The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 396 The Educational Screen Erpi Classroom Films Purchased by University of Chicago Acquisition of Erpi Classroom Films Inc. from Western Electric Company by Encyclopaedia Britan- nica Inc. was annoimced November 29th by William Benton, chairman of the board of Britannica, and vice- president of the University of Chicago, to which the 175-year old publishing organization was given last January by Sears Roebuck & Co. Ownership of Erpi Classroom Films Inc. brings into the Britannica organization the world's largest pro- ducer and distributor of instructional sound films. In- cluded in the transfer are the negatives and prints of Erpi's complete production of over 200 educational subjects in sixteen fields of knowledge. The policy and personnel of Erpi Films, of which E. E. Shumaker is president, are expected to continue unchanged under Britannica's ownership, Mr. Benton said. Selling policies will remain as in the past, with sales of the classroom films being handled through the sales organization under the direction of H. C. Grubbs, vice-president. "The management and personnel of Erpi Classroom Films are very happy to become identified with the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the University of Chi- cago, for we feel this association will enable us to make an even greater contribution to education than in the past," Mr. Shumaker said yesterday . In announcing the acquisition of Erpi Films, Mr. Benton said: "Last January, when Sears Roebuck & Company made the gift of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., the University welcomed it not only because of the world-wide importance of the Encyclopaedia Britannica itself, but also because the Britannica or- ganization offered facilities for extending the Univer- sity's educational ventures in other fields. "The purchase of Erpi Films is a natural and logical phase of this extension of Britannica as an educational organization allied to the University. The University recognized the importance of educational sound films in 1932 by entering into a contract with Erpi Films, and approximately forty films have since been made in collaboration with members of the faculty. This new relationship will enable the University to use its re- sources and knowledge to develop an educational tool which expands the range of material available to the teacher as no other device can do." Sale of Erpi Films to Britannica is in accord with Bell System policy, C. G. Stoll, president of the West- ern Electric Company, of which Erpi Films has been a subsidiary, said yesterday. "Erpi Classroom Films," he said, "was organized in 1929 for the purpose of developing the utility as a media in educational processes of the new form of communication, the sound motion picture, which had been perfected in' the Bell Telephone Laboratories and successfully employed on a large scale by the enter- tainment industry. "In the intervening years the Company has carried forward the development of techniques for making and using sound pictures as an aid to education and has accumulated a large library of films for classroom in- struction which are now in wide use. "The effectiveness of the new media having Ijeen successfully demonstrated, it now becomes possible for the ^Vestern Electric Company to carry out its original intention of transferring this activity to an institution closely identified with the educational field. This has been accomplished through the sale of Erpi Classroom Films to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which, through its affiliation with the University of Chicago, will make possible the full development of the activity under ideal educational auspices." The board of directors for Erpi Classroom Films Inc., will be the board of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. with the addition of Mr. Shumaker, who also will go on the board of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. The two boards will consist of Mr. Benton, chairman. E. H. Powell, president of Britannica. Robert M. Hutchins. Paul G. Hoffman. Henry Luce. M. Lincoln Schuster. Mr. Shumaker. and John Stuart. New WPB Regulation Permits School Purchase oi Projection Equipment Without Priority Educational institutions can now purchase photo- graphic and projection equipment and accessories with- out a priority rating, under the new WPB Regula- tion Order L-267. The current ruling requires schools to observe the following simple procedure, in order to obtain such equipment: 1. Obtain copies of the application (WPB-1319) and the instructions (WPB-1319.28 )from the local WPB office. (Manufacturers and dealers in photo- graphic and projection equipment will also supply copies on re(|uest). 2. Fill out the application in triplicate, following very carefully the specific instructions which are given on the Instruction sheet. 3. Mail three copies of the application, WPB Form 1319. properly filled out and signed, to the War Pro- duction Board, Consumer Durable Goods Division, Reference L-267, Washington 25, D. C. 4. WPB will return one copy of the application with its approval or rejection. If approved, the applica- tion will contain a WPB authorization number. This WPB number should be placed on the applicant's or- der to a dealer or manufacturer and constitutes WPB authorization of sale of the equipment. The ^^■ar Production Board states that it will be the general policy of the Board to confine its approval of applications to the following: Federal war programs, war production or war research purposes, educational institutions, hospitals, physicians, medical technicians, printing and publishing industries, law enforcement agencies, and state and local governments. It is also possible that Washington will give some consideration to churches and religious institutions. On orders for the Armed Forces, however, priority ratings remain the same and should be passed on as heretofore.