George Fingold
Encyclopedia
George FingoldGeorge Fingold (born October 18, 1908 in Boston, Massachusetts, attended Suffolk University Law School
, a private law school in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and became a politician who served as Attorney General of Massachusetts
from 1953-1958.
Fingold's political career began at the age of 21 when he was elected to the Malden
City Council. He later served as Assistant District attorney
of Middlesex County
and as the Commonwealth's Assistant Attorney General in charge of prosecution of racketeers. In 1952, Fingold defeated incumbent Attorney General Francis E. Kelly
.
On December 18, 1953, Fingold, in a burst of indignation, called for the Massachusetts Governor's Council
to ban the comic book PANIC
within the state, on the grounds it “desecrated Christmas” depicting the holiday in a “pagan” manner. Under his orders the head of the state police, Captain Joseph Crescio, cut off distribution of PANIC
throughout Massachusetts, and by December 21, the book had been pulled from nearly all the newsstands in the Greater Boston area. Fingold warned distributors who resisted compliance that they would be susceptible to criminal prosecution. (An idle threat since he had no authority to ban any reading material at all.)
Publisher William M. Gaines retaliated by announcing that he was permanently withdrawing Panic from distribution in the state of Massachusetts, (and hearing Fingold was a religious man) yanking his Picture Stories From The Bible from that state (which the state didn’t know hadn’t been published in over five years)
“The idea was, ‘If you don’t want us, we don’t want you,’” explained editor and writer Al Feldstein
, who said he had felt a “certain literary pride” in having his book banned. (TCP pg.221)
These actions were the predessor to the entire comic book outrage which swept the nation, especially after the publication of Fredrick Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent
.
Fingold died on August 31, 1958 at his home in Concord, Massachusetts. At the time of his death he was a candidate in the Republican primary for Governor of Massachusetts
.
Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School, also known as Suffolk Law School or SULS, is one of the professional graduate schools of Suffolk University. Suffolk University Law School is a private, non-sectarian, law school located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Suffolk University Law School was founded in...
, a private law school in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and became a politician who served as Attorney General of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
from 1953-1958.
Fingold's political career began at the age of 21 when he was elected to the Malden
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
City Council. He later served as Assistant District attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
and as the Commonwealth's Assistant Attorney General in charge of prosecution of racketeers. In 1952, Fingold defeated incumbent Attorney General Francis E. Kelly
Francis E. Kelly
Francis E. Kelly was an American politician who served as a member of the Boston City Council from 1930–1933, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1937 to 1939 and Massachusetts Attorney General from 1949-1953.-Footnotes:...
.
On December 18, 1953, Fingold, in a burst of indignation, called for the Massachusetts Governor's Council
Massachusetts Governor's Council
The Massachusetts Governor's Council is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matters such as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutations to the Governor of Massachusetts...
to ban the comic book PANIC
Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction...
within the state, on the grounds it “desecrated Christmas” depicting the holiday in a “pagan” manner. Under his orders the head of the state police, Captain Joseph Crescio, cut off distribution of PANIC
Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction...
throughout Massachusetts, and by December 21, the book had been pulled from nearly all the newsstands in the Greater Boston area. Fingold warned distributors who resisted compliance that they would be susceptible to criminal prosecution. (An idle threat since he had no authority to ban any reading material at all.)
Publisher William M. Gaines retaliated by announcing that he was permanently withdrawing Panic from distribution in the state of Massachusetts, (and hearing Fingold was a religious man) yanking his Picture Stories From The Bible from that state (which the state didn’t know hadn’t been published in over five years)
“The idea was, ‘If you don’t want us, we don’t want you,’” explained editor and writer Al Feldstein
Al Feldstein
Albert B. Feldstein is an American writer, editor, and artist, best known for his work at EC Comics and, from 1956 to 1985, as the editor of the satirical magazine Mad. Since retiring from Mad, Feldstein has concentrated on American paintings of Western wildlife...
, who said he had felt a “certain literary pride” in having his book banned. (TCP pg.221)
These actions were the predessor to the entire comic book outrage which swept the nation, especially after the publication of Fredrick Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent
Seduction of the Innocent
Seduction of the Innocent is a book by German-American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, published in 1954, that warned that comic books were a negative form of popular literature and a serious cause of juvenile delinquency. The book was a minor bestseller that created alarm in parents and galvanized...
.
Fingold died on August 31, 1958 at his home in Concord, Massachusetts. At the time of his death he was a candidate in the Republican primary for Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
.