The annals of the American academy of political and social science (Nov 1926)

32 The Annals of the American Academy members each. One group was taught by films only. A second was instructed by a superior teacher, and a third by an ordinary or average teacher. The film group scored an average of 74.5 per cent; the superior teacher's group, 66.9 per cent, and the average teacher's group, 61.3 per cent. It would seem then that the decision rests in favor of the screen. A noted educator said recently: "Within the celluloid film lies the most powerful weapon of attack on ignorance the world has ever seen." In that man's statement you will find an honest conviction and an answer to the question, "What does the future hold for the motion picture in education?" The future is limitless and is governed only by the progressive spirit of those who control its destinies in this respect. Future Contributions to the Arts No less encouraging is the part played by the screen in the field of music. Only a few years ago the music of the great masters was something little appreciated by the average American. To-day the story is different. Let me quote John Philip Sousa, the noted bandmaster. He says: The motion picture theatre has been of incalculable benefit in spreading the love for music. Nowadays no picture is complete without a good musical score, composed both of popular and classical pieces, to suit the theme of the picture. This has created an amazing taste for music among the theatregoers that see motion pictures. Before motion picture theatres, especially the big ones, with their large and splendidly conducted orchestras came into vogue, I doubt if 100,000 people a week heard orchestral music in this country. The rise of symphony orchestras in many of the cities within the last few years has been aided by the motion picture theatres. Some of the finest musicians are found to-day in the orchestra pits and they are developing new talent for the symphonies. The symphony orchestras of the future are being fostered and appreciative audiences created for them by the mo ion picture theatre. In a recent talk, Mr. Hays predicted that the motion picture theatre of to-day is a cradle in which real American music of the future is being nurtured. Great composers have written for the spoken drama and there is no reason why the great composers of the future should not write as great music for the silent drama. Grieg, Beethoven, Schubert, Richard Strauss, have found inspiration in the stage plays and many lesser composers have followed them. The composer of the future should fairly rejoice in the opportunity to create a new form that is presented by the screen. The swift flashes from one scene to another, the fast movement, the cut backs, fadeouts, aU are movements to inspire the creative musician. Already something of this nature has been done for some of the recent pictures, but the not too distant future will see a new form developed in the music accompanying our pictures. The scoring of pictures with accepted music has reached a high state of perfection and the future will see a similar state of perfection for the special score. The motion picture theatre has created audiences and in the rendition of good music it has created a demand for such music on the part of these audiences. The public to-day expects the finest orchestral accompaniment to pictures. Because of the expense involved, however, many of the smaller theatres are not in a position to employ orchestras. This obstacle is now being overcome. Now playing on Broadway is a marvelous piece of mechanism known as the Vitaphone. Through it the music of the symphony orchestras, the songs of noted opera stars, will be available to audiences in the smallest