Reel and Slide (Jan-Sep 1919)

REEL and SLIDE 19 Taking the Cinema to Mill and Shop Y. (M. C. A. Industrial Secretaries Work With Capitalists to Reach Employes Educational Programs Exhibited Between Shifts in Big Plants, Day and Night MMMB^ffl By George J. Zehrung, (Secretary, Industrial Department, International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations) THE huge undertaking of the Young Men's Christian Association in its work among our soldiers abroad has perhaps put in. the background, to some extent, the activities of the work at home in civilian life,, and especially among the industrial workers of the country upon whom our soldiers have had to depend for support and co-operation. . To this end, the Industrial Department of the International Committee is bending every effort in its mission of education and enlightenment among the factory workers of the country, and it is accomplishing a large part of this work by means of motion pictures, chiefly those dealing with our industries. It would surprise many people to know that moving pictures and the facilities for projecting them are rapidly becoming a regular part of the modern factory organization and through the widespread organization of the Y. M. C. A. and its special secretaries, trained for industrial work, these factories are achieving excellent results. In the big steel mills, the various shifts of workers, who very often are inaccessible to a first-class picture house, are enabled to see helpful films on the mill grounds, offering an opportunity to keep informed regarding the activities of American industry and the country's industrial and economic effort which led to the winning of the war. Business Men Lend Co-operation HOW IT WORKS NtEDS or MDUSntM ffORKEIB ■ fSftiS cntezimatatH. FOREKmoT «WW CUSTOMS MMttWUUCTItxt RDUGt® jotki tarn jOeL£SSM£N The Industrial Department has enjoyed the helpful co-operation of the country's leading business men, whose films have been freely given for exhibition over the Industrial "circuit," and as an example of the growing magnitude of the work, I may mention the fact that in the months^ of August and September 72,800 industrial workers saw our programs. In New York City, at 71 West 23rd street, is located the Y. M. C. A. Industrial Department's Bureau of Motion Pictures and Exhibits, from which our reels are shipped to the various industrial secretaries who wish to show them. At the present time, this department controls about 160 subjects of selected moving pictures, chiefly on industrial lines, although we have quite a number of good scenics, chiefly of the American variety. We supply no comedies or dramatic works, though these are shown quite frequently by the industrial secretaries who wish to give a varied program. It is one function of the Bureau, however, to aid the various secretaries in getting proper comedies and dramatic pictures by putting them in touch with the nearest and proper commercial booking agency who can serve them. The films in the possession of the Bureau are loaned free to the Associations, express charges being assumed by exhibitor. We have gotten, in the main, whole-hearted support on the part of our captains of industry and factory superintendents who have learned the value of keeping their employes entertained and therefore satisfied and efficient. By offering the Y. M. C. A. through its department of industrial specialists an opportunity to direct this work, the industrial leaders of the country have recognized its understanding of social welfare work and its ability to devise standards without which this class of work could scarcely be a real success. The chief motive in this motion picture system is to bring capital and labor into greater sympathy with each other, to show the workman those phases of his industry with which he seldom. INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION SECRETARY acting as advance agent representing all departments FINDS the needs and connects the proper department which handles the Situation directly or through the Industrial Secretary . if ever, comes into direct contact. To this end, for instance, we are able to show the steel worker what the miner must do before the iron is ready for the mill and so on. There are many good pictures of America's industries available and we are constantly adding new subjects to our lists. We are able to give the owner of the film widespread circulation which, in itself, is well worth his while. Working Men Like Scenics We permit the secretaries to select and co-ordinate their own individual programs and largely follow their orders when application is made for a picture on our lists. Very often lecturers accompany these showings when conditions permit. In many instances, the industrial secretaries of city associations co-operate with the leading industrial plants in their vicinity, though a large number of enterprises prefer and make possible, having a secretary on the spot, whose work, quite naturally, is not confined to motion pictures, but extends into other welfare and entertainment fields which are classed under the industrial association program. It has been suggested to me recently that perhaps working men do not care to see industrial pictures, but would prefer something more colorful and exciting. This is not true. We have found a ready and enthusiastic response to pictures of the business and scenic variety and the demand for them does not lag. On the contrary, it increases. We do not, however, encourage the use of an educational program exclusively, as we aim to entertain as well as inform and help. Clean comedies and good photodramas find their place on our programs in ever increasing numbers, though the educational picture is usually the "feature." Quite naturally, our work has been closely allied to war work, since we have tried to help the industrial worker to a better understanding of America and its ideals. Aside from this, we are informing the workman in one branch of an industry concerning another branch by means of visualization, a language all can understand. Our work extends to the teaching of the ideals of citizenship by means of the screen. Following is a list of city associations having industrial secretaries, who attend to the motion picture programs in industrial centers : Edmonton, Alberta, Can., Toronto, Ont., Can., Sault Ste. Marie, Can., New Haven, Conn., Bridgeport, Conn., Waterbury, Conn., East St. Louis, 111., Moline, 111., Chicago, 111., Aurora, 111., Cambridge, Mass., Brockton, Mass., Boston, Mass.. Fall River, Mass., Lynn, Mass., Lawrence, Mass., Springfield, Mass., Flint, Mich., Grand Rapids, Mich., Duluth, Minn., Minneapolis, Minn., St. Louis, Mo., Omaha, Neb., Bayonne, N. J., Trenton, N. J., Orange, N. J., Plainfield, N. J., Camden, N. T-, Perth Amboy, N. J., Chrome, N. J., Brooklyn, N. Y., Rome, N. Y., New York, N. Y., Schenectady, N. Y., New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Cincinnati, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Springfield, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Lorain, Ohio, Hamilton, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, Canton, Ohio, Mansfield, Ohio, Portland, Ore., Wilmerding, Pa., Philadelphia, Pa., Pittsburgh, Pa., Coatesville, Pa., New Castle, Pa., Seattle, Wash., Racine, Wis. Arrangements have already been made by which we will increase this number to approximately 300 reels. A great many industries are now being urged by the Government to install a training room for men and for women that more efficient workers may be developed, not only in the technical, but mental and physical. Many large industries are now finding it absolutely necessary to inaugurate the motion picture service at noon-hour lunch rooms.