Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1938)

| Motion Picture Review Digest Vol. 3 APRIL 4, 1938 No. 14 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE H. W. WILSON COMPANY 950-972 University Avenue, New York City Terms of Subscription and Advertising. Full information on request. To Our Subscribers Last January (with the approval of our subscribers) we made some experimental changes in the plan of publication of the Motion Picture Review Digest. These changes were briefly: (1) In place of the old cumulative system of single weekly issues and monthly and quarterly cumulations, we went on a schedule of progressive weekly cumulations with final monthly numbers ; eliminating the quarterly cumulation. (2) In place of the cover index of titles of pictures reviewed, we instituted a complete index of all recent pictures in the main alphabet, by means of "see" references ; the theory was that the user would consult the main alphabet for any recent picture, locating there either the reviews desired or a direct reference to the issue in which such reviews would be found. Although both of these changes seemed, in theory, to be improvements, we began to receive complaints from subscribers that in actual use they were less practical than the old methods. Accordingly, after a three-month trial period, we have taken another vote of a representative cross-section of subscribers in a dozen states. The votes have now been counted and show a substantial majority in favor of returning to the old method of cumulation (single weekly issues with monthly and quarterly cumulations) ; and an even larger majority in favor of eliminating the "see" references and returning to the cover indexes of titles. Accordingly, with this issue, we return to the old methods. This is a quar . terly cumulation, with cover index. We are still, however, anxious to improve the Motion Picture Review Digest in any way that will work for the greatest good of the greatest number of subscribers. In this connection two possibilities for improvement occur to us at the present time. 1. The exact period to be covered by the permanent cumulations continues to be a troublesome question. Sometime ago subscribers told us very definitely that they did not need an annual cumulation; that pictures are out of date and forgotten by the time they are a year old. On the other hand, the recent vote shows that, in the opinion of most subscribers, a single month is too short a time for a final cumulation. What, then, is the best period? Is it a quarterly period, or would permanent cumulations every two months be sufficient? (Quarterly cumulations mean four permanent numbers to the year; bi-monthly cumulations would mean six permanent numbers to the year.) Write and tell us what you think. 2. Although the "see" references have now been eliminated by a definite vote of the subscribers, the "see also" references still remain (where part of the reviews of a given picture appear in one issue and part in one or more previous issues). In such cases, would it be valuable to subscribers to summarize after the "see also" references the pluses and minuses received in the previous reviews? This might, in some cases, save the user from turning back to the earlier issues. We shall appreciate your thought and comment on this point. Sincerely yours, THE H. W. WILSON COMPANY