Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-07-29
Cut Galloway
From New Pix;
Lena Is Victim
Keep Sharp Eye
To Eliminate
Equality Scenes
BY DON DELEIGHBUR

NEW YORK-The south is on the
march again. This time they are
not armed with rope, faggot. tar
and feathers, but with more subtle
and as cruel weaponS-the censor's
shears and the censor's blue pencil.
They have found a new indoor
sport inolving the Negro and are
busy in the Deep South shipping
out Negro scenes out of moving pic
ture films to keep the lllyWhlte
audiences in Georgia, Tennessee,
Mississippi and elsowhere below the
Mason-Dixon Line from seeing Ne
groes in any semblence OF equality
with whites.
They believe-or rather, give the
excua9-that this action prevents
friction between black and white.
The local exhibitors, however, are
having terrific headaches and cases
of indigestion since some OF the
censors are indiscriminately hack
ing out scores in big pictures leav-
ing blurred continuity and the en-
tire film, confused and chopped
up.
At Memphis, Variety reports, the
censors shipped out scenes from the
United Artists film, Sensations OF
1945." involving Cab Galloway and
his orchestra. The censor declared
tie scenes were "inimical to the
public interest" Memphis reviewers
said the rest of the pictures was
patched up" and confusing"
SHIPPED OUT LENA HORNE
The censor at Memphis also snip
ped out of Broadway Rhythm" all
scenes in which Lena Horne was
shown, although he got a bit lazy
and confused and left in Hazel
Scott. 1t has been said that Miss
Horne was cut out of the last two
pictures in several Dixie cities. 1t
has been reported that newsreels
showing Negro troops have been
chopped out in Southern cities.
This was discovered here in New
York when inquiries at home OFF,
ces and newsreel companies reveal
ed that originality such scenes were
put in.
Even the all-Negro film, stormy
Weather" was held up for several
months before Memphis allowed it
| to be shown to its 1ilywhite audi
ences. 1t was said that in several
other cities the famous picture fea-
| turing Bill Robinson, Lena Horne
and flock of other top Negro stars
was held up until the censors were
told that the picture would play
colored and white theatres at the
same time, day-and-date so that
white theatres wouldn't be bother
ed with Negro attendance. Usually,
white theatres get first run films
first.
Certain bigtime exhibitors say
that if Hollywood producers keep
making scenes in which social equa-
lily is implied, the entire South Will
adopt municipal censorship SINH
lar to that of Adolph Hitler and the
Nazi gang in Europe to protect
white supremacy ideals and view
points.
WOULD DEBUNK RACE
The South wants Hollywood to
stop filming such scenes, or either
make them in. such manner that
they can be shipped out without in
terrupting the continuity of the
picture. The South is absolutely
cold and matter of-fact on this is
sue. With the Negro being con-
stantly highlighted in the political,
economical and social life of the
nation: with his participation In
the war, both in uniform and in
overalls in war plants, significant
contribution which is exciting
praise from all over the world, the
South is DESPERATELY trying TO find
some way of debunking the Negro
if only in the Southland.
Negroes, the South feels, in NOV
ing pictures. on the radio or on the
stage, mean but one thing as far as
entertainment is concerned. He