I would like to thank all my devoted readers for reading my articles so faithfully and participating in the events which I have created. Next month, on October 17, the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society will be celebrating its second anniversary. During this time, we have had several successful events. Last October, we held our first blogathon, The Great Breening Blogathon, in honor of Joseph I. Breen's 129th birthday. During the holiday season, we had a series of daily articles about Code Christmas films, The Twelve Days of Christmas with the Code. In February, Rebekah commandeered our second blogathon, The Singing Sweethearts Blogathon, honoring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy at Valentine's Day. In July, we published daily articles about Code films as we encouraged our readers to only watch and review movies from the Breen Era in honor of #CleanMovieMonth. In August, we gained a new appreciation for the Code by avoiding Breen Era films throughout the month in honor of #AMonthWithoutTheCode.

Now, we are making a late announcement for a blogathon which we have been tentatively planning for months, The Second Annual Great Breening Blogathon! We couldn't let the 130th birthday of our beloved Joseph Breen go by unrecognized. In honor of this event on October 14, we are hosting another Breening Blogathon. Continue reading for all the information!

Dates: October 12-17, 2018

We know from experience that it can be hard to get articles done on time. Instead of restricting the blogathon to one weekend, we are beginning it on the Friday before Mr. Breen's birthday and extending it to Wednesday, our site's second anniversary.

Topics

Last year's Breening Blogathon had three categories. This year, we're limiting it to just two. The two categories are "Breening" and "Clean with Breen."

A "Breening" article is an article in which you describe how a movie which was not a Breen film could have been one. Basically, you "self-regulate" that movie. (See last year's announcement and final roster for more information about and examples of breening.) Last year, we encouraged participants to breen all films except American films made between 1934-1954, since these were already breened. However, this year, we're limiting the time period to the classic sound era. Thus, the time period begins with pre-Code talkies, no silent films. (We found that few people wanted to breen silent pictures.) Naturally, no American films from the Greater Breen Era (1934-1954) are eligible for breening. However, you can breen foreign films from this time, since they were quite free from the Code's supervision. This is a good time to watch a new European film and compare it, favorably or unfavorably, to the decency of American pictures! Finally, you can breen American pictures from the Shurlock era, 1955 to 1968. Our cut-off is 1968 because that was when the Code was replaced with the rating system. In conclusion, you can write an article in this category by saying how a film (talking picture) made before the Breen era, during the Breen Era in another country, or after the Breen era in the Shurlock era (1955-1968) would have been different if it were self-regulated by Mr. Breen's Production Code Administration.

A "Clean with Breen" article is basically any article discussing a Code film, the Code, the Breen era, or Mr. Breen himself. You don't have to discuss any of these favorably, but you have to be fair. We won't accept any articles which are just mean-spirited toward Mr. Breen and his duties in Hollywood, since this blogathon is intended to celebrate him and his life. We want intelligently-written articles which contain research and analysis into the Code. You may write anything you want about a particular Code film or film genre, but we ask you to keep your point of view Code-centric. In conclusion, you can write an article in this category by discussing and exploring any aspect of classic Hollywood which is related to the Code, its films, Joe Breen, or his era.

The Banners

Below you will find this blogathon's four banners. Each banner should be used for a particular type of article. I have included directions with each banner to make it clear.

This banner includes a picture of Lionel Barrymore and Diana Wynyard from Rasputin and the Empress from 1932. It should be used in "Breening" articles of pre-Code films. Thus, if you are going to be breening a film made before the installment of the Code in 1934, please use this banner.

This banner includes a picture of Glynis Johns from Miranda, a British film from 1948. It should be used in "Breening" articles of foreign films from the Code years. Thus, if you are going to be breening a film made between 1934 and 1954 in a country other than America, please use this banner.

This banner includes a picture of Shirley MacLaine from Irma la Douce from 1963. It should be used in "Breening" articles of Shurlock Era films. Thus, if you are going to be breening a film made between 1955 and 1968, please use this banner.

This banner includes a picture of Joseph I. Breen, head of the Production Code Administration, reviewing some sheet music. It should be used in all "Clean with Breen" articles. Thus, if you are going to be discussing a Code film, the Code, or Mr. Breen, please use this banner.

How to Join

1. Leave a comment saying you'd like to join.
2. Specify the category you have chosen.
3. Tell me your proposed topic or topics, if you have decided already.
4. Republish this article on your website to help spread the word!
5. Share this blogathon on social media and elsewhere.
6. Be sure to use the banners!

Thank you so much for reading about this blogathon. I hope you will help us make it a success by joining! Let the breening begin!

See the original announcement at https://pureentertainmentpreservationsociety.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/announcing-the-second-annual-great-breening-blogathon/.