“Only by accepting criticism as graciously as possible can the motion pictures hope to avoid the really serious threat of censorship,” Howard S. Cullman, receiver for the Roxy Theatre, said yesterday in an address before the Cheese Club.
“The motion pictures have become today a vital factor in shaping public taste, habits and opinion,” he declared. “Some 50,000,000 persons of assorted ages and mentalities go to the movies each week in the United States. To determine what they shall see is not alone a business—it is a grave responsibility.
“If, upon occasion, the public or its representatives become articulate about what they do or do not want on the screen, I see no reason for surprise or resentment. On the contrary, I believe the motion picture industry should welcome comment and make the most of it.”
Mr. Cullman told of amusing incidents which have occurred since he took over management of the Roxy on December 15, 1932, making especial mention of incongruities which he found in an industry in which he was a virtual novice at the time.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
