Business screen magazine (1946)

The Commercial Newsreel Coo/y's the target in "Mi'lor Mania" Disney Releases "Motor Mania" to Aid 16min Safety Campaigns ♦ Reducing the tragic toll of death and injury reaped annually on our streets and highways is one of the fine aims of many business and industrial film programs. Motion pictures on traffic safety appear regularly in plant shows across the nation. A new title added to the long list of outstanding traffic safetj' films available for business and industrial use is Walt Disney's Motor Mania — seven minutes of a different kind of safely appeal. It casts a spotlight of penetrating humor on the two basic causes of our national safety problem— the average motorist and the average pedestrian. Walt Disney's ''Goofy" plays both driver and walker in a rare brand of caricature displaying the miraculous, appalling change that comes over the average individual when he gets behind the steering wheel of that fine weapon of destruction — the modern automobile. The story is simple, effective and based on factual research provided by police departments and other safety groups. That Disney did the job well is reflected in the awards Motor Mania has received — among them are the National Safety Council Award and the David S. Beyer Trophy. But perhaps a better testimonial to the film's value is the regular use 16mm prints of it have found. The Oakland, California Police Department makes Motor Mania a required part of its Traffic Violator's School curriculum, and prints are in constant use by the Public Information Sections of the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. To reach the maximum possible audience, Disney placed one of his largest orders for 16mm prints with the Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation and has arranged for 80 rental libraries across the country to distribute them. Being available for a modest rental, Motor Mania should find an important place in safety campaigns of many firms and organizations. 52 NOTES ABOUT FILM PROGRAMS OF THE CURRENT PERIOD Reid Ray Produces Film Story About Air Material Command ♦ Production of The Eagles Strength, overall story of the Air Material Conniiand, was scheduled for completion this month at Reid H. Ray Film Industries. Inc. The 27-minute film, narrated by Edward R. Murrow, CBS news analyst, shows tlie supply, maintenance and logistical support of the AMC. Written by Robert West and directed by Reid H. Ray. it was filmed at air fields across the nation. The Eagles Strength will be available for non-profit showing, and will be a part of the regular indoctrination curriculum for AMC employees. New Railroad Association Film Replaces Two Older Subjects ■k The Association of American Railroads' new 19-minute color film 225,000-Mile Proving Ground has replaced On the Track and Whistle in the Night which were withdrawn last month. The Princeton Film Center, Inc. is handling distribution on a free loan basis. 225,000 Proving Ground tells the behind the scenes story of how America's vast railroad network keeps up to maximum efficiency through continual research, invention and investment. It describes the Central Research Laboratory, spotlights the change ^ /h^^ J^J^ , . . DE FRENES 1909 BUTTONWOOD STREET -PHILA. 30, PA. RIttenhouse 6-1686 35 MM -16 MM -COLOR -BLACK & WHITE SOUND SYSTEM o\er from steam to diesel power, and brings the viewer up to date on push-button freight yards, centralized traffic control and other aspects of this huge transportation system. International Harvester Film Demonstrates Cab-Over Trucks ♦ Cameramen from I'al Dowling Pictures of Los Angeles traveled over 20.000 miles from coast to coast filming a new International Harvester film, Making Room for Payloads. It demonstrates the use and service features of its new line of cab-over-engine motor trucks. Because of the wide variances in state legal requirements as to size, weight and overall highway length of truck and trailer combinations truckers' problems are greatly complicated. This new film is designed to show them how the cab-over models help to increase payload space within the legal limits. Scenes filmed at Emeryville, California where the trucks are manufactured show the rapid maintenance and service features of swing-back fenders and readilv removable grilles. "Telegram for America" Reaches 5 Million for Western Union ♦ Five million people, said to be the largest audience ever to see a telegraph film, have viewed Western Union's Telegram for America in the past 10 months. So far the fihn has had more than 1.000 showings before business, social and educational groups, and has been broadcast by 60 television stations. Prints are in nationwide circulation with a number on permanent loan to various film libraries and boards of education. The 22-minute documentary film damatizes the telegraph company's SlOO million modernization and plant improvement program. This program is said to have increased the speed and efficiency and doubled the message-carrying capacity of the telegraph network since 1945. Telegram for America shows the new highly-mechanized system of high-speed message centers through which telegrams are flashed coastto-coast in seconds. Also highlighted is the new method by which businessmen send and receive telegrams in '"picture" form on a deskcorner facsimile machine, simply by pushing a button. Modern's New Film Folder ♦ A brief but complete listing of nearh 200 tree loan sound fihns is a\ailahle on request from Modern Talking Picture Service, 45 Rockefeller Plaza. New York 20. BUSINESS SCREEN MAG.\Z1NE J