The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

390 Picture Service on Wheels The Educational Scree towns there are several cliques, generally represented by the various organizations in the town, but they all come to the movies and we feel a better, more wholesome community spirit is generated. That the pictures definitely promote extension work is beyond doubt. At our headquarters we frequently have calls for information on various subjects relating to agriculture or home economics and find the idea originated from something they had seen in our movies. At times we supplement a Bureau meeting with pictures and there is no question but what the added attraction calls out a larger attendance. Altogether we feel that in no other way could we reach so many people, place our service in so many hands, give entertainment as well as instruction to the rural population and at the same time so thoroughly and satisfactorily advertise the County Bureau. As we operate, the project is not seli supporting. The cost varies according t cost of films, distance between towns, music etc., but averages about $20.00 per nigh The collections which are purely voluntar offerings, average $17.00 and we charge th balance to project work. Last season the collections averaged $.0 per head. This season to date they hav averaged a little better than $.09 (the mont past, $.0998) and it must be borne in min that our audiences are usually about 25 9 to 35% children. • Some halls are not large enough to ac commodate all that want to come and as th children came early, many adults were force to stand. In these towns we give a lat afternoon show just for the young peopl and in the evening no children are admitte unless accompanied by a parent. A coUec tion taken up in the afternoon yields abot $.05 per head. Editorials (Concluded from page 377) The nine suggestions are not theoretical. They have been used repeatedly and with success, These plans are workable in any community where there is an individual possessing genuine interest in the project and the modicum of energy and initiative necessary to put it through. 1. Make a straight loan from your banker. You can. sell season tickets at $1.00 each, covering six or eight entertainments, two or three times a year. This will give you sufficient funds to own full equipment, while paying your bank in small regular payments. 2. Schools cooperate with the church in the purchase .of equiprnent. Have the church pay one-half the cost and use it on alternate days. 3. The School Boards often pay the initial cost of the equipment and the children maintain the cost of the educational and entertainment films by . giving an entertainment once or twice a month. 4. Alternate ■ with another town. Get another superintendent or minister in a nearby town who is interested in visual education. His aid can help you. purchase the equipment. 5. Cooperate with the local representative of the Farm Bureau. The Bureau will welcome the opportunity of using some of the valuable films distributed free by the United States Department of Agriculture. 6. An individual can purchase the pre jector outright and get his funds and th original purchase price back by giving er tertainments and educational programs to th school and church. 7. Parent-Teachers' organization or Ladie: Aid take hold of the proposition and creat the interest needed for this community er terprise. The funds can be raised by sellin season tickets. This makes visual educatio a community affair and quickens the interes in school and community life. 8. Get ten men public spirited enough t advance $35.00 each. This pays for the equip ment and these men can be reimbursed at th rate of so much per week. The funds wi be derived from the entertainments by collec tion or admissions. 9. Secure the backing of your patron through the issuance of loan certificates. Th value of each certificate may be one dolla Secure loan through the school conimitte< Have certificates signed by president of th Student's Entertainment Committee and t)-J principal. ', |