Censorship Of Moving Picture Theaters

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to show or exhibit in a public place any pictures of the kind commonly shown in mutoscopes, etc., and such pictures as are commonly shown in so-called penny arcades, and in all other moving picture devices, whether an admission fee is charged or not, without first having procured a permit therefor from the Chief of Police.

Such permit shall be granted only upon application in writing for same. The chief shall cause to be inspected the plates, films, or other apparatus from which such pictures are produced, and within three days after such inspection a permit shall be granted or denied. If granted, it shall be in writing.

If a picture, or series of pictures, for the exhibition of which an application for a permit is made, is immoral or obscene, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to refuse such permit, otherwise it shall be his duty to grant such permit.

The permit herein provided for shall be obtained for each and every picture or series of pictures exhibited.

When a permit has been granted to one exhibitor, no other exhibitor may show the same picture or series of pictures unless the written permit is actually delivered to him and a written notice of the transfer or lease is mailed to the Chief of Police. Said written notice shall contain the name and Brief description of the picture, the number of the permit and the location of the building where the transferee proposes to exhibit such picture. Each day's exhibition of a transferred picture, without first having mailed notice to the Chief of Police, is a violation of this ordinance.

The written permit herein provided for shall be posted at or near the entrance to the theater, in such a position that it may be easily read by any person entering such theater at any time when such permitted picture is being exhibited. Each day's exhibition of any permitted picture, without the posting of the permit, shall constitute a violation of this ordinance.

Penalty for violation of this ordinance: fine of from $50 to $100.

Progs for . 3051.

Counc. Proceedings for 1908, p. 1176.

Moving Picture Operators

This ordinance provides for the licensing by the city of moving picture operators.