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| Wants New Censor
Board
Source: Variety, 13 July 1917, pg. 20. An ordinance was introduced in the city council last week by Alderman Walter J. Steffen, which if passed will give film censorship power to a board of ten and thereby do away with the one man regime, as now. It is thought that if the bill goes through Major Funkhouser, who seems to be continually stopping some film or other from being exhibited, will be shorn of power. Action in the matter was spurred on by Funkhouser's rejection of the Pickford picture, "The Little American." Under the proposed ordinance, no pictures save those deemed immoral or obscene could be barred from Chicago screens. Funkhouser continues to pick on the Pickford picture. When asked to review his decision and possibly reverse it, he replied that he would allow the film to show, provided it was considered all right by George Creel, the newly appointed government news censor, who is in Washington and has the title of chairman of the committee on public information. Creel did view the picture and saw that it was intensely anti-German, it being a severe arraignment of the character of Prussian autocracy which America is fighting against. He then sent a wire to Funkhouser reading: "Have just seen film picture entitled 'The Little American.' See nothing in it to justify refusal of permit and feel strongly that picture should be shown." When the major was asked what he would do in the light of the wire he is reported to have replied "and who in the hell is George Creel? His wings have been clipped already." Later Funkhouser denied making such a remark. Action by the Artcraft for the granting of a writ of mandamus to compel the major to issue a permit has been made and will probably be argued this week. The film cost about $300,000 to produce and a large loss is figured should the picture be denied exhibition here. A private exhibition of "The Little American" was given at the Studebaker on Monday, about one hundred persons, representing the city's official and civic life attending. All who were present expressed sentiments against Funkhouser's ruling. Alderman George F. Illif, when asked his opinion, is quoted as replying that the censor "was out of his mind." Paul Storey, a University of Chicago professor, said "The suppression of this film is an indication of the beginning of Prussian censorship in this country. I shall publicly denounce the major." Mr. Storey was once professor at the University of Heidelberg. |
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Page authored: 18
February 2000 -
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