Finding Aid Search

Title

Distributor and exchange correspondence files

Series Number

A1427

Summary

These files contain correspondence between the Motion Picture Division Director's Office and film distributors or exchanges. The majority of the correspondence concerns the licensing of films, issuance of seals, requests for scripts and cutting continuities for foreign films, requests for license applications, notification of change of film titles, payment of license fees, requests for copies of film transcripts, and the ownership of film rights.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

License application summary books for films sent to Albany

Series Number

A1433

Summary

Bound volumes contain information on films received and the actions taken on each film. Figures are totaled daily for the various categories of information, and totals are also entered at the end of each month. It is unclear why these films were sent to Albany.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Motion Picture Division administrative files

Series Number

B2734

Summary

This series contains administrative files created and/or collected by the Motion Picture Division during the course of daily operations. Records include auditor's reports; budgets; fiscal records; job descriptions and other civil service related information; lists of the number of films that were reviewed; and payroll records.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Handbooks of laws, rules, and regulations

Series Number

A1416

Summary

This series consists of pocket-size pamphlets that reprint New York State laws, rules and regulations regarding the review and licensing of motion picture films. Handbooks are present for many but not all of years between 1927 and 1963.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Reports

Series Number

B1547

Summary

The series consists of preliminary and final reports which includes details on financing and operation of motion picture production and distribution; commentary on "improper and indecent sex and vice pictures" and film regulation; information on contracting and rental for exhibition of films; estimates of salaries, admission fees, and profit; and a review of opinion on the necessity for licensing and regulating the industry.

Creator

• New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate the Moving Picture Industry

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Elimination cards

Series Number

B2733

Summary

This series consists of cards created by the Motion Picture Division containing information on reviewed films rejected in toto or approved with eliminations.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Inspector reports

Series Number

B2718

Summary

This series consists of motion picture inspector reports, which were completed in an effort to prevent the exhibition of unlicensed films by ensuring compliance with motion picture licensing laws and regulations. Inspectors filled out these forms in an assigned area of a movie theater after viewing each film. Inspector reports note the name of the inspector, date and time of inspection, name and location of theater, name of theater manager, and title of film. On the reverse side of the form is an explanation of any action taken.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Education Department Associate Commissioner for Cultural Education speech files

Series Number

B2890

Summary

The Associate Commissioner for Cultural Education administered the New York State Library, State Museum, State Archives, Motion Picture Division, Educational Television, and Intercultural Relations. This series consists of speeches relating to the program areas under the direction of the associate commissioner. Subjects of speeches include censorship; communication; cultural heritage; and education. Also included are copies of materials consulted in the preparation of speeches, outlines and drafts of speeches, and published materials on associated topics.

Creator

• New York (State). Education Department. Associate Commissioner for Cultural Education

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

License application summary books

Series Number

A1420

Summary

The Motion Picture Division reviewed each film intended for screening in New York State and issued a license for its exhibition unless the film was judged "obscene, indecent, immoral, inhuman, sacrilegious or of such character that its exhibition would tend to corrupt morals or to incite crime." The volumes in this series contain information on films for which licenses were sought and the actions taken by the division on each film.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this series.

Title

Record of films rejected or films approved with eliminations

Series Number

A1422

Summary

This series documents through those films rejected or approved with elimination, the Motion Picture Division's concern with sex, violence, and adult situations such as infidelity or abortion. Information includes film's serial number, title, applicant and manufacturer's name, changes/eliminations required for final approval, reel number of altered scene or dialogue, and the reason for the determination. For rejected films a plot summary, critique of acting, dialogue, plot, and reason(s) the film was not licensed are included.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Motion Picture Division eliminations bulletins

Series Number

A1417

Summary

This series consists of monthly "Eliminations Bulletins" compiled by the Motion Picture Division and distributed to countries and states with film censorship boards to inform them of actions taken on films. Information includes film title, applicant, and film footage in one of three categories: licensed without eliminations; licensed with eliminations (including a description of material determined to be offensive); or rejected. Also included is a listing of changed film titles, containing the old title, new title, and applicant's name.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Annual reports

Series Number

A1415

Summary

This series consists of printed annual reports of the Motion Picture Commission and its successor, the Motion Picture Division. Each report contains a narrative text and accompanying statistical tables describing receipts and expenditures, examinations of and eliminations made on films reviewed, a brief description of any new or significant events affecting the agency, and a brief review of the functions and activities of each unit.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Motion Picture Division subject files

Series Number

A1429

Summary

This series contains correspondence, minutes of meetings, memoranda, reports, newspaper clippings and other printed material, budget summations and reports, copies of legislative bills pertaining to censorship, appeals and opinions regarding film censorship, and printed minutes of relevant federal committees and commissions.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Alphabetical list of films rejected or films approved with eliminations

Series Number

A1423

Summary

This series consists of an alphabetical index to motion pictures rejected or approved with eliminations. The index lists the film title (and subtitles if applicable); whether or not the film is foreign and if it was dubbed; a note stating if the film was rejected; and the serial number assigned to the film. The entries between 1923 and 1927 also provide the date of the examination bulletin that contains reasons why films were altered or rejected.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Motion Picture Division annual financial statements

Series Number

A1432

Summary

This series consists of reports containing monthly tabulations of the revenue received from the issuance of seals, permits, and licenses for original and duplicate copies of 35 and 16 mm films. The statements also provide monthly and yearly totals of the number of seals issued by the Division.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Eliminations bulletins from other states and countries

Series Number

A1430

Summary

This series contains printed or carbon copies of elimination bulletins issued by other states, the Canadian provinces, and foreign countries. Bulletins contain the following information: a list of pictures approved, the distributor of the film, number of reels, and a brief description of action or dialogue to be deleted. Most of these bulletins were issued monthly and were not distributed to the general public.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Motion Picture Division license application case files

Series Number

A1418

Summary

This series consists of approximately 73,000 motion picture case files, one for each film submitted to the Division of Motion Picture for review and licensing. Each case file contains the following: an license application(s); copies of initial and duplicate licenses; a copy of the filmscript; examiner's report; amended film transcript if changes were made; and receipts for seals issued. Some case files also contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, transcripts for non-English films, and promotional ephemera.

Access Restrictions

Filmscripts (dialogue scripts, cutting continuities, etc.) for motion pictures licensed by the State Education Department Motion Picture Division are covered by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). The State Archives will provide copies of filmscripts upon receipt of a signed request form (form is available at online index page referenced in "Other Finding Aids" section of this finding aid).

Title

Motion Picture Division index to case files

Series Number

A1419

Summary

This series is a card file index to the Motion Picture Division license application case files. Cards contain basic information regarding each film and notations of actions taken by the division and other censorship boards. The A1419-04 accretion consists of a computer-generated microfiche index produced by the Archives. The fiche duplicate the file cards in the original accession.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Motion Picture Division personnel files

Series Number

A1431

Summary

The records for the most part document salary, travel expenses, and other work-related expenses incurred by Division personnel as they traveled throughout the state reviewing films and meeting with theater owners and operators. The files of former Division directors occasionally contain correspondence and memoranda discussing actions taken by the Division against films deemed offensive.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Distributor/exchange card file

Series Number

A1421

Summary

Index cards list the titles of films released by various film distributors. Each card contains the name of the distributing company on the top left hand line; underneath are listed the titles and subtitles, if any, of the films released by the company, the type of film (silent or audio), the date a license was granted, and the license number.

Creator

• New York (State). Motion Picture Division

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.