Home Movies (1944)

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PAGE 56 HOME MOVIES FOR FEBRUARY THE II 11.11' OF MOVIES FROM HOME * Servicemen overseas want movies of their loved ones. Every movie amateur should enlist his camera and services in this patriotic work. F M. OR their part, it is pictures of their wives, sweethearts and children that are most desired by American soldiers as they fight their way at about one mile or two a day toward Rome. I have canvassed several American divisions at the front and in rear areas and pine out of ten men say they would rather have pictures of their families than the most expensive gift imaginable." So Wrote H. R. Knickerbocker, foreign news correspondent, recently in reporting on the war in Italy. While Mr. Knickerbocker did not mention home movies specifically, obviously such films of a soldier's loved ones are proving just about the last word in morale stimulant. What is not generally known is that both 8mm. and 1 6mm. projectors are now available in most overseas U. S. O. units and our fighting men have access to their use whenever they are fortunate to be in their vicinity. An interesting story comes to us about one soldier surprised recently by a reel of movies from home. He was summoned before his commanding offi cer and detailed to report at once at the theatre in the recreation area. When he arrived the theatre was vacant save for himself although the lights were on. He took a seat and patiently waited for other men to file in so the show could begin. Finally the auditorium lights were extinguished and pictures flashed on the screen. The surprised lad sat bolt upright. Unfolding on the screen before him — and only him — were movies of his wife and child, the latter born since he went overseas. A benevolent movie amateur had made movies of his loved ones and sent them to his commanding officer who personally staged the surprise performance. A MAN in service in the South Pacific was similarly surprised. C. A. Thomas, a Salt Lake movie amateur made an 8mm. Kodachrome film picturing the activities of Col. Ray T. Elsmore's family during his absence overseas. The picture was titled: "To Our Daddy Over There" and was reviewed in Home Movies several months ago. Col. Elsmore's response is best told in a report of the incident published in the Salt Lake City Deseret News: "The thoughtful, friendly gesture of a local amateur photographer today brought happiness and fame to four Salt Lakers. "Col. Ray T. Elsmore, former Western Airlines pilot who is now director of air transport, allied air forces with headquarters at Brisbane, Australia, happy recipient of a 200-ft., colored movie film of his wife and daughter, termed receipt of the film 'almost as good as a trip home.' Colonel Elsmore hasn't seen his family for over two years. "The film won second prize in a national contest, and brought fame and a gold plaque to its author, C. A. Thomas, friend and neighbor of the Elsmores. "Mrs. Elsmore and Joan Elsmore heard their husband-daddy's personal message of gratitude over a short-wave broadcast from New Guinea, the 'Red Cross Reporter' program over Mutual Broadcasting System last Saturday morning. "The film "To Our Daddy Over There,' is built around the Elsmore family activities, some of the pictures having been taken at Colonel Elsmore's canyon home near Pinecrest, the others at his home. The theme of the film is Joan writing a letter to her daddy 'over there.' "Mr. Thomas, local insurance agent and member of the Utah Amateur Movie Club, is more pleased over Colonel Elsmore's response to the gift than he is over the gold plaque. "Colonel Elsmore, guest speaker over the shortwave broadcast from the Southwest Pacific, praised the efforts of his family and Mr. Thomas in sending the film to him and, classing such films as valuable morale-builders, urged other amateur photographers to make similar pictures for service men 'over there.' " OnE of the most enthusiastic supporters for making movies for servicemen is George R. Clough, president of radio station KLUF, Galveston, Texas. In a letter received recently by the editors, Mr. Clough suggests a program of making movies for men overseas, the only major obstacle to which is the lack of film. We quote from Mr. Clough's letter: "I believe it would be possible to get at least one movie amateur in each city of any size to take movies of the home folks of boys overseas. The local U.S.O. center advises me that the U.S.O. as well as the Y.M.C.A. have ample pro• Continued on Page So • One of the first amateurs to make a movie for a serviceman is C. A. Thomas. Salt Lake City, whose film "To Our Daddy Over There" was reviewed in HOME MOVIES several months ago. Theme of film story was a letter written by a little girl to her daddy in service overseas. Events described in her letter were then pictured. Here Thomas shoots opening scene with Joan Elsmore writing letter to her Daddy. — Photo courtesy Deseret News.