Mayor Thompson Bars "Birth of Nation" from Chicago
Courageous Executive Refuses Promoters Permit to Exhibit Films Based on "The Clansman" in City-- Takes High Ground in Defense of Many Nationalities That Make Up His Constituents.
WILL ALLOW NO RACE TO SUFFER RIDICULE
Declares That Whatever Power There Is in the Mayor's Office Will Be Used to Stop Film Tabooed or Any Other Films That Reflect on the Citizens of Any Race or Nationality.
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Source: Chicago Defender, 22 May 1915, pg. 2.
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Following the prediciton published exclusively in the Chicago Defender Saturday, May 1, 1915, to the effect that "The 'Birth of a Nation' will not be shown in Chicago," Mayor William Hale Thompson on Saturday refused D. W. Griffiths, promoting the film, a permit to exhibit the pictures in Chicago. Before his inaguration the mayor promised to see the pictures and if there was anything that he considered harmful to the race he would bar them from the city.
When Mayor Thompson was called upon to give his final answer it was a firm "No."
Some of the Mayor's Objections
Not as long as he remains in the mayor's chair, he said, will the panorama, starting with the importation of African slaves to the country, and ending with the distressing tragedy of reconstruction days in the south after the civil war, be seen at the moving picture theaters here.
While the mayor would not go into a discussion of his reasons for putting up the bars in Chicago against the sensational picture drama, his close friends understand that he objects particularly to the scenes depicting the assassination of President Lincoln and the impression that northern statesmen and southern Negroes committed great wrongs against the south in the years immediately following the war.
Film Has Stormy Time
The history of the film from the beginning has been one of racial bitterness and censorial squabbles.
The national board of censors inspected the production and promptly had a stirring row which ended in the resignation of some members of the board. In Boston presentation of the film was permitted after considerable agitation, but miniature riots took place in the lobby of the Tremont theater on several occasions.
After putting on the film at the Liberty theater in New York at $2 prices and installing it under the name of "The Clansman" in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Mr. Griffith looked Chicagoward. He applied for a permit. Mrs. Carter H. Harrison and Charles Fitzmorris, the mayor's secretary, inspected it. Mr. Fitzmorris granted a permit. The film was underlined at the Illinois to open May 1.
Then Mr. Thompson walked into the city hall. Instead of installing the show, the producers decided to ask for a new permit. "Big Bill" listened to a complaint from representative Afro-Americans. He at once announced he would inspect the film, and if there was anything which would reflect on the race he would have it cut out.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 18 February 2000
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