International projectionist (Nov-Dec 1933)

December 1933 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 31 opment of the new motion picture art in the broadest and most socially useful ways. The Council dots not oppose censorship, but does believe that the time has come for something other and better than that. It was in this faith that it had its origin and is doing its work. The ultimate and constructive aim of the Council, has, from the beginning, been to develop a plan and recommendations for the motion picture art, as broad and scientifically helpful in every respect as, through four centuries of use, the art of printing has become. And then to devise and stimulate leadership that will enable the motion picture art to achieve this high and honorable destiny. Payne Fund Research But the Council thought that it ought first, by careful and patient research, to find out whether it was correct in the belief that in the motion picture art civilization has a new tool of high intellectual and social potency. It, therefore, invited and received the assistance of the Payne fund, an agency "interested in enterprises connected with the radio, motion pictures, and reading in their relations to the education of children and youth". The Payne fund, in turn, organized an Educational Research Committee of qualified psychologists and sociologists from the social science faculties of the universities of Chicago, Iowa State, Ohio State, New York, Columbia, Yale, and Pennsylvania State College. A program of research was developed by prolonged conference of social workers and the members of this Educational Research Committee; budgets were drawn ; the required funds were deposited with university treasurers; and the several research men went to work, under a commission without fear or favor to get the facts in their respective sectors of this broad field, and to pursue their research until amply abundant data had been accumulated to substantiate the conclusions at which they might arrive. For four years, without interference by publicity or otherwise — yet cooperatively— the research went on. Under the guidance of Dr. W. W. Charters the research guns were kept on the targets. Findings have been obtained that, with unimportant exceptions, fit together like the parts of a well-planned structure to make a body of scientifically obtained data which, taken together, has still greater validity than does any one of its "workmanlike parts. The Macmillan Company has published the findings in nine scientific volumes and one summary volume. The summary volume, in popular language, is by Henry James Forman. Let me summarize in the briefest possible way, just a few of these findings, and state some important conclusions to which, in my own judgment, they point. A nnouncing — THE NEW STRONG A.C. MOGUL An arc lamp that operates smoothly and quietly on alternating current, and is intermediate in light intensity and operating costs between the present low-intensity and the Hy-lo. For Sale by Trustworthy Independent Supply Dealers Everywhere. Write today for free circular. No obligation. The Strong Electric Corp. 2501 Lagrange Street Toledo, Ohio Export Office: 44 Whitehall St., New York, N. Y. TRAILEREEL THE HANDIEST THING IN THE PROJECTION ROOM' FOR WINDING TRAILERS, ETC., FOR SHIPMENT CAST ALUMINUM PRICE ACCURATELY MACHINED $1.00 Try It 10 Days— We Will Refund Your Money If You Want It. MADE BY TRAILEREEL MFG. P. O. BOX 35 EAST HARTFORD. CONN. In due time, as I have already said, the Council itself will make and publish its well-considered conclusions and recommendations. Child Receptivity (1) Child Receptivity to Movie Ideas. — Even very young children take in, to a remarkable degree, what they see on the screen. Second and third-grade children (7 to 9 years of age) take in 60 per cent of what a group of young college professors, graduate students, and their wives take in; and the percentage of retention increases rapidly as the children become older. This goes with every class of ideas; and in the case of both general information only incidentally connected with the film story, and the specific content of the story — there isn't much difference between the two. It has been generally supposed that many classes of ideas in the films go