Faksimile

Text

Casanovas Heimfahr
box 4/11
30 Jn e eene ene etetene
August 16, 103o
595
Casanova’s Homecoming' in
Censorship in the Theater
THE summer bulletin of the Catholic
Court Once More
Theater Movement urges the public to
Friday, August Sth, Simon and
refuseto attend the obscene and degenerate
Schuster, who have been, since
plays „ow onthe New York stage. The
I6 S, the regular publishers of Ar¬
bulletin finds only two plays now running
thur Schmitzler and have issued nine other
which are worthy of inclusion on its 'white
books from his pen, published his famous
list.'" Green Pastures'’ (Furrur und Rine¬
Casanova’s Homccoming.'’ Promptly after
hart) and The First Mrs. Fraser''
the book went on sale, John S. Sumner, a
(Macmilian). Its criticism is chiefly
special agent and two officers went to the
directed against Aristophanes'“ Lysistrata''
publisher's offices, presented a scarch war¬
(Parrar and Rinehart) and Earl Carroll’s
rant issued by Magistrate Gottlieb and
Vanities. This campaign for cleaner
seized 477 copies of the novel. Asummons
plays is under the auspices of Cardinal
was served on Simon and Schuster, Inc.,
Hayes and Mgr. Michael J. Lavelle, rec¬
Richard L. Simon, and Lawrence W. Hoyt
tor of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Among the
of the sales staff to appear before Magis¬
prominent clergymen who have expressed
trate Gottlieb at the Fourth District Court
approval of the crusade and the white list¬
at 10:30 on Monday, August 18th.
ing plan are Cardinai Manning and Rabbi
Casanova’s Homecoming'’ was first
Wisc.
published here by Thomas Seltzer in 1021.
The Catholic Theater Movement points
On July 31, 1022, Mr. Sumner presented
out that it is not conducting a crusade, fhat
a case against the bcok, together with“A
it has, by its bulletins, been guiding
Young Girl's Diary' and D. H. Law¬
Catholics in their theater going for eigh¬
rence's Women in Love,?’ also published
teen years. The policy of the movement
hv Thomas Seltzer. Carl Van Doren,
is, as it hias been, to approve certain plays
Gilbert Seldes and other distinguishel
and to warn Catholics away from those
people appeared in defense of the books,
deerned dangerous to Christian morals,
and Assistant District Attorney James J.
rather than to originate any drive for
Wilson was inclined to admit all valld
censorship.
testimony and thus give a fair hearing to
It considers legislative and legal action
the defense. Magistrate Simpson read the
against indecency a sccular matter; but
books and handed down the opinien that
tries to influence public opinion on the as¬
all ehree books were “a distinct contribu¬
sumption that indecent plays will not make
tion to the literature of che present day.?'
money if decent people stay away.
Mr. Sumner then, through the then Dis¬
The management of Lysistrata'’ re¬
triet Attorney Banton, sccured a Grand
ports, according to the New Vork Morld,
Jury indictment. But Mr. Scitzer did not
that, following Monday’s front-page ex¬
feel equal to expending the large amount
cortation, there had been a sharp increase
of time and money required to continue the
in business, which had not been too lively
during the dog days.
light and agreed not to reissue the book, if
the case were disnnssed.
And the Grand Jury on Wedeesday,
Simon and Schuster will defend the book.
August r3th, failed to indict Earl Corroll
In the advertising pages of this issue they
and members of his company for his Vani¬
ties.? In an editorial the Morld com¬
say:" Dhe Inner Sanctum has never gone
ments:
in for the Law, and dislikes to in the first
* The failure of a grand jury to return a
place because it will give“Casanova’s
bill of indictment against Earl Carroll and
Homccoming' a reputation for nastinese
that it does not deserve and in the second
two members of his company is a complete
place because ## takes time and expense.
victory for Broadway’s most venturesome
producer. It was a deliberate challenge
However, we are fighting this case, de¬
fending what we believe is a great work
to the authorities and also a bid for pub¬
by a great author, and cne not entitled to
licitv. Clearly, if the law meant anything
ar all it was intended to prevent just such
the cheap theatrics that The New Vork
things as those which police found objec¬
Soriety forthe Suppression of Vice is en¬
tionable in Earl Carroll's show.“
dowing it with.“