Wants New Censor Board
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Source: Chicago Defender, 13 July 1917, pg. 20.
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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.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 18 February 2000
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