Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <a href="http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/Nov/20051119News012.asp" target="_blank">http://www.columbiatribune.com /2005/Nov/20051119News012.asp</a> Excerpt: KANSAS CITY (AP) - A recent change in the photo of a well-known children’s book illustrator to remove a cigarette from his hand has drawn criticism from a Kansas City bookstore. Pete Cowdin, owner of Reading Reptile, said he noticed the change about six weeks ago while selling a copy of "Goodnight Moon," a popular classic written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd that was first published in 1947. The photograph of Hurd published in the book for years showed him with a cigarette in his right hand, but in new copies brought out recently by HarperCollins Publishers, the cigarette has been digitally removed. Cowdin, surprised by the change, reacted by setting up a Web site, www.goodnightreality.com, to protest what he says is censorship. "This is one of the best-selling kids’ books of all time," he said. "There are certain responsibilities and obligations on the part of the publisher as a steward - not just a marketer - to what I consider an archival document. To go in and do something like that is the pinnacle of arrogance." ______________ Censorship??? I have to laugh at this because I have been waiting for this to happen for years now. Back in 1998 I was very surprised to see the cigarette in my daughter's book. I have mixed feelings about it. I can't say that I'm surprised that it has been removed.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Hey baby. If the guy was holding a condom I bet he would be a champion of real world education for the kids. ha!
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Oh, my kids love finding the little mouse that is on every page in that book.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 I should check my Tomorrowland dvd. I know they mention this in the Man and the Moon segment or whatever it's called. I couldn't stand it when Disney removed the cigarette from Pecos Bill either.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I dont think its right to remove it. It would be like altering old civil war photos or really any historic photography. As an avid photographer I dont like altering the original very much for color or anything else and I definately dont like removing anything thats part of the pictures. This is the way the man was and should be remembered.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Goodnight lungs. Goodnight cancer. Goodnight coughing and wheezing. Goodnight emphysema. Goodnight butts, goodnight bad breath. And good night to the old man hacking up a lung.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I dont think that a picture of him holding the cigarette is condoning smoking. We know all those things happen from smoking, but back when the photo was taken and im sure when he started smoking those things were not known and smoking was welcome if not encouraged.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I can't believe there is even any discussion on this. ANYONE who would suggest changing the illustration from the way WALT originally drew it is a CHILD and clearly has NO TASTE!! Oh... Walt wasn't the illustrator? Never mind...
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Wasn't Walt a big time smoker? I don't think the PC crowd should try and sanitize history.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 ^^^ Yeah Walt had a big smoking habit. Hey I'm anti-smoking, but I agree with Beau, something that was produced, illustrated or written 50 60 70 or even a hundred years ago shouldn't be censored. Instead there should be an explanation or context as to why something happened.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Understand here that they aren't censoring the actual content of the book, merely an element in a photo of the book's illustrator. Maybe if they superimposed a charcoal pencil in his hand instead of leaving it in that awkward pose, no one would have given it a second thought.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I would have agreed with a change of the photo but altering the original was not correct. Also, why make stink about it? Im gonna guess that the kids didnt even look at it.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I remember a large photograph in the lobby of 'The Walt Disney Story' in Florida. It was some photo of Walt that had been altered. He was holding a cigarette that had been 'inked' out on the photo. That was 20 years ago. Please join me in my quest. <a href="http://www.Disney_altered_a_photo_of_Walt_Disney_so_it_looked_like_Walt_never_smoked_because_smoking_is_the_most_evil_thing_anyone_could_ever_do.com" target="_blank">http://www.Disney_altered_a_ph oto_of_Walt_Disney_so_it_looked_like_Walt_never_smoked_because_smoking_is_the_most_evil_thing_anyone_could_ever_do.com</a>
