Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents, 1926-1965
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
- Title
- Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents
- Dates
- 1926-1965 (inclusive)19261965
- Quantity
- .6 cubic foot, (2 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 1802-E5
- Summary
- The Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents include annual reports, meeting minutes, petitions, and correspondence regarding theatre licenses and censorship of films and theatrical performances.
- 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
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Board of Theatre Supervisors was created in 1923 with Ordinance 52969; its purpose was to regulate exhibitions of motion pictures, drama and opera performances, theaters, and other public entertainment. The Board was to enforce the ordinance, which prohibited the production or display of "obscene, indecent, or immoral" entertainments. The nine-member Board, which regulated entertainment and exhibitions "contrary to the public morals and good order," was appointed by the Mayor, with the stipulation that one member be involved in motion picture production or distribution and another be involved with the ownership or management of a motion picture theater. Earlier incarnations of the Board (then known as the Board of Censors) had between five and fifteen members; in many cases, a certain number of Board members were required to be women. Board members were authorized to enter theaters and perform inspections and to view and censor films before they were shown to audiences.
The Board of Theatre Supervisors was dissolved in 1968 through Ordinance 97321.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Included in this set of documents are annual reports; petitions, protests, and other correspondence regarding shows at theatres and panoramas (panorams); and other material related to the Board. Subjects include licensing of theatres and censorship of theatrical performances or motion pictures deemed obscene or offensive by the Board. Of particular interest is a set of files dating from 1950 which deal with the City ban on the motion picture "Stromboli" on the basis of lead actress Ingrid Bergman's extramarital affair with the film's director, Roberto Rossellini. Included are the mayor's directive banning showing of the film as well as letters from citizens both in agreement with and opposition to the City's position.
Annual reports exist from 1956 to 1963, although not for every year. The reports are brief and include discussions of the Board’s activities for the year, information on membership, meetings, and budget, and a list of films previewed, plays checked, and actions taken. Actions include recommendation of deletion of scenes as well as age limits for films. Panorama activities and foreign film screenings were the subjects of separate subcommittees, and reports are included for some years. A special committee was appointed for the "supervision and control" of entertainment at the Seattle World's Fair; this committee's activities are discussed in the 1962 annual report.
Minutes document the Board's meetings, including members present and business discussed. Topics covered are largely the same as in the annual reports. The minutes include members' reports on spot-check visits to theatres and conversations with theatre owners, as well as findings of the Board's various committees, such as the Panorama Committee, the Night Club Committee, and the Foreign Film Committee.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents, Record Series 1802-E5. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents are arranged in three subseries:
Subseries I: Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents
Subseries II: Board of Theatre Supervisors Annual Reports
Subseries III: Board of Theatre Supervisors Minutes
Within each subseries, documents are arranged chronologically by year.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Board of Theatre Supervisors Documents, 1926-1961Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Petition for Ordinance to
Close All-Night Theatres |
1926 |
1/2 | Petition to Close Motion
Picture Theatres at 12:30 a.m.; referred to Women's Division of the Police
Department |
1926 |
1/3 | Protest Against Budget
Allowance for Board of Theatre Censors |
1930 |
1/4 | Petition for Amendment to
Ordinance 59674 re: Films, Slides, and Literature Concerning Sex
Subjects |
1931 |
1/5 | Report on Operation of State,
Rialto, and Palm Theatres |
1934 |
1/6 | Report on Operation of Palm,
Rialto, and State Theatres |
1934 |
1/7 | Report of Notice Served to
Owners of State, Palm, and Rialto Theatres |
1934 |
1/8 | Petition for Suspension of
License of Star Theatre |
1934 |
1/9 | Petition for Renewal of Star
Theatre License |
1935 |
1/10 | Petition that Mayflower
Theatre Be Licensed to New Management |
1935 |
1/11 | Report Approving License to
Oak Theatre |
1935 |
1/12 | Petition of Board for Warning
to Moore Theatre |
1937 |
1/13 | Request by Board for
Continuation of Monthly Budget Allowance |
1937 |
1/14 | Proposal to License Taverns
Presenting Vaudeville Acts |
1937 |
1/15 | Report on Operation of State,
Rialto, and Palm Theatres |
1938 |
1/16 | Protest Against Granting
Licenses to Carnivals |
1939 |
1/17 | Petition for Notification of
Licenses Issued for Carnivals |
1939 |
1/18 | Protest of Clean City League
Against Proposed "Moulin Rouge" Show at Civic Auditorium |
1939 |
1/19 | Protest Against Proposed
Closing of Rialto Theatre |
1940 |
1/20 | Letter of Appreciation to
City Council for Revoking Rialto Theatre License |
1940 |
1/21 | Petition for Ordinance
Amendment Concerning Films on Sexual Hygiene |
1948 |
1/22 | Request by Board for
Increased Budget |
1948 |
1/23 | Petition for Investigation of
Operating Standards for Atlas Theatre |
1949 |
1/24 | Protest Against Showing of
Film "Stromboli" in Seattle |
1950 |
1/25 | Directive from Acting Mayor
to Chief of Police Banning Local Showing of "Stromboli" |
1950 |
1/26 | Protest Against Banning of
Film "Stromboli" |
1950 |
1/27 | Reports on Panorama Machines
and Peep Shows |
1956 |
1/28 | Recommendation to Suspend
License of Rivoli Theatre |
1956 |
1/29 | Reports on Inspection of
Panorama Machines |
1956-1957 |
1/30 | Reports on Inspection of
Panorama Machines |
1960 |
1/31 | Petition for City to Revoke
Panorama Movie Show Licenses |
1960 |
1/32 | Reports on Inspection of
Panorama Machines |
1960-1961 |
1/33 | Petition to Keep Movies in
Seattle Clean |
1961 |
1/34 | Protest Against Banning of
the Film "Erotica" |
1961 |
1/35 | Recommendation of Mayor to
Enlarge Board |
1961 |
Board of Theatre Supervisors Annual Reports, 1956-1963Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Annual Report |
1956 |
2/2 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Annual Report |
1957 |
2/3 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Annual Report |
1960 |
2/4 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Annual Report |
1961 |
2/5 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Annual Report |
1962 |
2/6 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Annual Report |
1963 |
Board of Theatre Supervisors Minutes, 1957-1965Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/7 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes |
1957 |
2/8 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes and Reports on Panorama Operations |
1958 |
2/9 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes |
1959 |
2/10 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes |
1961 |
2/11 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes |
1962 |
2/12 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes |
1963 |
2/13 | Board of Theatre Supervisors
Minutes |
1964-1965 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Arts--Censorship--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Censorship--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Motion pictures--Censorship--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Motion picture theaters--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Music-halls (Variety-theaters, cabarets, etc.)--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Panoramas--Censorship--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Theater--Censorship--Washington (State)--Seattle
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
Form or Genre Terms
- Annual reports
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.). Board of Theatre Supervisors (creator)