Moving Picture Age (Jan-Dec 1921)

24 MOVING PICTURE AGE February, 1921 Showing Kiddies How Shoes Are Made By John Wilson Director of Sales Promotion, McElroy-Sloan Shoe Co., St. Louis, Mo. THE evolution of shoes, from the crude sandals of the caveman down to the footwear of the twentieth century, is visualized in an educational motion picture which Mrs. B. L. Barker, Director of McElroy Sloan Educational Activities, is showing to American school children. In this film the youngsters not only learn about the footwear of the past, but they also see the customs and modes of living during the various periods of history. Mrs. Barker goes to a town and makes arrangements with a local shoe dealer to give a show to the school children under his auspices. She rents a theater for the morning or afternoon and then invites the children, through their teachers, to come to the free movie. Souvenirs bearing the dealer's name are handed out after the performance. The two-reel picture, lasting about 34 minutes, was produced in the Rothacker Film Company's Chicago studio. A'Vhile the picture is being projected, Mrs. Barker adds to the kiddies entertainment by giving a lecture. The opening" scene of "Footprints of Progress" shows the first shoe of them all, the crude sandals worn by the caveman. Mr. Caveman brings the slain animal to the cave and his wife begins removing" the skin from which the sandals will be made. How the First Shoes Were Made The first lasted shoe was made about 100 years before Christ. The second scene shows a peasant seated in front of his hut. He moistens the leather with water and hammers it into a crude shoe shape over a stone. The next scene is a beautiful interpretation of the wise men beholding" the star of the east. The scene depicting the "stylish" Roman sandal is a banquet in a nobleman's house. The Emperor himself is one of the guests and the dancing girls entertain. Throughout the picture, between scenes, there are close-up views of shoes like those worn in the scenes. The shoes for these closetips were loaned by the United Shoe Machinery Company. One of the shoes used in the close-ups is a slipper believed to have been worn by Marie Antoinette on the guillotine. The Beau Brummels of the dark ages wore shoes of such long points that in order for the wearer to walk the points were supported by a strap or chain from the knee. These shoes are worn in the scene visualizing the capture of Robin Hood. The duck-bill shoe followed the long pointed one. Henry VII set the duck-bill fashion. In the film the children see King Henry as the pages are bringing on the ale, roast pig and the flaming pudding. The school children learn that it was the King's gout which brought the duck-bill into style. Other scenes show the ancient iron jack boots, weighing 40 pounds ; the mercenary Swiss soldier's shoe, bearing the insignia of the King in whose service he was at the time ; the Tyrolean bride's slipper decorated with a large heart in front. To picturize the footwear of our Pilgrim forefathers, there is a scene of Priscilla asking' John Alden why he doesn't speak for himself. And following this an Indian council shows the moccasin footwear. Shoes of the colonial period are depicted in an elaborate ballroom scene. The Rothacker people were asked to get children into the picture wherever logical, on the theory that youngsters of today would like to see how the youngsters of yester year dressed ; tiny Japanese are shown in a heathen altar scene, Dutch" kiddies dance before a picturesque Holland windmill, and children take part in the scene of Civil War days. Following this history of shoes the school children see another educational film which shows how the footwear of today is made. This picture takes the children on a trip, on the Film Magic Carpet, through the McElroy-Sloan Industry in St. Louis, where they see in detail just how the Billiken shoes are manufactured. How Our Church Uses Moving Pictures (Continued from page 10) The International Harvester Company (Chicago) has a splendid series of agricultural films which will be of interest to boys in rural communities. The important railroad systems have put out a large number of pictures advertising their service which are among the best scenics produced in America. The Burlington, Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Santa Fe have each done especially good work. The Ditmar animal pictures (Educational Films Corporation, 729 Seventh avenue, New York City) are especially popular and can be used without any preliminary inspection. I have found that children do not enjoy the comedies that satirize child life. The humor does not appeal to them for it seems too much like real life. Boys are not often deeply interested in simple scenics. Girls enjoy them greatly. Films from the big packing concerns of Chicago, showing the preparation of foods, appeal to the girls quite well. Wilson and Company, Libby, Armour, and Swift all have some very valuable material. Most of these pictures just mentioned are loaned rent free. The Disston Saw Company of Philadelphia formerly printed a booklet giving the names of all the industrial firms in America which furnished free industrial films. Some copies can still be obtained. The use of film in connection with women's work presents unusual opportunities. Practically all churches have women's guilds, missionary societies, or other similar organizations. I have found that a portable machine makes it possible to take missionary films, educational reels, etc., right to the homes where the meetings are held and the use of pictures has been a considerable addition to their regular programs. The same general educational program suggested for the missionary studies of the Sunday School will have value in the women's group. Someone should review the film in advance in order to be able to discuss it to advantage both during the time that it is being shown and afterward. Using Films Outside the Sunday School In connection with the social or work programs of the women's societies the writer has found it of advantage to show the "food films" mentioned above, also certain pictures which portray public health conditions. Anti-tuberculosis films are available and should be more generally used. Red Cross societies will find it of interest and value to use some of the Red Cross films. These are of a high quality and loaned rent free. In young people's work, in connection with the Sunday evening devotional service it has been found helpful to use a "Trip Around the World" as a missionary feature. This work should be planned well in advance and can be a part of the opening service so that it need not detract from the regular study of the evening. Many churches hold monthly meetings for the men. Industrials, travelogs, scientific and scenic films are always popular with such groups. If the speaker of the evening represents some great industry it is usually an easy matter to get a film from his line of business. If he comes from a distant state or city the picture can lend local color. We once used a Scotchman and had a reel showing the Scotch hills. The opportunities here are endless. Almost every city of size in America has some charitable societies organized as a federation. These have