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Board of Theater Supervisors Documents, 1912-1965

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
Title
Board of Theater Supervisors Documents
Dates
1912-1965 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.6 cubic feet
1 volumes
Collection Number
1802-E5
Summary
Records from a board that oversaw theatre licenses and film censorship.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The City Clerk maintains the City's legislative records, official filings, and the Seattle Municipal Archives; keeps the minutes of City Council meetings; and provides information services to City agencies and the public. Seattle's first City Charter allowed for a Clerk of the Common Council to be elected by the Council. In 1875 the position of City Clerk became elective and remained so until 1896 when the new Charter designated the Comptroller ex-officio City Clerk. The Comptroller served as City Clerk through 1992. A 1991 City Charter amendment transferred the Comptroller's function to the Department of Finance and the City Clerk's Office became a division of the Legislative Department effective in 1993.

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Content Description

Reports of board activities; petitions, protests, and other correspondence regarding shows at theaters and panorams; annual reports; meeting minutes; and other material related to the Board. The reports are short; they include discussions of the Board's activities for the year and a list of films previewed, plays checked and actions taken. Panorama activities were the subject of a separate subcommittee and reports are included for some years. Subjects include licensing of theaters and censorship. The Board was formerly known as the Board of Theater Censors.

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Other Descriptive Information

A Comptroller or Clerk File (CF) can consist of correspondence, reports, petitions, contracts, agreements, etc. from elected officials, City departments, other government agencies, or the general public, which have been placed "on file" with the Office of the City Clerk (OCC). They are primarily permanent records, but also include routine material which was periodically purged. Certain archival records identified in the CF have been removed, arranged into records series, and incorporated into the collection of the Seattle Municipal Archives, a program of the OCC.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Board of Theater Supervisors Documents, Record Series 1802-E5 Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Petition for Ordinance to Close All-Night Theatres
    Dates: 1926
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Petition to Close Motion Picture Theatres at 12:30 a.m.; referred to Women's Division of the Police Department
    Dates: 1926
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Protest Against Budget Allowance for Board of Theatre Censors
    Dates: 1930
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Petition for Amendment to Ordinance 59674 re: Films, Slides, and Literature Concerning Sex Subjects
    Dates: 1931
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Report on Operation of State, Rialto, and Palm Theatres
    Dates: 1934
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Report on Operation of Palm, Rialto, and State Theatres
    Dates: 1934
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Report of Notice Served to Owners of State, Palm, and Rialto Theatres
    Dates: 1934
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Petition for Suspension of License of Star Theatre
    Dates: 1934
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Petition for Renewal of Star Theatre License
    Dates: 1935
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Petition that Mayflower Theatre Be Licensed to New Management
    Dates: 1935
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: Report Approving License to Oak Theatre
    Dates: 1935
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Description: Petition of Board for Warning to Moore Theatre
    Dates: 1937
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
  • Description: Request by Board for Continuation of Monthly Budget Allowance
    Dates: 1937
    Container: Box 1, Folder 13
  • Description: Proposal to License Taverns Presenting Vaudeville Acts
    Dates: 1937
    Container: Box 1, Folder 14
  • Description: Report on Operation of State, Rialto, and Palm Theatres
    Dates: 1938
    Container: Box 1, Folder 15
  • Description: Protest Against Granting Licenses to Carnivals
    Dates: 1939
    Container: Box 1, Folder 16
  • Description: Petition for Notification of Licenses Issued for Carnivals
    Dates: 1939
    Container: Box 1, Folder 17
  • Description: Protest of Clean City League Against Proposed "Moulin Rouge" Show at Civic Auditorium
    Dates: 1939
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Protest Against Proposed Closing of Rialto Theatre
    Dates: 1940
    Container: Box 1, Folder 19
  • Description: Letter of Appreciation to City Council for Revoking Rialto Theatre License
    Dates: 1940
    Container: Box 1, Folder 20
  • Description: Petition for Ordinance Amendment Concerning Films on Sexual Hygiene
    Dates: 1948
    Container: Box 1, Folder 21
  • Description: Request by Board for Increased Budget
    Dates: 1948
    Container: Box 1, Folder 22
  • Description: Petition for Investigation of Operating Standards for Atlas Theatre
    Dates: 1949
    Container: Box 1, Folder 23
  • Description: Protest Against Showing of Film "Stromboli" in Seattle
    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 1, Folder 24
  • Description: Directive from Acting Mayor to Chief of Police Banning Local Showing of Stromboli
    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 1, Folder 25
  • Description: Protest Against Banning of Film "Stromboli"
    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 1, Folder 26
  • Description: Reports on Panorama Machines and Peep Shows
    Dates: 1956
    Container: Box 1, Folder 27
  • Description: Recommendation to Suspend License of Rivoli Theatre
    Dates: 1956
    Container: Box 1, Folder 28
  • Description: Reports on Inspection of Panorama Machines
    Dates: 1956-1957
    Container: Box 1, Folder 29
  • Description: Reports on Inspection of Panorama Machines
    Dates: 1960
    Container: Box 1, Folder 30
  • Description: Petition for City to Revoke Panorama Movie Show Licenses
    Dates: 1960
    Container: Box 1, Folder 31
  • Description: Reports on Inspection of Panorama Machines
    Dates: 1960-1961
    Container: Box 1, Folder 32
  • Description: Petition to Keep Movies in Seattle Clean
    Dates: 1961
    Container: Box 1, Folder 33
  • Description: Protest Against Banning of the Film "Erotica"
    Dates: 1961
    Container: Box 1, Folder 34
  • Description: Recommendation of Mayor to Enlarge Board
    Dates: 1961
    Container: Box 1, Folder 35
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Annual Report
    Dates: 1956
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Annual Report
    Dates: 1957-1958
    Container: Box 2, Folder 2
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Annual Report
    Dates: 1960
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Annual Report
    Dates: 1961
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Annual Report
    Dates: 1962
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Annual Report
    Dates: 1963
    Container: Box 2, Folder 6
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1957
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes and Reports on Panorama Operations
    Dates: 1958
    Container: Box 2, Folder 8
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1959
    Container: Box 2, Folder 9
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1961
    Container: Box 2, Folder 10
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1962
    Container: Box 2, Folder 11
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1963
    Container: Box 2, Folder 12
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1964-1965
    Container: Box 2, Folder 13
  • Description: Board of Theater Supervisors Minutes
    Dates: 1912-1953
    Container: Volume 1

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Censorship--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Motion picture theaters--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Music-halls (Variety-theaters, cabarets, etc.)--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Board of Theatre Supervisors
  • Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)
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