Lip Disservice

On the left, the full-page IDT ad in the Los Angeles Times Sunday "Calendar" section, February 6. On the right, the quarter-page ad as it appeared in the New York Times Sunday "Arts & Leisure" section, February 6. Same day, same movie, different ads. Both papers received the same art, so what gives? The NY Times censored the lips, mouth, and teeth (the virtual DNA of the art), making the ad look as appealing as a classified listing. And it was the liberal NY Times, you might recall, that originally championed the new pornography and Deep Throat in particular, when Ralph Blumenthal's "Porno Chic" ran in the Sunday magazine on January 21, 1973. On February 6, 2005, the Grey Lady, shamefully much less liberated now, is truly grey. Is it only the current administration and Janet's nipple we have to thank?

Of course, censoring movie ads – particularly their titles – is nothing new. Inside Deep Throat's associate producer, Ashley York, points out these switcheroos. which were listed in the January 3, 1973, issue of Variety. According to the article, she says, the NY Times and NY Post did not alter titles from X to exasperating, but the NY Daily News did.

Deep Throat –> Throat
Meatball –> Hamburger
Meat Rack –> Street Rack
Teenage Slaves –> Teenage Serfs
Cherry Blossoms –> Berry Blossoms
Sons and Mothers –> Sons and Others
Seduction of Inga –> Temptation of Inga
Pornography in New York –> Permissiveness in New York
Hot Parts –> Ultra Violet's Guide to 40 Years of X Films
Mary Jane –> Mary J