International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

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28 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST November 1931 THIS SOUND AND TELEVISION SCHOOL 'RACKET' James J. Finn LATE in 1929 and early in 1930 the sound projection school "racket" flourished and every large city boasted of at least one such school. Thousands of students, baited with glowing promises of $100-a-week jobs, were enrolled in the various schools in all parts of the country. It is difficult to state with any degree of accuracy just how much money was contributed by International Alliance men to these institutions, but the amount may safely be said to be not less than $15,000. The "racket" reached such proportions that President William F. Canavan of the International Alliance issued a general ban against all such enterprises. Mr. Canavan felt that I. A. men should not contribute money to a school which would supply information, correct or otherwise, on sound projection to men who, in turn, would endeavor to displace I. A. men in their jobs. In addition, he stated, a majority of such enterprises had been proven to be "rackets" in the full meaning of the term. Conspicuously active in the sound projection instruction field at that time was the Projectionist Sound Institute of Easton, Penna., headed by F. A. Jewell. Mr. Jewell's first move was to announce the formation of a "faculty" or advisory board manned by prominent technical men and designed to inspire confidence in the Institute's course of instruction. At least one well-known electro-technical worker who was also an I. A. man lent his name to this board; but he was quickly forced to resign. A Bid for Favor A short time thereafter this writer was visited by Mr. Jewell who outlined the general plan of his course of instruction, gave assurances that he "was on the level" and that his idea of instruction was sound, and solicited favorable "plugs" among projectionists in order to increase enrollment. Naturally, this writer was to have a "cut" on each student secured. It has occurred to this writer several times since that day that possibly Mr. Jewell has not a very warm feeling for his type of person. This was his last meeting with Mr. Jewell. Projectionist Sound Institute continued to operate, although it is doubtful that it enjoyed any great favor among I. A. men in the light of the formidable opposition it had encountered in this field. Subsequent developments along this line consisted mainly of a few random shots taken by this writer at the general idea of such schools, just by way of a reminder to projectionists. It can be stated here that the stiff opposition of the I. A. to all such enterprises has been proven to be justified. Before proceeding further, we should like to direct attention to the notes accompanying this article: one a verbatim reproduction of a recent newspaper story, and the other a "lift" of a report by the Better Business Bureau from the I. A. General Bulletin, 1930 volume. These notes are self-explanatory. Tinker to Evers to Chance We come now to October of this year. What do we find? We find in existence the Photo Electric Research Laboratory Corp., the National Sound Service Bureau, Inc., and the Electric Sound Institute, Inc., the latter located in Easton, Penna., and the others in New York City. The first-named is said to be de^4eloping a new engraver. The second organization was formed to "service theatres all over the country" in connection with sound picture apparatus. Can it be that the third unit, the "Institute" is, say, a first-cousin of our old acquaintance in Easton? It is; for we note that F. A. Jewell is the recognized head. My, my. The recognized head of all three enterprises, according to the accompanying newspaper story, is F. A. Jewell, and hi& co-officers are Lester Al Smith, G. C. B. Rowe, and Eric C. Mackey. The activities of the "Institute" and the "Service Bureau" are explained in the report of the Better Business Bureau. But this report does not trace the path of the "student" from the Institute to the Service Bureau to the Photo Electric Research Laboratory. It cannot be denied that this is a swell chain — only so different from the old-fashioned business college which promised jobs to its graduates. Now that we have the first two companies properly pegged, let us consider the activities of the Photo Electric Research Laboratory. We turn for our information to Photoelectricity and Sound, which obviously i& a house organ for all three companies — ■ the soldering element, so to speak. We note that this paper is published in Easton by a company of the same name as the title, and is officered by the following : F. A. Jewell, president ; G. C. B. Rowe, secretary and treasurer, and L. A. Smith, vice-president. Familiar names,, all. In Volume 1, No. 1, for October, 1931, we note an article entitled "Photoelectricity and Gold," by L. A. Smith, which captures our interest. This article dwells on the virtues of the new engraving process which P. E. R. L. is developing and suggests that a little extra cash might be Indict ''Sound School" Promoters Four Promoters Indicted in $200,000 Swindle. PROMISED STEADY PLACES Ambidous Applicants Pay to Learn Electric Sound Work. A pretentious racket which reaped a large income from the savings of unemployed men through promises to train them in electrical sound work and secure for them $50 a week jobs was uncovered today in an indictment filed by the Federal Grand Jury charging mail fraud against the officers of the National Sound Service Bureau, Inc.: the Photo Electric Research Laboratory Corpo-rat'on, both of 723 Seventh avenue; and the Electrical Sound Institute, Inc., of Easton, Penn. The men named in the indictment are Fred A. Jewell, Lester A. Smith. G. C. Baxter Rowe and Eric E. Mackey. The corporations are said to have garnered over $200,000 from ambitious applicants who have registered for courses in the institute in the hope of securing permanent employment at a good salary. Complaints received from many victims of the scheme caused United States Attorney George Z. Medaile to order an investigation. His assistant. lent by Mr. Medalie. J. Hendrick Terry, spent six weeks on the case and finally presented it to the Grand Jury. The indictment charges that the defendants advertisezd for men to operate a photo-electric engraver, allegedly invented by Jewell, at a minimum salary of $50 a week. Applicants were informed that they must first pay $2 for an examination and then become members of the Sound Service Bureau. The membership fee was $25. Only 1 per cent, of those fulfilling those requirements obtained passing mark in the examination and the rest were advised to take a course in the institute. This course, which held out a guarantee of a $50 a week job or all money returned, cost from $85 to $150. Over 2.000 men, many of them practically destitute, enrolled for the course. Thus far, according to Mr. Medalie, no $30 a week jobs have materialized and there have been no refunds. The idea, he continued, was sold to the victims in the most highly colored fashion, the defendants holding out that Mr. Jewell's supposed invention, the photograver, would soon establish a world monopoly and that the various affiliated corporations, of which the defendants held all offices, would grow rich and powerful. Some forty branch offices have been established in as many cities all over the country and high pressure salesmen have been engaged to secure students on a 50 per cent, commission basis. The claims made for Mr. Jewell's new process, which is not patented, were said to be false and fraudulent by Mr. Medalie. [From New York Sun] ■WWI— Wlllll— 1— ■■—