Dictated but not Red

    On April 24th, 1963 the Fairfax Library conducted a film showing event titled, "The Wonderful world of films," which was organized monthly since 1958.^[1][2] The event was to be held where the former Fairfax Library Headquarters was located at 222 North Payne Street, Alexandria. Of the films listed, one by the producer Julien Bryan stood out to the commander of Post 177 of the American Legion by the name of George O’Sullivan. The American Legion maintained newsletters distributed among its members and leaderships titled, Firing Line, in which Julien Bryan’s name allegedly came up associating him with the Communist Party.^[3] O’Sullivan was quick to contact the librarian Mary McCulloch, along with other callers presumed encouraged by O’Sullivan, to inform her of Bryan’s alleged Communist connections.

    Part of these anxieties over communism are compounded with the recent decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) which began integrating public schools and paving the way for libraries to follow suit. For Fairfax's Black community, the library access was indicated as through the school system up until clearly noted in 1957 by the Fairfax County Library advertisements in the local papers.^[4] Conservative groups such as the John Birch Society,^[5] and the Defenders of State Sovereignty,^[6] began making connections of desegregations and civil rights movements to a larger conspiracy of Communist infiltration.

    Librarian Mary McCulloch postponed the film showing due to the sudden uproar, other individuals found it to their benefit to latch themselves on to the controversy due to its public display. Joseph Runey, Fairfax Library Administrator at the time along with Librarian Mrs. McCulloch opted to have a private showing for all those concerned with the films offered at the library’s events. Some of those invited were members of Post 177 American Legion, including George O’Sullivan, who had never seen the films prior. The city of Fairfax’s first mayor, John C. Wood, along with his aide, also the Baptist Reverand Dale Crowley, Sr., whose main contention was with films relating to evolution. Finally, Glenn Burkland also attended, who was elected that year as the first Republican to represent Fairfax in the Virginia House of Delegates.

    Of the films chosen for this private showing event Picture In Your Mind and Japan, which drew the most criticism from these groups. Library director Runey operated the projector for a crowd upwards of 100 individuals. It should be noted that Mayor Wood suffered from a hereditary condition which left him blind, explaining his need for an aide. This scene unfolds with the aide next to Mayor Wood describing, to the best of his abilities, the film Picture In your Mind. Mayor Woods main take away was, “It starts out with a lot of weird scenes of rocks, and the beginning of the world, and a lot of weird music.”^[7] Brotherhood of Man written by Ring Lardner Jr., who was one of the famed "Hollywood Ten" in 1947 that served 12 months in jail for contempt of Congress, was played after.^[8] Mayor Wood described the "cartoon" as “propaganda,” but excusing it if was shown by organizations like the NAACP. The film, Brotherhood of Man, is an animated short that promotes a message of racial unity.^[9]

    Enter Baptist Reverand Dale Crowley, Sr., a proud fundamentalist whose preachings could be heard from the Falls Church WFAX radio station through his daily broadcast, Right Start for the Day.^[10] Along with Fairfax Delegate Glen A. Burkland, both of whose complaints center around the film Picture In Your Minds’ depiction of evolution. Burkland elevating the issue to the State attorney general to see if the film could be banned, yet no law Virginia has would support a ban on teaching evolution. Upon the first films end Reverand Crowley put his known style of fire and brimstone sermonizing to use when declaring, “This film you’ve just shown isn’t 3-D, it’s 6-D. Demoralizing, degenerating, deplorable, despicable, diabolical, and damnable.”^[11] This was followed by insults from the crowd toward Crowley, with one individual bringing up the famous Scopes Monkey Trial and wishing to avoid Fairfax devolve into similar situation.^[12] In which Crowley snapped back, “What are you, a Communist.” Library administrator Runey proceeded to start the next film with the volume as high as it would go to with Fairfax County police on standby to ensure order maintained.

    While the private film screening at the Fairfax Library added to the controversy by turning the whole situation into a side show in the local newspapers. It did win some of the public over with those who stood up to individuals like Reverand Crowley during the event. American Legion Commander George O’Sullivan also backed down from his library censorship demands, though as to the reason why it is not clearly known. Suggestion that due to members of Post 177 resigning in protest over his aggressive stance against the library, and suggestion by the American Legion leadership for O’Sullivan to ease off.^[13] It is easy to paint individuals as 'heroes' and 'villains' when reading through the events of the past. It should be noted that George O’Sullivan was an active member of the Fairfax community and often volunteered to raise funds for various charities. Showing that even those with the best intentions can be guided down controversial paths.