The Exhibitor (1961)

43 Years of Service to the Theatre Industry Founded in 1918. Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications, Incorporated. Publishing office 317 North Broad Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York field offce: 8 East 52nd Street, New York 22. West Coast field offce: Paul Manning, 454 S. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif. London Bureau: Jock MacGregor, 16 Leinster Mews, London, W. 2, England. Jay Emanuel, publisher and general manager; Albert Er lick, editor; M. R. (Mrs. "Chick") Lewis, associate editor; George Frees Nonamaker, feature editor; Mel Konecoff, New York editor; Albert J. Martin, advertising manager; Max Cades, business manager. Subscriptions: $2 per year (50 issues); and outside of the United States, Canada, and Pan-American countries, S5 per year ( 5 A issues). Special rates for two and three years on application. Second class postage paid at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Address all official communications to the Philadelphia publishing offce. Volume 66 • No. 10 AUGUST 9, 1961 33 LAWYERS WERE RIGHT AND SO WERE WE On sept. 2, 1959, MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR edi¬ torialized on a proposed censor bill threatening the Pennsyl¬ vania industry at that time. We called attention to the fact that pressure for passage of new legislation that would return film entertainment to the position of a political football for a team of ward-heeling job seekers was being exerted by just one religious sect. Indeed, the bill was commonly referred to as the Cathohc bill. We so informed the Governor. We also publicized the findings of a committee of 33 respected Pennsylvania lawyers who had examined the bill and found it a hopeless piece of legislation. These lawyers stated emphatically that no higher court would be able to sustain the measure as it was clearly unconstitutional. Needless to say, this did not stop Pennsylvania lawmakers from overwhelmingly approving the odious measure. We had protested to the Governor, and after passage his office re¬ sponded that the big vote certainly proved it was not entirely a “Catholic” bill. This fooled no one, since the grand political game of mutual back-scratching is well known to us all. The forces for censorship were pictured as the “good guys” and the motion picture industry was pictured as trying to flood the Commonwealth with filth. So the bill was passed, and in due course, the industry took it to court. Recently, the State Supreme Court made our two year old prediction come true, killing the censor law as being in violation of both the state and federal constitutions. In 1959, we said editorially, “If these 33 lawyers are right, the legal hassle that ensues will result in the hill being declared unconstitutional and void. But in the meanwhile, a law abiding industry, in every way subject to the national and state laws dealing with decency and indecency, will have received spe¬ cial lashes .” The 33 lawyers were right, and we were right. Political censorship has been dealt another crippling blow. But the fight is far from over. The tragedy is that certain individuals, spurred by their religious leaders or by professional moralists seeking to pin the blame for the world s moral ills on the most convenient scapegoat, motion pictures, are still unconvinced that the answer lies somewhere other than in political censor¬ ship. MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR holds no brief for those who would use motion picture screens to purvey filth. We believe that existing laws, and there are plenty, should be used to punish such individuals who harm this industry as much as they harm the public. Anyone who reads our editorials knows exactly where we stand. We harbor no ill will toward any religious group. We have supported the Catholic Legion of Decency in the past and will continue to do so in the future. They have done a good job. We support also every other group that would seriously strive to raise the level of mass entertainment without reducing it to the tasteless mush that so many seem to consider good “family” entertainment. But we will continue to battle the evils of political censorship, which never solved this problem and never will. Now the Governor says he will appeal the State Supreme Court decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. Additional taxpayer dollars will go for this meaningless action and it will all be done in the name of morality. It is our belief that the time has come for the Common¬ wealth to think of all its citizens and not just the pressure groups. If we are morally sick, the cure lies in the hands of parents, schools, business leaders, not politicallv appointed censors with little or no qualification for the job they seek to do. So the Pennsylvania censorship story goes on, with the industry currently holding the upper hand. Perhaps the highest court in the land will find the courage this time to declare the entire field of political pre-censorship unconstitutional. It is a far cry from the principles most Americans hold dear. THINGS POPPING AT U-l Things are really popping at Ehiiversal, and this enthusiam could well prove contagious for theatremen as well. Like every upsurge in the motion picture industry, this excitement is centered on upcoming product. U-I personnel met recently to look at such top productions as “FLOWER DRUM SONG,” with Nancy Kwan; “LOVER COME BACK,” with Rock Hudson and Doris Day; “THE OUTSIDER,” with Tony Curtis; and “BACK STREET,” with Susan Hayward and John Gavin, and they came away full of optimism. Indeed, the star names and production values of these and other projects completed or near completion are excellent reason for optimism. Finished are “CAPE FEAR,” starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum; “THE LAST HERO,’ starring Kirk Douglas; and “TOUCH OF MINK,” with Cary Grant and Doris Day; and “THE SPIRAL ROAD,” with Rock Hudson, is currently before the cameras. Put this together with the excellent business currently being enjoyed by “TAMMY TELL ME TRUE” and the upcoming release of “COME SEPTEMBER,” and you have some idea of why U-I looks to new highs for the year ahead. Let’s hope the upbeat story spreads and that the whole in¬ dustry catches the same spirit of excitement. We could all use a dose of enthusiasm from all companies. August 9, 1961 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 5