Felix Cherniavsky - Censorship, Dance, and Morality

Added 18th Mar 2022 by Beth Dobson (Archives and Programming Assistant, DCD) / Last update 18th Mar 2022

Maud Allan 949 51 2008-2-61.jpg
Maud Allan 949 51 2008-2-61.jpg
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Felix Cherniavsky - Censorship, Dance, and Morality

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Maud Allan Research Collection
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51.2008-2-61
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NY Times aug 24 1908 P2i5 THE " SALOME " DANCE GETS INTO : POLITICS lgos 2 # 8 Plain Talk by Marie Cah111 . The letters , which are identical , read : Dear Sir : In the hope that it may serve to call to the attention of yourself and pour committee the lamentablo tendency of the stage , and especially the vaudeville sec tion of it , to become more and more vul . kur and indecent , and that you may see fit to take one action which will result in legislation that will put a stop to this will . ful polson as of that great teaching Insti Actress Marie Cahill Writes to tution , the drama , I have the honor to suggest the incorporating in the platform to be adopted by the State Convention a Party Heads Urging Sup plank favoring the establishment in the Sluto of New York of a commission with pression of the Dance . powers of consorship over the dramatlo stage . The multitude of our young people who cannot go to school because they must work are earning in a majority of instances , enough over their llving requirements to go WANTS CONVENTION ACTION occasionally to the theatre , and they fre quently choose the vaudeville theatres be . cause of the inexpensive prices which pre vail there . Because their preliminary edu cation has been so weak they have acquired She Would put the Stage Under Strict little or no taste for reading good books , and their minds are fertile fields for the State . Censorship — " Salome " As- inevitable Impressions which the stage gives . This is particularly true of the sailed as a Disgraceful Exhibition . large body of foreign youths and girls . Is it not therefore the duty of the true citi zen to protect the young from the contam • Ination of such theatrical offerings as Miss Marie Cahill , the actress , who clothe pernicious subjects of the Salome kind in á boasted artistic atınosphere , but some two years ago startled Broadway which are really only an excuse for the most by entering a strong protest to theatrical vulgar ' exhibition that this country has ever been called on to tolerate . managers against compelling chorus girls There has been a time when " refined to wear tights ard excessively short vaudeville " was a fact . and the mother was glad to take her immature daughter to skirts against their will , has once more spend an afternoon in one of these houses , taken up the crusade by an ' attack on but the managers of this class of enter tainment seem now to have thrown discre the " Salome dance . " Miss Cahill is not tion to the winds . Since they have proved one of those who talks and does not act , ! themselves incapable of Judging what is and to emphasize her position in the pres right for the young to witness they have forfeited their privilege , and since their dis ent Instance has enlisted political ald . cretion is not to be relied on , I think it is She has written letters to President high time that the people took a hand . Roosevelt , the Presidential and Vice World Make Censorship General . Presidential candidates , National Chair- I hold no brlet for the legitimate stage , man Hitchcock and State Chairman for even it has at times wooed the mighty : Woodruff on the Republican side and dollar at the expense of the public morale , Chairmen Mack and Conners on the Dem and while its offenses have been less fla ocratic side , asking that they do what grant than those of the vaudeville theatres of late , I am in favor of making the cen they can to check the " Salome craze , ' sorship general . The legitimate stage has and suggesting that resolutions denounc- nothing to fear from the judgment of men of discretion . ing the dance be introduced before the In sending this letter to you I realize that two State conventions . Leader Murphy I may become liable to the charge of unwar .. of Tammany Hall has also been commu ranted interference and run the risk of being classed with that band of question . nicated with . able patriots whe desire to dictate to their Nelther Miss Cahill nor her press agent neighbors even the proper time for sneez has announced as yet what results , it Ing . but the evident fact that the stage 19 any , have developed from their effort to great amusement - teaching institution seems to be to demand that it be watched suppress the Salome dance . Miss Cahill said yesterday that she was with the same civic care which is given to the public school . determined to push the issue to a finish , Some one must tak , the initiative . and that she was already assured that The stage is the uneducated youth's only resolutions incorporating her ideas would schoolroom , and Its texts should be chosen be offered at both State Conventions next with the same care as is given by a Board month . of Education . In her letters to the two State Chair It is for the young and innocent that I am men the actress makes a frank attack on plea ding . The older persons go for amuse the vaudeville managers for giving ment where they please . The younger per sons may in many instances go where they " Salome " dances , declares that they pleare . So the only way to protect them is have thrown discretion to the winds and to place a censorship over what they may . have forfeited the privilege of judging go to sea . what the youth of ihe country may be London has a censorship which is very permitted to see . She characterizes the successful , for while it has always shown Salome " dances as such theatrical of . discretior . It has not made the English stage ferings as clothe perniclous subjects in a áull and Intolerable to the anusement lover . boasted artistic atmosphere , but which The stage of America cannot be unclean are really an excuse for the most vulgar 17 that o New York is protected . exhibition that this country has ever been Active steps to further agitate the mat . called on to tolerate . " ter , It is said , will be taken later . 儿 化 況 И 20 3 a

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