100 years ago today - Aug 24, 1921

A letter is sent out expresseing the interest and concern of President Grant and the First Presidency regarding the nation-wide distribution and showing of a motion picture, "Riders of The Purple Sage," based on a novel by Zane Grey, which the Church considered to be "scandalous" so far as its portrayal of Mormon history was concerned

It is evident from the letter of September 14th that Senator Smoot's influence with William H. Hays of the National Board of Motion Picture Review was sufficient to cause the elimination of the picture "from the screen.

President Grant's notes: "Sometimes I think we are too passive and do not defend ourselves as we should against such onslaught".

[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

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