Home Movies (1943)

PAGE 248 REST FILMS II MAIL E IVERY day, more movie amateurs are discovering what a lot of pleasure they have been passing up by failing to utilize their projectors more often. In the past, the average cine fan looked upon his projector as a piece of equipment necessary only for screening the movies he made. When ardor cooled on the last film production, invariably the projector would be shelved until another roll of film was shot and returned from the processing laboratory. With little or no film any longer available for cameras, amateurs are turning to their projectors to sustain interest in their hobby. Many are screening regularly at least one evening each week, a program of films rented for a M modest fee from film rental libraries. Some of the films are available from local libraries, while others are rented by mail from national film distributors. In recent months, many photographic dealers have built up sizeable libraries of rental films in both 8mm. and 16mm. Some include i6mm. sound films. Subjects range all the way from 100 foot Mickey Mouse Cartoons and Castle Films releases to multi-reel subjects including 1 6mm. prints of some of the best theatrical movie releases. Often a borrower exhausts the limited possibilities of local dealer-libraries and turns tc the larger national rental libraries tc provide films for his home movie programs. The national libraries afford almost unlimited entertainment material for the film renter. Such libraries, nation-wide in scope, have, over a period of years, built up a • Scenes from "Portugal," a travel film, "Topper Takes A Trip," Hal Roach major production, and a Christie comedy starring Billy Dooley and Chester Conklin, oldtime silent comedy favorites. These and thousands of other entertainment films are available from national film rental libraries at surprisingly low rates. HOME MOVIES FOR AUGUST fast, dependable service of renting 8mm. and 1 6mm. films by mail. A few of these are listed on page 254 under the heading "Home Movie Libraries." Larger rental organizations such as Bell & Howell's Filmosound Library and Films, Incorporated, maintain branch libraries in several important cities from coast to coast. All of the larger rental libraries issue catalogs, and the wealth of film subjects available is amazing. Most of these libraries service schools, churches, clubs, industries and road show operators as ivell as the individual. Some of the libraries have special rental club plans but for the most part, films are available to anyone qualifying themselves for rental service. Kenwood Films, Chicago, offers a low cost library plan whereby subscribers receive one Castle Film subject every week. The film may be retained over the weekend and the fee is 75c for an 8mm. reel, Si. 00 for 16mm. With most libraries, rental rates range all the way from 50c per reel per day up, depending upon the subject. The "day" rate in most cases is actually a period of several days which takes into account the time required for transportation of films both ways and depending upon distance of borrower from the library. The service of some libraries extends beyond the boundaries of the United States. W. F. Kruse, who pioneered and continues to manage Bell & Howell's Filmosound Library says: "There are really no territorial limits to our rental service. We have rented films to civilian subscribers in Hawaii, Canal Zone, Venezuela and and Alaska. And lately our films have gone to many more distant and interesting combat zones to serve our armed forces. Within the continental United States, no charge is made for time films are in transit. On films rented to borrowers located outside the United States, some adjustment is made under which the rates are increased slightly to compensate for the onger time in transit." It becomes necessary for the prospec • Continued on Page 260