Movie Makers (Jun-Dec 1928)

which I build around my feature. A newsreel always opens a program satisfactorily. Then, if the feature is light, fast or brilliant I follow the news with a scenic, travelogue or cartoon, but seldom a comedy. If the feature is a bit dry or heavy, then a comedy will brighten the program. "For winter programs I look for the heavy dramas, never forgetting a newsreel and some odd shots, such as scenes from Hollywood, etc. My motto is 'light programs for summer and heavy ones for winter,' and always build your program around your feature.' " Various opinions as to the ideal length of programs were advanced by the writers. Dr. Appleton declared, "Like all people, the projectionist does not care to, and will not, sit through too long a program. I believe it to be a correct analysis of the projectionist's unconscious program 'complex' that the ideal program should last but one and a half hours at the most, which is approximately twelve to sixteen hundred 16 mm. feet, allowing for film change and projection technique. Of that, I believe, onequarter of travelogue, one-quarter of historical drama, one-quarter of science or quasi-scientific filming and one-quarter of industrial exposition represent the ultimate desire of the average projectionist's program at a single showing." Charles Luthe, Jr., of Des Moines, Iowa, also urged a program not longer than an hour and a half to consist of a five-reel feature, an animated cartoon, and a combined sport and newsreel, or, as substitute for the last two reels, a two-reel comedy. Mr. Cohen recommended a program to run two hours. "Where a shorter program is desired," he declared, "it is best made up of comedies, since they are naturally short subjects, whereas many dramas for home showing are either short films made years ago or else they have been condensed from modern pictures and lost much in the condensation." Mr. Dusenbery stated that he believed the average theatrical program of an hour and a half of motion pictures to be too long for home showing. "For home movies the ideal amateur show should not last over one hour," he said. "A longer show is apt to tire the audience. In general, amateur projection is more of eye strain than the professional, which is all the more reason for not prolonging the home show over one hour. The secret of good showmanship is to leave the audience wanting more rather than tiring them with too much." From these quotations it can be seen that various amateurs seem to plan programs from one to two hours in duration, with an hour and a half's program the average. As Mr. Dusenbery said in his letter, "there are probably as many different opinions as to what constitutes an ideal program for the amateur projectionist as there are amateurs," but the compilation of possibilities presented here indicates some of the trends in this field and it is hoped that these frank expressions of amateur opinion will aid libraries in offering and amateurs in developing programs to their mutual satisfaction. From the general tenor of the letters received one can best sum up the program requirements which the libraries must meet by considering the three general age groups and the demands of each. Children, it would seem, chiefly desire clean comedy and films in lighter vein; young people desire action pictures of which the "Western" type is representative, while adults, as a rule, lean toward the more sophisticated subjects, whether choosing those of purely entertainment qualities or ones of more instructive content. The idea of offering films in keeping with the seasons should be given thought by the libraries with an eye to making appropriate seasonal releases. Also if the libraries are to meet the specific demands of amateur projectionists, as this group grows in importance and more definitely states its wishes, consideration must be given the fact that the amateurs represent a highly selective group, far different from the average movie theatre audience. The libraries must therefore be increasingly prepared to offer films which not only appeal to children and young people, which are comparatively easy to procure from present sources, but must include such films in their offering as will satisfy a cultured, critical adult whose general background has included travel, education beyond the average and a generally higher standard of living than that of the great mass of average citizens. This means in plain words that the amateur projectionist wants a type of film that is not suitable to the mass audience of the movie theatre. Reductions to 16 mm. from theatrical releases and shortened versions of screen successes are not what the amateur wants most, although he takes them failing other offerings. The desires voiced in this symposium on the subject of films appropriate to adult showing thus bear out the opinion of the Amateur Cinema League and Movie Makers that in the not very distant future, special films must be made to meet the requirements of this very special amateur audience. AN AMATEUR SCOOPS THE WORLD A 16-MILLIMETER camera in the hands of an amateur cameraman has scored the biggest newsreel scoop of 1928. The subject was the rescue of Aviator Frank Courtney in mid-ocean and the picture was shown by Pathe News in hundreds of theatres throughout the country. The cameraman was F. A. D. Hancock of New York City, who was a passenger on board the Minnewaska. He used a cine camera which is his companion on all of his travels. After a photographically uneventful tour of Europe Mr. Hancock began to doubt that his trip would yield the golden vein sought by all prospectors, whether in mining or photography. Then over the radio came Captain Courtney's faint S.O.S. The gallant British aviator and his companions had been forced down in mid-ocean with their seaplane in flames. For eighteen hours they rode the broad Atlantic before the Minnewaska arrived. The lucky hour had struck and as the crew low ered the lifeboat over the side, Mr. Hancock started shooting. He continued shooting as the boat proceeded over the tossing waves and drew alongside the plane. The camera was still going as Captain Courtney and his companions were taken off the plane and hauled up the side of the friendly Minnewaska. Upon arriving in New York, Mr. Hancock turned his film over to Pathe News. It was developed, raised to standard size and immediately released to its large clientele of theatres in all parts of the world. Pathe News showed its deep appreciation of Mr. Hancock's clever work by giving him full credit in the newsreel for taking the picture. Besides that, the story of how the big scoop was accomplished was told in all of the publicity sent out by Pathe News. But Pathe News did not confine itself to glorifying Mr. Hancock. It sent him a substantial check as well. . 594