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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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100 years ago in Spokane: City official proposes job to censor movies and other shows

A Spokane city commissioner was proposing to create a city censorship job that would have the power to censor motion pictures, vaudeville shows, theaters and other public entertainment, The Spokesman-Review reported on May 26, 1916. Also in the news, L.B. Nash, who had served on the United States Court for the Washington Territory from 1888 to 1890, died at the age of 78. The newspaper also reported that Spokane pioneers James Glover and D.C. Corbin would lead the Memorial Day parade. (The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

From our archives, 100 years ago

City Commissioner F.K. McBroom submitted an ordinance to create the office of a city official censor.

The censor “shall have authority to pass upon the fitness for exhibition of motion pictures, vaudeville shows, theaters and other public entertainments. The censor would also have the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, “any picture or show he finds to be obscene, indecent, improper, licentious or immoral, or that would have a harmful influence upon the public.”

Picture show managers were required to file a list of their films three days in advance of exhibition.

Anyone “aggrieved” by the censor’s decision could appeal to the city council, whose decision shall be final. Failure to comply with the censor’s orders could be punished by a $100 fine and 30 days in jail.

The ordinance had not yet been passed by the city council.

From the transportation beat: Auto licenses in Spokane continued to jump. The county auditor said he expected to issue at least 1,500 more auto licenses in 1916 than 1915. This was part of an overall trend in which the auto was rapidly taking the place of the horse.