Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

14 MOTION PICTURE HERALD June 2 7. 1931 EDUCATIONAL FILMS TO BE TESTED AT CAPITAL Fox Makes Series of Sound Films To Be Seen by School Children Representing Country Experiments to determine the possibilities of sound motion pictures in public school instruction this week were given the backing of the White House when Walter H. Newton, Secretary to the President, addressed a letter to the governors of the 48 states asking their co-operation in the making of test films in Washington, during the • week of July 6. The governor of each state was asked to secure the designation by the proper school authorities of a boy or girl of grammar school age to come to Washington at the expense of the group which is sponsoring the work, to be the subjects of these test films, in the making of which George Washington University will furnish the necessary facilities. A member of the board of education from each state will accompany each child to ascertain the value of the experiment. A number of educational films made with these child subjects have been prepared by Fox Film, although no one company will be given any monopoly of the production which may result should the tests prove successful. The making of the pictures was under the supervision of a committee consisting of Dean Reudiger of George Washington University, chairman ; Dr. Frank W^. Ballou, superintendent of District of Columbia schools; J. W. Crabtree of the National Education Association ; E. C. Broome of Philadelphia, president of the department of superintendence ; Dr. George Johnson of the National Catholic Welfare Conference ; Dean Florence Bamberger of Johns Hopkins University, and Miss Bess Goddykoontz. Assistant United States Commissioner of Education. The films which Fox has prepared with the assistance of the various educators, for use in the Washington tests, include subjects, for the most part one-reel in length, covering civics, science, geography and history. Various incidents of historical importance are pictured in the one group ; the life cycle of certain animals in the science films; the story of the flag and the relation of the citizen to the government in the civics section and scenes of rivers, volcanoes and the like under the geographical studies. No color films are to be used ; all subjects are sound synchronized and where possible, particularly in the geographical films, natural sound has been caught. The series is intended primarily as supplemental to ordinary classroom and blackboard routine instruction. Lectures accompany those films not shown with natural sound, and some incidental music is utilized to lighten the reels. Fox has already prepared more subjects than will be actually needed for the tests, permitting a wide choice. Fox is prepared, in the event of the tests being successful, and being assured of the support of the state boards of education, to concentrate on the production of pictures designed exclusivelv for use in schools over the countrv. Pays for Shows He "Stole" Vincent Lawder, nnanager of the Stratton theatre in Middletown, N. Y., is now telling this one about a former newsboy who, growing up and "getting religion," paid the other day for entertainment at the Stratton that he "stole" 20 years ago. Lawder received a letter from the town of Walton, and opening it found one dollar and the following explanation: "I believe The Christ is coming very soon and that He will judge every one by his works. . . . Several years ago I was selling newspapers in Middletown. Occasionally I used to steal up the abandoned stairway beside the main entrance to the Stratton theatre and walk Into the gallery and then walk out with the crowd. I believe any such dishonesty enough to keep one out of Heaven if It goes unconfessed." When Lawder recovered, he told friends that he would give the dollar to charity, In spite of the depression. Allied Attacks 'Buy Now' Drive A publicity release from Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors' Washington office assails the "buy now" campaign which took its origin in the utterances recently presented in the trade press from Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Wisconsin. The Allied bulletin alleges that business conditions are so unsettled that scarcely any exhibitor knows what he will be able to pay for pictures next year; that producers' announcements lack definite information; that the financial condition of "a few companies" is such that they are dubious about their ability to deliver per announcement; that the "buy now" campaign is designed to leave "the independent exhibitor holding the bag." [As Motion Picture Herald has editorially and variously indicated, there is in the argument to "buy now" no purpose to drive or expectation of driving exhibitors into unwise commitments, but rather a purpose of pointing out that the industry can not be well served, or any part of it prosper, in a state of timiditv and stagnation. Something has to be done about this business all the time, every day, and that something is business.— The Editor.] Others May Follow France in Repealing Quota Restrictions General consideration throughout Europe of the elimination of quota restrictions on American films, is believed probable as a result of the action of France, which this week was reported to have removed such restrictions for the period of one year, beginning July 1. The French ruling provides that American producers will be permitted to export their product into France without respect to the production or exhibition of domestic pictures. The move is thought to be a result of the lack of suitable domestic product, a condition which exists not only in France but in all the other countries of Europe, including England. No definite information that France has eliminated its quota restrictions has been received by the Hays office, according to the organization's headquarters in New York. British Negotiate For Distribution in Russia Negotiations are under way between A. Hubrich, European representative of British International Pictures, Ltd., and representatives of Sovkino, Soviet producing and exhibiting combine, looking to the distribution of British pictures in Russia. Russian subtitles would be added if the deal is completed. A number of theatres in the leading cities of the Soviet Union have been wired for sound, chiefly German and native equipment. Dr. Skinner Supplants Clifton As Ohio Censor Board Chief Dr. B. O. Skinner, president of Wilmington College, on July 1 takes over the post of chief Ohio censor, occupied by John L. Clifton until the recent appointment by Governor White. Oiiio exhibitors generally are elated over the appointment of Skinner, since he is known to be broad of vision, eminently fair in decisions, and keenly interested in pictures. Important Paramount Changes Expected From Goulding Trip Edmund Goulding, Paramount director, is in London conferring with Robert T. Kane, who developed the company's Paris plant, and J. C. Graham, Paramount managing director abroad. It is expected there that the discussions will result in important announcements regarding English production and in particular the Elstree studios. Franco-German Quota Talks Make No Headway in Paris Despite the efforts of the French representative, Charles Delac, and German interests in discussing a possible Franco-German quota agreement, at least in part, little headway has apparently been made in Paris.