Educational film magazine; (19-)

METHODIST AND EPISCOPALIAN CHURCHES ENTER THE FILM BUSINESS Both Organizations Actively Engaged Through Their Execu- tive Councils—Methodists Open Studio in Chicago and Will Produce Pictures—Pennsylvania First Movie Field for the Episcopalians work. BOTH the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Pro- testant Episcopal Church, through their executive councils, have entered the motion picture business. Both have given their official endorsement to the project, and the Methodists have gone so far as to open a studio in Chicago, and through the International Church Film Corporation, which is making films for them, has ar- ranged for a nation-wide distributing organization. The Episcopalians at present are confining their movie work to the Diocese of Pennsylvania and to the use of films for disseminating knowledge of the Bible, missionary propa- ganda and church publicity. Bishop Rhinelander thor- oughly approves of the plan to make each local Episcopal church in the state a popular center in the community. He is watching the success of the experiment at the Church of the Incarnation, in Meadville, Pa., of which Rev. Seaver M. Holden is rector. Here entertainment films are being screened very Wednsday night, as a sample of what the church proposes to do all over Pennsylvania. Rev. R. J. Wade, secretary of the board of conservation and advance of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is in charge of the motion picture plans in the Chicago area. Movie headquarters are being transferred to the western city from New York. A four story factory structure on West Erie street, Chicago, has been engaged as a studio for the production of religious and missionary slides and films for church, Sunday school, and community center Players, directors, and camera men have been ar- ranged for through the International and other film pro- ducers to carry on the work actively. Many film producers in both the theatrical and non-theatrical fields have been asked to submit pictures for the official approval of the Church. A "White List" of approved films has been issued by the Chicago office" of the Methodists. It is surprising to find Griffith's "Way Down East" in the list, unless it is meant that the picture is to be shown with judicious cut- ting of several objectionable scenes. It is reported that Griffith is to make a special production for the use of Metho- dist churches. Mr. Griffith's mother was a pious and staunch Methodist, it is said, and he feels that he owes this to her memory and for the good of the cause. Among pictures to receive whole or partial indorsement in the latest "White List" are the following: "The Greatest Thing in Life"; "Alarm Clock Andy"; "Something to Think About"; "Homer Comes Home"; "The Toll Gate"; "The Love Flower"; "Shepherd of the Hills"; "Excuse My Dust"; "Over the Hill"; "Old-Fashioned Boy"; "Sweet Lavender"; "Girl of My Heart"; "Eyes of the Heart"; "Jack Straw"; "Easy to Get"; "Behold My Wife"; "Always Audacious"; "All of a Sudden Peggy"; "It Pays to Advertise"; "The Life of the Party (Arbuckle)"; "Red Hot Dollars"; "Paris Green"; "Heliotrope"; "Guile and Women"; "The Court- ship of Miles Standish"; "The Sin That Was His." HOW A CINCINNATI CHURCH USES FILMS By Rev. Raymond G. Clapp Pastor Walnut Hills Congregational Church, Cincinnati. Ohio. AS our church had no evening services for fifteen years because of the scattered location of its congregation it was decided in opening up a service not to have ane of a conventional type already being maintained by Jther churches in the neighborhood, but to introduce new Features in the hope of interesting people who had not oeen attending before. I Our morning congregation averages 125. The first even- ng service drew 175. We are hoping for a capacity con- ;regation of 325, or 425 if we use the balcony. The bal- ;ony cannot be opened up under our building laws without irecting a second balcony stairway. We instituted a Friday evening family entertainment on November 5 with a nominal admission charge to help us neet the expense of equipment. We are cooperating with the Saturday morning chil- Iren's matinees at the Orpheum theater (mentioned in J)UCATioNAL Film Magazine last year) by advertising heir features and having some joint committee meetings nth the representatives of the mothers' clubs and busi- ess men's associations, which are sponsoring the matinees. We are using a Powers 6-A projector in a new metal booth with a 900 watt mazda lamp for a 75 foot throw to a 12x12 aluminum screen. The screen is on a spring roller set in a box between the organist's bench and the seats of the quartet in the choir loft, and is pulled up toward the ceiling by ropes which are detached and draped around the corner of the organ when not in use. MOVIES AT OTTAWA, ILL., LIBRARY The children's program of library movies at Ottawa, Illinois, continues as usual this season. The fairy play, "Rumplestiltskin," was shown December 4, and was one of the best children's films shown at the library. "The Magic Toymaker" was also greatly liked by the kiddies. Besides the movies there were Christmas stories and Christ- mas records. The programs arranged so far are as follows: Dec. 18—"Magic Toymaker." Jan. 8—Gospel stories. "World War," "A Children's Comedy." Jan. 22—"Bridge of Fancy," featuring little Mary Mc- Allister. "Peak of Paradise," a travelog. Feb. 5—"Childhood of Moses." "Moses Leading the Israelites." "Musty B," Young comedy. Feb. 19—"A Place in the Sun," Mary McAllister. "A Bit of God's Country," a travelog. 13