A brief look at the history of Written by Darrell Wright Edited by Doris Wright Since the 14th century, censorship has been both a moral and political issue in American lives. Religious leaders, politicians, and other organizations have attempted to coerce the American people into what they could read, see, and hear. These influential persons may believe they are doing what is appropriate to “purify the souls” of American citizens; however, I believe it is more suggestive of their use of communistic propaganda (all messages given by any group that insists it is speaking the truth without any evidence to the contrary), and socialist dictatorship (any group that seeks to make its polarized opinions forcefully met in specific groups of enterprise, and demand that its opinion be enforced legally). Translating the Holy Scriptures from Latin into English was banned in the 14th century. The Roman Catholic Church feared that the translation would be corrupted or misinterpreted. John Wycliff and his reformers, however, completed their first English translation in 1407. The Church immediately banned this newer version. Furthermore the English clergy strictly forbid one to read this new book without obtaining a special license. Following the America Revolution, the Roman Catholic Church finally granted their imprimatur (seal of approval) to the King James Version since it owned that book’s publishing rights. This issue became the fuel that ignited the flames of censorship throughout America. The prudish sensibilities of the Victorian Age caused many to believe that their biblical figures were incapable of committing “unacceptable behaviors.” After John Bellamy published “The Holy Bible, Newly Translated”, others began to produce Bibles 1 Censorship / Page 2 that eliminated anything these individuals felt was obscene. In the twenty-first century one might question whether or not he or she is reading a correct translation of the Holy Book, or only a book that has been reedited multiple times to satisfy the needs of the Victorian people. The debate about accurate versions continue today, as each religious faith claims it is God’s appointed choice. An atheist within the Brooklyn Center Independent School System of Minnesota challenged the teachings of the Bible in 1992. According to this individual, “the lewd, indecent, and violent contents of this book were hardly suitable for children.” Others cited more than 300 examples of obscenities in the Bible, making the objection that it “contains language and stories that are inappropriate for children of any age, including tales of incest and murder.” These facts make one wonder if censorship has gone too far. In the early 1900’s Christian groups worried that a new form of media was destroying “the souls of” the people. This new form of entertainment was called the motion picture. “The May - Irwin Kiss” was the first film to be deemed as offensive. While kissing in public was not prohibited, this film was censored because the critics felt that the couple was unattractive. The next in a long list to be restricted was in 1906. In Chicago, the YMCA confiscated the film “Fatina”. According to this organization the film was saturated with obscene gestures that could corrupt the minds of youth. However, the film only contains one element of supposed obscenity--a fully clothed belly dancer dancing. After this incident, Chicago became the first place to Censorship / Page 3 enforce a censorship law, and impressed the chief of police to enforce the new law. Many states followed this same decision over the course of the next few years. In 1908 New York Mayor George Clifton refused to license movie producers because of staggering reports that movies were corrupting young minds. This decision was made because of Reverend Zed Capp’s new organization: New York Decency for the Cruelty of Children. This organization feared motion pictures were corrupting children’s bodies and minds; although, vulgar language and nudity had not been portrayed on the silver screen at this time. In December of 1914, The Lobby of the International Reform Bureau led by Reverend W.F Crafts decided to take action into its own hands. According to Craft, his organization would rescue the motion picture industry from “the devil and 500 unchristian Jews”. Because of these controversies, the Supreme Court decided in 1915, that films were not protected under the first amendment rights. Forbidden were scenes involving prostitution, white slavery, seduction of women, knifings, murders, nudity, habit forming drugs, birth control, abortion, pornification, condemning the church, adultery, gun play, sensual kissing and love making, drunkenness, venereal disease, and lingerie display. Besides these laws, each state also had its own set of rules. In Connecticut, it was unlawful to show a woman smoking; in Pennsylvania it was against the law to display a pregnant woman; and in New York, movies could neither ridicule, nor otherwise be critical of politicians. All these laws remained in effect until 1921, Censorship / Page 4 when Hollywood studios joined together to reform the movie industry, and they appointed William H Hays, the Postmaster General, as the figurehead who would assure the public that Hollywood would straighten up its act. While Hays was attempting to straighten out Hollywood, the fires of censorship found other areas to attack. In 1928, protesters called for a ban on Duke Ellington’s song, “The Mooche”. The protestors complained that the lyrics were so provocative that rape had increased across the nation. As the flames began to smolder on this issue, another one was brewing in Boston. In 1929 Theodore Drieser’s novel, “An American Tragedy” was suppressed. The jury decided that New York publisher Donald Friede was guilty of violating the state‘s anti-obscenity law. During the trial, certain portions of the book were read to an all-male jury. After reading a passage concerning a girl undressing in a brothel, the prosecuting attorney stated, “a woman disrobing in front of a man might not be considered obscene in New York, but it happens to be where I come from.” Back in Hollywood, Hays was laying down the law. He ordered the industry to think of themselves as teachers of children by thinking like a child. To make sure that the industry did not go astray, he ordered that every script must be approved by him before filming began. One impression that Hays did not object to was the illustration of sin but only if the movie’s finale punished the sinners. The official code of conduct for filmmakers [aka The Production Code (PCA)] was received Censorship / Page 5 in 1930. It was written by Reverend Daniel Cord, who had been commissioned to write this code by the Catholic lobbyist Martin Quigley. Quickly Hays adopted it and forced filmmakers to accept its standards; however, not every film that Hays approved stayed within this code. If Hays enjoyed the actor or actress appearing in the film, he often ignored the regulations. An example was the Jean Harlow film, “Red Dust”. The