How the L.A. Times covered the premiere of the original ‘Birth of a Nation’ in 1915

The ori­gin­al “Birth of a Na­tion” premiered in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 1915, un­der its ori­gin­al title, “The Clans­men.” Be­fore its premiere, City Coun­cil mem­bers had voted to sup­press the film be­cause of its ra­cist con­tent even after loc­al cen­sors had ap­proved it, and it was shown only after a court in­ter­vened. This art­icle chron­ic­ling the premiere was ori­gin­ally pub­lished by The Times on Feb. 9, 1915.