⚓ Welcome to Tidal Echoes

Series: “Youth Speaks Its Mind”
(A republication of our hometown newspaper, The Suffolk County News, from 65 years ago)

Our history isn’t just a timeline; it’s a series of waves that shape who we are today. In this series, we revisit the bold voices of Sayville’s past. Today, we listen to Cheryl Zeller as she weighs in on the debate over Hollywood “realism” and movie standards in 1962.

Originally published in The Suffolk County News on March 1st, 1962. Transcribed for the Sayville Alumni Association.

Hollywood Standards and the Silver Screen

By Cheryl Zeller, Sayville High School

Recently, in a national magazine, an article appeared dealing with the latest crop of “realistic” motion pictures. The opinion of the author seemed to be that these movies should be shown in local theatres all around the nation. I disagree with him for a number of reasons.

First, I think that these movies are seen by too many children. It is true that most parents and the majority of theaters keep the underaged from seeing these films dealing with “unmentionable” topics. But what about parents who are in the habit of sending the kids to the Saturday matinee without checking the program? What about the theatre owners who would let anyone in, just to make a buck? What about the group of young people, still immature in their thinking, who can pass for sixteen? What about teenagers old enough to “legally” see these movies, but not mature enough to take them for what they are worth? For their sake the movie producers of America should use more discretion and taste.

Secondly, I think that these movies are lowering the standards of entertainment. Many times movies are called excellent when they are but dull, well-worn plots with an unnatural romance or the like thrown in for shock effect. To really cinch it at the box office, Hollywood tacks on a “not for children under 16” sign and “voila”—an instant hit. If movie writers would use some imagination and a little taste, we wouldn’t have to face this dilemma, and we would have some really excellent entertainment.

I don’t believe in censorship of movies, because it is against the ideals of democracy, but I do think that Hollywood should try to keep its films more refined. If people want to fill their minds with these subjects let them go to plays and books. These more sophisticated areas are not as accessible to children as motion pictures. Right now these pictures deal with controversial subjects only when done with “taste”. It only makes me wonder how long it will be until the grand “silver screen” will be entirely tarnished.

⚓ Cast Your Thoughts

How do these words from 1962 land today? Reflecting on Cheryl Zeller’s insights:

• cheryl mentions the “saturday matinee” tradition—what are your favorite memories of the sayville theatre from the early 60s?
• she notes that a “not for children under 16” sign often made a movie an “instant hit”—did this ever influence which movies you and your friends tried to see?
• her fear that the “silver screen” would be “entirely tarnished” is a powerful image. looking at movies today, do you feel her concerns about “discretion and taste” were justified?

👇 scroll down to the comment section below to share your reflections with fellow alumni!