Business screen magazine (1938)

The First AyittlieH,IndttsJry Film s leading aircraft _,to b -«^^;;__ manufacturers and t ■k American transport planes fly the equatorial trade routes of Africa — span the barren wastes of the Canadian Northwest — cross the untracked wastes of the Tibetan desert. Year after year they fly a multi-million miles on regular transport schedules carrying their passengers and cargoes with an unheralded record of safety far more dependable than other forms of transportation — each year improving this record that today is marred only occasionally by the emphasis which newspapers give to its accident stories. Behind the prowess of American aviation stand the great names of its builders and pioners . . . Wright, Curtiss, Sperry, Douglas, Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, Rickenbacker, Martin, and a hundred others who have brought us the respect of the world. America stands first, along the principal air-routes of the world, as a builder of transports for peace. To our public here and in the countries of our friendly neighbors of Latin-America and Canada, we need to bring home the realization of the importance of our Civil Aviation industry, of the research and technical advancement which made possible its present leadership and which now make its travel the safest in the world. To the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, to the Air Transport Association and to the principal manufacturers of American aircraft, the editors of Business Screen address this suggestion: Produce a motion picture, without advertising intent, to bring the public the "inside" story of Civil Aviation. If, as most of us realize, the existence of a great Civil Aviation industry is a reassurance of National Defense, then let us know and understand the real greatness of our planes, their builders and the dependability of their daily performance both here and abroad. There has been too jnuch emphasis on the airplane as a weapon for war; those of us who know it as an instrument for world peace believe that story needs telling. Well-known members of the air transport industry have been identified as sponsors of pictures advertising the scenic beauties to be glimpsed along their respective routes. The Pan-American Airways System has recently produced another scenic masterpiece, in glorious color, of travel on "The Lindbergh Trail" and has sponsored other excellent pictures of the same type. American Airlines is just completing, in Hollywood, a 20-minute subject with a dramatic background. This film, edited for group showings in cities along the American route, and another for theatrical distribution, are intended wholly for travel sales purposes. The excellent films of the United Airlines and of the Western Air Express are of a similar nature. But what is very evidently lacking are films with a horizon of inlerest in (he future as wide as that of the industry itself. A natural opportunity, based on the deep interest of the public in the state of our National Air Defense might well be translated into patriotic enthu .merica s xansport companies siasm for what we already have. No small benefit would be derived from foreign showings as well. In the words of Captain Eddie V. Rickenbacker, writing in a recent issue of Collier's, "I believe to make us safe in the air, we should at once begin a volume production of airplanes. I mean airplanes essentially for peacetime use, that will step up our business by carrying all the first-class mail and as much of the express and light freight as possible. "My estimate of a real beginning is fifty thousand planes. We need an airplane manufacturing industry that will stand up to punishing requirements if war should come. Very well, let us get it by building the planes now that will give that industry a real existence." A series of films produced for the Imperial Airways and photographed along the British Empire air-routes suggests one typical approach to this subject. These pictures were shown to school and adult audiences throughout Great Britain. Air Outpost (1936-37) produced by Paul Rotha and directed by John Taylor and Ralph Keene is one of this series. The only "industrial" film recently produced here is a 16mm. production for the Curtiss Aeroplane Division of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Buffalo, New York. Certainly there is a great job of selling and telling to be done by the builders and instrument makers and films are the logical medium. As a concrete suggestion and to bring in a final important thought. Business Screen suggests that three natural divisions of interest typify the film stories to be produced. In the first place, there is a "documentary" story to be told to the general public both here and abroad. In one reel, for theatrical distribution and otherwise, this picture Wings for the World would tell the story of the manufacturing industry and of the world routes which are flown successfully by American ships. A second film, perhaps made by adding a reel to the theatrical short, would bring a domestic story on air travel in America to club groups and other prospect audiences and thus return a dividend of general advertising to all the transport companies. This could be used jointly by all the airlines, shown by their sales agents or a projection service and thus promote air travel business. Of final importance is the drastic need for vocational guidance in the high schools and colleges, particularly for youths hopeful of a future in Aviation. No good pictures of this character exist today and yet the need for persormel is tremendous and pressing. With only 500 of our 26,000 high schools with any aviation activities at all, an excellent vocational guidance film, perhaps made by adding a reel to the previous two, would be extremely valuable to the future course of American aviation. "To you ... we throw the torch ... be yours to hold a highl" BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE SCENE I. "Wings for the World' A Short Subject tor Theatrical Rele. to the General Public it From an ancftfttry of bold pioneon. America ATiation has inharitod an imquonchable deab for poHaclion ... a Ihint for adventuroiu I lag of new trails. In the huge plants of its world renowned builders are assembled the trans ports which will carry passengers and cargo OTor the 33.000 miles of American airways OTor other thousands oi foreign routes. Wid mechanical excellence in performance its prind pal asset, the American transport airplane ha an unequalled record of safety. Lockheeds fl' In French Equatorial Africa . . . Douglas' in Siai . . . Boeings over Arctic wastes . . . unfailing . . dependability the wide world orer . . . n. "Skywoys of America" Scenic Beels for Group Showing to Prospects for Aii Travel if Board a plane in the early morning dawn and you're away into the rising sun for a safe, com fortable tourney over the scenic airtrails America. Down to Mexico City . . . across ti Caribbean to the West Indies . . . OTer the Cana dian forests or anywhere in the U. S. go world's safest planesi Behind the scenes is th< constant Tlgilance of modem science . radio beam . . . automatic pilot . . . precisiol built instruments. The stewardess attends you personal comfort . . . the calm eren flight of l superbly-powered passenger ship brings to your destination without delay, meanwhili affords you what is truly a "birds-eye" Tlew ( the scenic wonderland which lies below. m. "Year Fatnre in Aviation" A Special Vocational Edition for Showing (o Schools, etc. ^ What about your future. aTiation asks 1h< youth of America in high schools and coUe ... do you know how to get started? What I of preliminary education is most Yaluable for i boy who wants to be an aeronautical engina ... for the girl who aspires to be a stewardeesl What air schools can I aHend? What are i daties oi a flight engineer? How do pilots i their training . . . what are the physical quaBfi cations of a good pilot? Aviation needs men, wW need plenty more and the schooll ought to be prepared to send them. Here's i BIm telGng the how and why of the yocations