Moving Picture Age (Jan-Dec 1921)

MOVING PICTURE AGE January, 1921 issued at the close of the school session. A staff of 10 registrars recently handled nearly 400 children in less than an hour. We now have 918 season tickets out in the neighborhood, and hold two programs each Friday — one at 3:30 and one at 7:30; the afternoon program shows to the younger children the same picture which is shown to the adults at night. As soon as the registration cards are available, we throw our whole organization into the work of calling on the homes of children who go to no Sunday school. Children unless accompanied by parents are admitted by ticket only. The leads from the registration cards are followed up and bring many inactive members back into the church. Names of such children are furnished to the teachers of Sunday school classes. We have been able to make 100 calls per week on these "prospects" with the result that scores have come into our Sunday school. The names of the fathers and mothers give us a fine line of "prospects" for our adult classes. Our men's class recently conducted two visitations among these men, securing a considerable number for the various activities of the church. When the financial canvass was made for the year's budget of the church, these "outsiders" contributed almost $1,000 toward our annual expense. Many church letters have been found as we have called in the homes, and many others have been brought into the church through profession of faith, the first contacts being made through the "Neighborhood Night." We consider this registration plan absolutely essential to our organization. The committee on film consists of the pastor, a member of the board of trustees, and the superintendent of one of the grade schools of the city. All films pass the inspection of this committee. Some of them we review, some of them are accepted on the judgment of film exchanges whose judgment we have learned to trust, and some of them are secured through trust -. — / X 1 r *: 3> f :t t r. ■. ? ¥.., \ ■ i • As ft*tf , ■ . ■ This school has been increased almost 40 per cent in the course of one year through the use of pictures. The popular Friday night program has become so big that it has had to be divided into an afternoon and an evening session. worthy advice from other users. By following suggestions in The Moving Picture Ace we get much help in the selection of film. The National Board of Review issues a booklet which lists many fine features. The following pictures have been used in our programs with splendid success : Tom Sawyer Famous Players-Lasky The Warrens of Virginia Famous Players-Lasky Freckles Famous Players-Lasky Huck and Tom Famous Players-Lasky Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. Famous Players-Lasky The Copperhead Famous Players-Lasky Sis Hopkins Goldwyn The Kingdom of Youth • Goldwyn The Cinderella Man Goldwyn Jack and the Bean Stalk Fox Fan Fan Fox Treasure Island Fox Babes in the Woods Fox The Life of General Pershing. . . . Fox Smiles Fox Evangeline Fox From the Manger to the Cross. . . . Vitagraph The Fortune Hunter Vitagraph Anne of Green Gables Realart Erstwhile Susan Realart The following pictures have a fine appeal for an adult audience, but do not appeal to the children so strongly : The Blue Bird Famous Players-Lasky Little Women Famous Players-Lasky His Majesty Bunker Bean Famous Players-Lasky Les Miserables Fox Tale of Two Cities Fox Puddenhead Wilson Famous Players We seldom use more than five reels because of the time involved. Occasionally we make up a program of miscellaneous films, educational, comedies and animated cartoons. Younger children enjoy these programs better than adults, because their minds will grasp a shorter and less involved tale more readily. Young people between the ages of 18 and 24 have less interest in our general programs than either adults or children. We have found it necessary, on many occasions, to organize programs especially for this group which can be held separately. It is a good plan to have a committee from among the young people themselves select their own film under tactful leadership. The Work of the Program Committee A brief space of time elapses between reels as the machine is being reloaded. Unless careful provision is made, this break becomes demoralizing. Something has to be provided the instant the picture stops. We usually spend three minutes in "specialties," furnished by the audience. Occasionally guests are imported as entertainers, but we prefer to use our own talent. Sometimes it is the Sunday school orchestra, sometimes a child vocalist or reader, and sometimes a simple trick of magic which points a moral. The Chicago Magic Company, 72 West Adams Street, Chicago, publishes a little booklet by a young Baptist evangelist, which is of great help in such work. We have made up several sets of slides illustrating hymns and patriotic songs. These songs thrown on the screen are enthusiastically sung by the audience. We also use the intermission in which to announce Sunday services and other features of the week's program, also as an opportunity to take the collection. We pay no one for participation in the program, and all funds collected go to pay for the film and publicity. One of the essential elements in the program is "pep." Long waits are fatal. The violin must be tuned and ready to go when the picture stops. Singers are seated next the aisle to avoid delay. The pianist is regular, understanding every point in the program, and has (Turn to page IS)