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542 MOTION PICTURES I922-I945
Those days were full of highlights, and many of them were bright. One of them, a mere seven words spoken by Nicholas Schenck, made an indelible impression on me. The Board of Directors of MPPDA were deep in discussion of their relations with exhibitors, always a field for sharp competition. In the early days of the Association there had been distributor-exhibitor damage suits galore. Now some broadgauge policies were developing. Mr. Schenck had just outlined a proposal for a very liberal treatment of exhibitors which he believed fair and profitable to both sides. When one of the other heads broke in: "But, Nick, you can't do that! It would be giving the exhibitors too much," Nick quietly replied: "I never found that it didn't pay."
At about the same time I had another very heart-warming experience in hearing the kind of appreciation of Joe Breen that was voiced in the press. Much to my regret, Joe felt that he must resign from the Production Code Administration, though we were greatly relieved when he later was able to return to us. I can't resist quoting from an editorial in the Kansas City Star, whose managing editor, Roy Roberts, was one of our staunch supporters. In his turn he had attacked the movies for making a travesty of newspapermen, but he was no bigot and he stood squarely with us on freedom of expression. The editorial gives an excellent estimate of the personality and accomplishment of the man who first made the Code work:
By all accounts, Joe Breen has done a remarkable job. . . .
When he was called in . . . there was some fear that in cleaning the movies up he might largely destroy their entertainment value.
Nothing of the sort happened. Joe Breen proved to be a new kind of censor. He was jovial, tactful and, above all, intelligent. Instead of sniping at minor details, he concentrated on such fundamental complaints as that the crime pictures actually were tending to teach criminal procedure to the younger generation of theatre-goers.
Soon even the skeptics were forced to admit that in many respects the influence of Joe Breen helped to improve the quality of the industry's product. A situation that had seemed to be getting out of hand was brought back under control, and, despite inevitable differences of opinion on matters of detail, general satisfaction was reported all around. Now Joe Breen is retiring at his own request. He says he needs a change, that he is "punchdrunk" and wants to get acquainted with his family. The industry he leaves may have a hard time finding his successor.
Another of my happy associations through the years with two of our most inspiring religious leaders is suggested by a tribute that appeared at this time in The Christian Herald. Dr. Dan Poling, the editor, had long been one of my close and valued friends. His son was one of the "Four Chaplains" whose voluntary self-sacrifice at sea was not only commemorated by a special postage stamp but is to be permanently