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Ave María:

Do you have more info on this? Was it some kind of pastoral regulation or just one of those generally accepted rules without a decree from their superiors?

This topic interests me because I've always suspected that there is something inherently wrong with the acting profession. An actor is pretending to be something that he is not (which is at least proximate to lying), even if the role they are playing is virtuous.

I've read somewhere that in ancient (non-Christianized) Rome, acting and prostitution had basically the same reputation. I also remember reading that theater plays (not only the lurid ones) were forbidden in the Papal States under Pope St. Pius V or Pope Paul IV (can't remember which one, one of those 'heavy-handed' popes from the Counter Reformation).

This is from St. Alphonsus' sermon for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost "On the education of children":It's interesting that something seemingly innocuous as a mask must be banished from a home where children are growing up. The saint and doctor of the Church knows better.

I have noticed that many young children are naturally afraid of any kind of facial covering.  Saint Alphonsus was very wise.