifestations OF
This Roaring, Rocking Century
Amos and Andy spring in glamor-
Gus life in their first motion pic
ture. Check and Double Check.