Moving Picture Age (Jan-Dec 1922)

8 MOVING PICTURE AGE May, 1922 rent what they want, because the nearest theatres do not object. The claim of the theatre that it will be deprived of business seems very petty when we recall that the seating capacity of the nontheatrical institution is usually much less than the theatre's, and its use of films far less frequent. In one case the theatre seats 3,100 and has four or five programs daily, while the nearby church seats only 320 and the schools only two to four hundred, and would average in use of films not more than once or at most twice a week for one or possibly two programs. Non-theatrical Co-operation Other non-theatrical organizations in the city are conferring with those that have been so far the chief victims of this monopoly, as to the best means of safeguarding their rights; and we will welcome correspondence with similar groups in other cities. We understand that Cincinnati is only one of a number of cities where this trouble has developed, while in yet other centers the nontheatrical exhibitor is still granted the right to rent films from the regular exchange instead of having to send to some distant state to one of the few non-theatrical exchanges with their limited lists of older films. Suggestions will also be gladly received from nontheatrical groups who have been able to maintain with the theatrical exhibitors such friendly co-operation as we have sought to establish by conference and by advertising the theatres' children's matinees and exceptional films through our schools and churches. Many of the Cincinnati Committee of Non-theatrical Exhibitors are also members of the Cincinnati Council for Better Motion Pictures, which by its review of all films shown and publication from time to time of approved lists stimulates the patronage of better films both at the theatres and other community centers where motion pictures are screened. Theatrical Priority, Not Monopoly, the Solution There is much talk among moving-picture men of an approaching state or national action of exhibitors looking toward a boycott of non-theatrical interests. Would it not be a kindness for enough of us to communicate with them to let them know that such an attempt to rule is likely to lead to what may well be at least relatively ruinous results for them? Let us remind them that the American public likes fair play. The theatrical exhibitor by his steady use of films and ability to pay a higher rental naturally has the preference or priority in exhibition of new pictures; but when he descends to preventing other groups in the community from showing stories that he has used or has refused to. use for fear of too small commercial returns, his infringement of the liberty of the people must and will be over-ridden. "The mills of the gods grind slow ; but they grind exceedingly small." Monopoly fares ill in a land of liberty. The Citizens' Motion-Picture League AT a meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, Tuesday, April 25, at i which more than a hundred people of Kansas and Missouri were present — including pastors, educators, community workers, and also laymen whose only reason for attending was their interest in community welfare — the Citizens' Motion-Picture League was organized. The new organization is a direct result of the theatrical exhibitors' action in this vicinity in threatening to boycott exchanges that supply any dramatic films to non-theatrical exhibitors without the consent of the theatrical exhibitor nearest the non-theatrical showing. The immediate purpose of the league is to arouse and consolidate public opinion so thoroughly that it will be able to express itself decisively when necessary, and to let this public opinion decide whether or not the theatrical exhibitor shall be permitted to dictate or circumscribe the activities of religious, educational, and other welfare institutions with motion pictures. The first step will be the organization of local groups of men and women in each community, and any action required will be carried on by means of the groups immediately in touch with each local situation. Several active members of the National Academy of Visual Instruction were in attendance, and took part in the discussion. These men told of the definite steps taken by the Academy at its recent convention to solve the Kansas-Missouri problem, described the Academy's status as the only non-commercial group actively working in the cause of visual instruction, and advocated that the new organization plan t<i benefit by the Academy's unquestioned standing and national scope by requesting affiliation with it as soon a po sible. Such a step was provided for, a resolution being passed to the effect that such affiliation be made as soon as the Academy or some similar organization had showed that it was doing on a national basis what the league intended to do locally. Rev. Burris Jenkins, of Kansas City, was elected president of the Citizens' Motion-Picture League, and H, G. Ingham, University of Kansas, and Mrs. George Gorton, president of the Kansas City Young Women's Christian Association, respectively first and second vice-presidents. Other officers chosen are: H. Tom Collord, executive secretary; Mrs. P. E. Cope, recording secretary, and Rupert Peters, treasurer. The board of directors will consist of fourteen members, including the officers, and will be selected to comprise a number of educational, religious, and civic leaders in Kansas and Missouri. Films at Surgeons' Convention AT the convention of the American College of Surgeons, in ses' sion recently at Philadelphia, the feasibility of motion pictures for the practical demonstration of surgical operations was proved, operations by seven of the world's finest surgeons being shown in complete detail. The films exhibited were chosen from a collection of pictures showing more than a hundred surgeons of international reputation performing their most famous operations. According to Dr. G. J. E. Tieck, a leading surgeon in New York City, and two of whose operations have been put into film, there is reason to believe that at a future date the operating-room clinic may be supplanted by motion-picture reproductions of operations. Appropriation Made for Research in Visual Instruction T^HE DIRECTORS of the Commonwealth Fund have approved A the recommendation of the Educational Research Committee that $10,000 be granted the University of Chicago for the prosecution of research in visual education. This research is to be conducted under the direction of Professor Frank N. Freeman, Department of Education, University of Chicago. The work will consist of experiments in public schools to compare the efficiency of visual methods, and particularly to study the effectiveness of motion pictures in comparison with other methods. The special aim of this study is to discover the types of lessons or problems of instruction that are adapted to this method of teaching. The purpose is to determine whether or not the production of educational films is proceeding in the most economical and advantageous direction. The second part of the study deals with the method by which the motion-picture film may be better adapted to the purpose. This part consists of a more analytical laboratory study of the various factors comprised in the motion-picture film, in order to investigate their effectiveness in detail. A number of persons are associated in the work, among them being Mr. F. Dean McClusky, instructor in educational psychology at the University of Illinois. Mr. McClusky, who is a Contributing Editor of Moving Picture Age, has already carried on some experiments in this field, and plans to extend them with the assistance of support from this fund. The co-operation has also been secured of Mr. E. H. Reeder, supervisor of visual instruction in the Detroit public schools. Films Appropriate for Mother's Day and Mother's Week ^T^HE FOLLOWING feature pictures have been selected by the *■ National Board of Review as especially suitable for exhibition on Mother's Day and during Mother's Week, beginning May 14. These productions range between five and eight reels in length. Devotion First National Dollars and the Woman Vitagraph The Good Provider Famous Players-Laskey Hail the Woman First National Homespun Folks First National HumoresQue Famous Players-Laskey Mother o' Mine First National The Old Nest Goldwyn The Old Oaken Bucket Gunning One Man In a Million Robertson-Cole Over the Hill Fox Scrap Iron First National Turn to the Right. Metro Your Best Friend Warner