movie contains one scene featuring Miss Harlow taking a bath in a barrel. This was strictly forbidden by the code; however, Hays found nothing wrong with viewing a beautiful woman taking a bath, and he approved the film. At other times, however, he used his powers very indiscriminately. In 1931 Joan Crawford and Clark Gable starred in the film, “Possessed”. Hays immediately complained about this film. He had known that Miss Crawford was originally a star of the forbidden “blue movies” (movies which were pornographic in nature). Her distasteful image had since been “cleaned up” after she was contracted by MGM. Hays was questioned on his non-approval of the film; he responded, “there are two problems with this film: first the title and second the movie itself.” Later Hayes instructed the removal of one scene--that of Miss Crawford dropping her coat. He feared people might suspect she was intending to strip. To receive Hayes approval, this was the only scene that had to be eliminated. While Hays feared the title of this film might cause controversy, Variety magazine was fearful of the music charts. Censorship / Page 6 The magazine refused to include certain objectionable songs in its charts. The editors were concerned that the titles of several hit songs on the list might have a negative effect on the magazine. Songs deleted from their list included “Hootchie Coochie Man”, “I’m Gonna Shave You Close”, as well as songs by Gene Autry and Jimmy Rodgers. While Variety was attempting to preserve its integrity, filmmakers were testing Hay’s new production code. An underground filmmaker released the film, “Nudist Colony” in 1933. Hays immediately condemned the documentary because it showed nude white people. According to the PCA, however, it was appropriate to film naked people if in a documentary about such a subject. After this film, Hays rewrote the code to state it was appropriate to show nudity in a documentary, only if it contained women of “darker skin”. It was not appropriate to show nude “white women”. Filmmakers did not show nudity in films for the next 20 years. Furthermore other parts of the code were also rewritten. Among the most popular actresses in the 1930’s were Barbara Stanwyck and Mae West. However, their portrayals as women who cursed at men, cheated on men, or in any shape or form did a man wrong was considered obscene by the Church. According to many religious leaders, these films concerned prostitution. Filmmakers became outraged by the code and paid Hays little, if any, attention. Hays warned the filmmakers if they did not clean up their acts, then the 100 new censorship laws presented to the Supreme Censorship / Page 7 Court would be enforced. Again Hollywood ignored Hays and made a new Mae West film, “It Ain’t No Sin.” During the making of this film Hays hired Joe Breen to enforce movie censorship. Breen edited material in the film that might offend the churches and added a wedding scene to the film’s finale. Furthermore he changed the film’s title to “Belle of the Nineties”. Many thought this would end the Mae West controversy; however, it was only beginning. After viewing “Klondike Annie”, William Randolph Hearst criticized Mae West insisting she had to be removed from films. Her decline, however, did not come about until after she did the radio play, “Garden Of Eden”. Censurers were then out for blood. Congressman William Connelly revoked the radio station’s license and Hollywood terminated Mae West. It may sound like she did something very disgusting on the radio; however, the illegal incident only involved her smacking a kiss into the microphone and calling it “the first original sin”. In November 1936, William Hays received praise from Pope Pious the XII for enforcing censorship on filmmakers. Following this incident, Hollywood became concerned about another possible World War. Filmmakers concentrated on producing movies that highlighted world problems. Censorship in Hollywood suddenly became less important. With growing concerns of war coming from Europe, censors went after another direct target. Literature!!! Censorship / Page 8 Several books based on the horrors of war were condemned. Among these titles were All Quiet On The Western Front, Johnny Got His Gun, and Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf. While the censorship of these books may have been a blessing to some, The Grapes Of Wrath drove fear into the hearts of farmers across the nation. Throughout the United States, book burnings were organized. The firmer the censors attempted to remove The Grapes Of Wrath, the more rapidly it moved onto the bestseller list. Eventually, the battle lines were drawn in Kern County, California. Previously there had been no registered complaints about this book at the local libraries in Kern County. Soon, however, the libraries’ board of supervisors passed the banning resolution that began floating around the country. Kern County librarian Gretchen Knief immediately fought back. In a letter she wrote to the board, she states, “If The Grapes Of Wrath is banned today, what book will be banned tomorrow? And what group will want a book banned the day after that?” In the same letter Knief later stated, “It’s a vicious and dangerous thing to begin and in the end may lead to exactly the same thing we see in Europe today. Besides, banning books is utterly hopeless and futile.” At the end of the letter she wrote, “Ideas do not die because a book is forbidden. If Steinbeck has written the truth, the truth will survive. If he is merely being sensational and lascivious and all his words are nothing more than fly specks on a large painting, then the book will soon disappear like all modern novels and be forgotten.” Knief was unaware that the group offended by Steinbeck’s book was the Censorship / Page 9 Associated Farmers of Kern. Led by Woffard Camp, the organization claimed they were defending their farms and workers by taking a stand against this vile propaganda. Soon articles and editorials began to fill the local newspapers. Many denounced the book as lie-promoting filled with class-hatred. Others indicated that the farm workers of California were better paid and housed than other agriculture workers. However, not everyone was accepting Camp’s ideas. In other parts of California, many criticized the Associated Farmers’ complaints. Newspapers across California began to run their own editorials about the situation. In many of these articles, special interest groups stated, “As for the meeting in San Francisco (in) which Mr. Stienbeck’s book was denounced, wasn’t it significant that the men and women who have read the book and do not want others to read it assembled in one of San Francisco’s most luxurious hotels far from the San Joaquin cotton fields. It is absolutely foolish to try and deny the conditions pictured in Steinbeck’s novel. Here in California, most of our pioneers have been run off the land they brought into bearing. Look over the files at the Sentinel for the past 20 years and see the hundreds that have been foreclosed.”