ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY. — The E. of E. (the name adopted in 1946) comprises the Catholic Cinematographic (C.C.C.), Theatrical (C.C.T.), and Radio (C.C.R.) Centres.
I. THE CATHOLIC CINEMA CENTRE
Established in 1936 at the initiative of Pius XI, who in the encyclical Vigilanti cura set forth the Church’s position and directives concerning the cinema, it has had and continues to have the task of informing Catholics about the moral value of the films shown in Italy. For this purpose, a commission composed of ecclesiastical and lay experts operates under its direction and promptly issues and disseminates such judgments. In addition to this activity, which is its fundamental one, the C. C. C. works to suggest themes and ideas to the film industry for a morally sound and constructive form of production, and does not fail to support the free initiative of producers, especially with regard to films of a particularly religious character, also through technical collaboration.Convinced of the importance of this work, which would restore and moralize cinema at its origin, that is, in its creative and productive phase, the C. C. C. promoted and encouraged the establishment of a Catholic film company, which was indeed founded in 1944 and named Orbis; it produced several films of an action-oriented and documentary nature (v. CINEMATOGRAFO). Orbis was also responsible for the first experimental implementation of an extensive programme of educational cinematography relating to the teaching of Christian doctrine through film. This programme of catechetical films is currently being implemented through the joint work of the C. C. C., which oversees its doctrinal and artistic conception, and Orbis, which undertakes its technical production and industrial distribution. Promoted by the C. C. C., the A.C.E.C. (Catholic Association of Cinema Operators) was established in May 1949 for the organization and protection of the more than 3,500 parish, oratory, college, and other cinemas in any way dependent on ecclesiastical authority.
II. THE CATHOLIC THEATRE CENTRE
Founded in 1941, it has arranged the staging or public reading of dramatic works of religious interest (The Legend of Everyone, by Hugo von Hoffmanstahl; S. Oliva, by an anonymous sixteenth-century author; The Sacred Experiment, by Fritz Hochwalder; L’annonce faite à Marie, by P. Claudel; The Passion according to S. Giovanni (a theatrical adaptation by Guido Guarda and others).It has plans to establish a Theatre Service for the guidance and protection of more than 2,000 Catholic amateur theatrical companies.
III. THE CATHOLIC RADIO CENTRE
Founded in 1940, it aims to make Catholics in general, and militants in particular, increasingly aware of the various problems (technical, legal, artistic, cultural, organizational) of radio broadcasting, to present programs of Christian inspiration on the National Radio (R.A.I.), and to conduct special broadcasts on Vatican Radio.For the R.A.I., the C.C.R. prepares news bulletins and special broadcasts on the occasion of important religious anniversaries.
It collaborates with Vatican Radio through special broadcasts, whose production it also oversees by means of its own dramatic company. Some of these broadcasts are devoted to children.
Finally, the C.C.R. collaborates with the radio service of the Presidency of the Council for broadcasts directed abroad.
BIBLI. - The life of the E. can be followed above all through the periodical publications it has produced. These are: Segnalazioni cinematografiche, in weekly installments; Rivista del cinematografo, a monthly publication of cultural and informational content; Indice cinematografico, an annual summary of the judgments on all films shown in Italy since 1934; Disco rosso, a pocket guide containing judgments on films from 1939 onward; Segnalazioni presentate, a preliminary classification of all films scheduled for forthcoming release, in cyclostyled form. In addition V. CINEMATOGRAFO; RADIO; SPETTACOLI. Ugo Biciccia