January 17, 1909 (Sunday)
- In Russia, a police decree issued banning music in all cinemas. The ban, which was soon rescinded, is believed by film historian Yuri Tsivian to have been an attempt to "extort bribes from exhibitors, since by that time music was already felt to be an essential accompaniment to films." However, censors continued to ban the playing of music during the showing of any newsreels of the Tsar or his family.
Read more about this topic: January 1909