P. S. Harrison
| P. S. Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | Petros Spallios 1880 Gumlek, Turkey, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 22 October 1966 Salonika, Greece |
| Occupation | American journalist, publisher, critic |
| Nationality | Greek-American |
| Years active | 1918 — 1959 |
P.S. Harrison (1880 — 22 October 1966) , known popularly as Pete Harrison, founded the motion picture trade journal, Harrison's Reports, which was published weekly from 5 July 1919 until 11 August 1962. Until 1959, he was the publisher and chief reviewer.
In 1919, he founded Harrison's Reports. Until the 1950s, he may have been its sole writer and reviewer (except for one review in 1943; see below).
Born as Petros Spallios in Turkey of Greek ethnicity. Working as a stoker, he jumped ship in New York in 1903. In Long Beach, California, he worked as a projectionist, and managed a nickelodeon. In 1918, he became a film reviewer for Motion Picture News with a column titled Harrison’s Exhibitor Reviews.
From beginning to end, Harrison's Reports did not accept film advertising, leaving Harrison free to discuss subjects other trade periodicals would not report. Often he would advise, “It is a clean picture”, meaning no subject matter relating to sex. From his editorials, it is clear he believed “dirty” movies were bad for the movie business. He took a strong stand against the practice that later became known as “product placement” that is, brand names appearing in movies. From the late 1940s through the early 1950s, his editorials also took on a strong anti-communist stance.
In the 1950s, cable TV made its first appearance, and Harrison approved efforts by theater owners to make it illegal.
Harrison’s editorials often discussed Will H. Hays and the Hays Office, rarely favorably. In the 31 October 1931 issue, Harrison reported that Hays Office lawyer Gabriel Hess, among others, had been indicted for criminal conspiracy in Ontario, Canada. The wording of Harrison's editorial was erroneous, and in the issue of 14 November 1931, Harrison printed a retraction/correction, including the text of the indictment as it related to Hess. The same editorial also stated that Hess had filed a libel suit against Harrison.
Libel laws of that period required virtually no proof of damage to the plaintiff. In the 28 September 1935 issue, Harrison reported that Hess had been awarded $5,200 plus costs. Harrison settled the judgment for $5,000, money he did not have, but he did have enough friends who donated or loaned him the money he needed to continue in business.
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