The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

AMONG THE MAGAZINES AND BOOKS 59 Among the Magazines and Books (Continued from page 19) "Motion pictures in the United States have a oundless future if we will only profit by what we ave learned. The public has a large responsibility 1 having a finer type of films made. Each individual 'ho attends motion pictures is himself a censor, and • y his attendance gives his stamp of approval to fiat particular picture, unless he registers a com laint or protest where it will be effective. If motion icture goers were not so casual about their attendnee at pictures, and would really support the better nes, and by their non-support of the more objecionably advertised ones indicate their disapproval, luch would be accomplished. "True, pictures are seldom as bad as they are dvertised to be, but I have more faith in the Amercan public than to believe that it has to be coaxed nto motion picture theaters by cheap, shoddy, senational advertising. Miss Pickford and Mr. Fair)anks do not resort to these methods, and their picures are always box-office successes. It is a byvord that productions by these two artists are family pictures.' By this I mean that grown people ind children alike find clean, wholesome entertainnent in their pictures, and if they have found that vholesome pictures pay, other producers can. Other )roducers have, but unfortunately not enough have." Book Reviews (Concluded from page 23) ections that will occur to the thinking reader li the course of the discussion. The chief Joints to be sought in the legislation are the Establishment of the motion picture as a standard commodity; the opening of free phannels from all producers to their common market, the movie theatres; the suppression and prevention of attempts at monopoly by producers owning theatres and thereby eliminating wholesome competition. ' It is a book aimed at the intelligent public and it richly deserves reading by that public. For the first time it makes the great problem clear and understandable. Such a masterful survey and analysis provide a sound basis for future study and action, a basis which has been sadly lacking hitherto in the literature of the subject. A Calendar of World Heroes, prepared by Arthur Charles Watkins. Published by the World Hero Calendar Department, National Council for Prevention of War, 532 Seventeenth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. Single copies, 50 cents; three copies or multiples of three, at the rate of three for $1.00. A unique visual appeal is carried by this beautifully printed collection of portraits of the twelve heroic figures chosen by students from schools in more than thirty countries. Each of the twelve sheets carries a portrait of one of those heroes and the winning essay on that hero. The sheets (11 by 18 inches) are printed in black with a border in golden brown and are mounted, along with a cover page, by a stout binding at the top, and provided with a cord for hanging. The competition which resulted in the choosing of the twelve heroic figures was instituted by Clement M. Biddle of New York, who offered $1200 to be awarded to the writers of the twelve best essays on world heroes. The opinions of approximately 282, 000 students in 195 high schools in the United States and 368 schools of comparative grades in other countries of the world were recorded. Nobility of character, fearless and self-sacrificing devotion to a great cause, and constructive work for humanity of a permanent character, were the three essentials of heroism considered by both writers and judges of the essays. Visual Education Leaflet, No. 3. Published by the DeVry Corporation, Chicago. 8 pages. This "Summer School Number" comprises a report of the DeVry* Summer School of Visual Education, with excerpts from the papers delivered before the school, and resumes of reports, round table discussions and conferences. The leaflet is plentifully and attractively illustrated by enlargements from motion picture film taken with the DeVry Automatic Motion Picture Camera. The leaflet may be secured upon request.