Educational film magazine; (19-)

designing and manufacturing recording instruments for pres- sure, temperature, electricity, etc., for the past thirty years and now is taking another step forward in worlting out the apparatus which records simultaneously what is seen and heard so that both the phonograph and the sound record can be reproduced at any future time in any place or number of places. The illustration shows the complete mechanism for reproducing the moving picture and its sound record. "A standard motion projector forms the largest part of the apparatus. The two parts added for the talking pictures are the synchronizing device located on the floor beneath the projector and the special phonograph shown on tlie left side of the illustra- tion. For operation the phonograph is locatetl near the screen. The plionograph disc is revolved in the usual manner by a spring motor; alternating current of any conunercial frequency is led into the electrical transmitting part of the phonograph which in turn sends the necessary current through conducting wires to the synchronizing receiver in the projecting booth when the phonograph is running. This receiver forms the right hand part of the synchronizing device. The rota of this receiver re- volves at the same speed as the phonograph turn table and con- trols the power delivered by the one-sixth horse power electric motor shown on the left hand side of the synchronizing device, to the hydraulic speed gear located between the motor and the receiving synchronizer. "The connection between the hydraulic speed gear and the projector is made through a vertical shaft having two universal joints and a telescope sleeve joint which permits the synchronizing mechanism to be quickly applied to the projector without any special alignment either laterally or vertically. "One of the difficulties in making the talking moving pictures has been the inability to re-synchronize in case of a false start or where a piece of the film has been repaired and a portion omitted. To meet these possible conditions there is provided a convenient means for the operator to quickly retard or advance the film the necessary amount to bring tlie pictures and sound together while the apparatus is in operation. The mechanism for accomplishing this consists 6f a handle as shown just below the lamphouse of the projector, within easy reach of the operator's hand, which is connected by a flexible shaft through a worm and gear to the stator frame of the receiver of the syn- chronized. "This stator frame is mounted on bearings permitting the rotation of this stator frame in either direction independent of the rota. "The ratio of the worm and gear are such that one revolution of the handle will advance or retard the film one picture accord- ing as the stator frame is rotated in the opposite or same direc- tion as the rota is being revolved by the phonograph. "In designing the various parts of the mechanism for this system of talking motion pictures, special effort has been given to make every part of the apparatus simple and practicable. "The possible uses and applications of talking motion pictures for educational and entertainment purposes can be only partially realized after witnessing demonstrations of the outfit. It is hoped that the apparatus will prove to be of commercial value." (Prof. Bristol suggests that some of our readers may wish to offer ideas on the use of the talking pictures In the systematic study of different subjects in schools and colleges. For example, ,a lecture in physics or chemistry might be prepared with appara- tus and experiments by a recognized authority and then this lecture together with the film—a standard of its kind—might be given in a hundred colleges at the same time. Both oral and visual courses of study in history, geography, and other topics might be arranged as standard courses to be given in thousands of classrooms at the same time, thus saving time, effort, and per- haps many thousands of dollars to the schools.. This new synchronizing apparatus may also t>e used for auto- matic musical instruments, so that while the phonograph sings t the song a player piano or organ will furnish the accompaniment. I What ideas or plans have our readers to offer in connection I with the Bristol talking and musical movies?— Editor.) WW I 12,000 REELS FOR NAVY'S 'FRISCO EXCHANGE '\ 'T'WELVE thousand motion picture reels from the Brook- I lyn exchange are "now en route to the United States '\ Navy training station on Goat Island, San Francisco Bay, • where the Pacific Coast Navy Motion Picture Exchange is ; being established for the accommodation of the fleet and all I bases of the Pacific Ocean, according to officials at the Twelfth Naval District Headquarters, San Francisco. In . ■ the future all vessels and bases of the Pacific equipped with [picture projectors will deal directly through the navy's i; exchanges. ILL. TEACHERS' ASS'N INDORSES MOVIES Will Recommend To Local School Boards Immediate Action —W. M. Gregory of Cleveland Foresees Films With "Even Balance of Punch and Educationalism" WHAT school child would not rather see on the movie screen Caesar slain on the Ides of March; the Queen of Sheba on her memorable visit to the sage Solo- mon; King Richard III. in his sensational wooing of Anne over the coffin of her husband; the war of roses, and other famous events of history—what child, history, science and mathematic teachers say, would not rather visualize these facts than read them? The question was answered re- cently at Englewood High School, Chicago, where the Illinois Teachers' Association convened for a two day ses- sion, by an endorsement of movies in the school. Not only do teachers advocate historical events on the screen rather than on the printed page, but they say that children at school will remember better certain microbes, facts in civics, how to make certain chemical tests, etc., if fhey see them worked out in movies. The teachers—about 300 of them—can take no executive action in the matter, but they can recommend to their re- spective city boards that such action can be taken. The Chicago representation at the meeting was heartily in accord with the idea. Frederick K. Branom, head of the geography department of the city normal school, said: Chicago May Act Soon "It is a great idea, but it will cost money. I think, how- ever, when this meeting is over and we present the matter to the board they will take it up, as it will greatly facilitate education." That the teachers will seek the facts, while some film producers may seek the sensational in history, science, geography, etc., was pointed out by William M. Gregory, head of the Cleveland Educational Museum. "This will be the great difficulty," said Professor Gregory. "The movie directors with their long experience with the public will naturally look for the sensational features, while the teacher will want to stick to the truth entirely. However, I believe this will mean that a film will be produced that will have an even balance of both 'punch' and educational- ism—just enough of each to be interesting." ANTI-JAP PROPAGANDA FILM A N extended campaign to acquaint the Eastern states with the so-called dangers of Japanese immigration on the Pacific Coast will be launched immediately under direction of the Japanese Exclusion League of California. The al- leged menace of the peaceful invasion of California by Asiatics will be offered in the showing of the photoplay, "Shadows of the West." Following the exhibition of the film on the coast the picture will be sent to Eastern cities, where the Japanese question will be brought before the eyes of the people for the first time on the screen. Compiled largely from the report of the State Board of Control, the screen feature reveals in history the phases of Oriental customs such as the picture bride system and land securing methods which have proved so objectionable to the people of California.