The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

2166 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD March 27, 1920 staff in the making of scientific subjects, as they were convinced that a method had been found whereby the technical intricacies of scientific studies might be presented on the screen in a far clearer manner than is possible either ^through the lips of a lecturer or through the pages of a text book. "But motion picture production in Germany is about ten years behind that in America. The Germans want our pictures badly. It seems that the stock on which they photograph is poor and the results are consequently unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, so eager are the people to see motion picture entertainments that they flock to the theatres whenever they can afford the luxury, and enjoy whatever is presented." Foreign Field Never So Fertile. In conclusion, Mrs. Bray said that the foreign field for American photoplays was never so fertile as at present. "We must realize that our pictures are in demand on the other side. They want our pictures now for their entertainment as well as for their instructive values. And not only do the people want them, but the producers as well. The latter are eager to take advantage of the technical progress that America has made in the past four years." Greiver to Publish an Educational Film Weekly SIMON GREIVER, president of the Greiver Distributing Corporation, has fully completed arrangements for the production and the national distribution of the Greiver Educational Weekly. Two years ago the Greiver Distributing Corporation identified themselves with the distribution of educational films, gaining experience of a valuable nature, which should be helpful in their present venture. Since that time Simon Greiver has toured the country with the idea of investigating the short-reel requirements of the theatre. He has visited the smallest as well as the largest theatres, studying the effect of pictures on the different audiences, in an effort to discover which particular style of single reels make the most lasting impression. The first of the Greiver Educationals is ready for the market, and has been pronounced by a jury of producers and men widely known in the film industry, to be a reel of exceptional interest. An agreement was effected between Greiver and certain producers, whereby they will furnish regularly pictures to be known as Greiver Educationals. Some Things Worth Knowing That No. 59 of the Universal New Screen Magazine shows William G. McGee, a violin maker of the Cumberland mountains, at work on one of these instruments. McGee's violins, made entirely by hand, are well known throughout the country. That the Universal safety first film "Careless America" was shown recently in Baltimore before an audience of 3,000 school children. The exhibition took place in the Garden Theatre, under the auspices of the Safety First Society. At the close of the entertainment, which was arranged by Louis A. DeHoff, manager of the Garden •Theatre, the question, "Will you think of safety first? was flashed from the screen. Three thousand lusty voices answered back, "You bet !" That one of the recent and interesting subjects treated photographically by Burton Holmes is "The Boys' Pig Club." In this picture freckle-faced youngsters are seen borrbwing from the bank on notes signed by themselves, and then purchasmg baby pigs, which they later rear into fine looking porkers. The combined lesson of thrift, industry and productivity furnishes a valuable contribution to pictures of American life. That Kinograms for March 16 shows a three thousand acre celery farm which is cultivated by a colony of Hindus in California, scenes in a doll hospital in New Orleans, the biggest herd of bison on the Pacific Coast in a preserve in San Francisco, and other interesting events. That in the Fox News No. 46 Barnard College girls give an interesting exhibition of the right and the wrong way to dress. This number also contains moments with the Atlantic fleet at Panama, pictures of the baby lambs on the lawn at the White House, and a premature explosion of 500 pounds of dynamite at Chicago. That the DeVry portable moving picture projector is found useful in the home as well as in the school room. More than one moving picture magnate now views films in the parlor of his own home, thanks to the portable machine. Educational Engages Fritchard. R. E. Pritchard, who for seven months has been director of advertising and publicity for the chain of some fifty theatres of the Allen Enterprises in Canada, has returned to New York to take a similar post with the Educational Films Corpora tion. He will direct the special exploitation determined upon by E. V. Hammons, vice-president and general manager as the result of the vastly enlarged scope of operations of the company. Films Used to Inspire Men to Punctuality in Industry IN discussing the educational film situation with a representative of the Moving Picture World recently, Charles Urban, of the Kineto Company of America, said : "One of the new uses for Educational Films is a practice that has come into vogue with industrial concerns, namely, giving the workers worth-while entertainment to make them come to work on time. It is commonly acknowledged that the reason for present-day high prices is, among other things, the lack of adequate production. Workers are being paid 100 per cent, to 400 per cent, more than before the war, and the average workman turns out less than 75 per cent, of what he formerly produced. Part of this decreased production is due to lack of punctuality, nor can the employer be too severe about this tardiness, lest the workmen might take exception to it. "Into this breach the more progressive American producers, including the United States Rubber Co., have injected or are planning to inject the motion picture, in order that the workers may be drawn to the plant thirty minutes to an hour before the blowing of the whistle. They are meanwhile shown some worth-while film, and best of all a good attendance is assured, it having been proved in actual practice that the old saying, 'You can draw more flies with molasses than with vinegar,' is equally good in this instance, and that more workers show up by reason o£ the entertainment than they do under threats. "Nor is this all that the worth-while educational picture or entertainment feature has to do for the workman. Every student of the subject realizes that each bit of information that is added to the workman's store of knowledge is making that workman more worth while. The more he knows the better is his work, be it in a factory or an office. Therefore, the better the films that are shown to the workman in these commercial auditoriums, the more certain the prestige of the commercial house, hence improvement in the product, increase in production and gradual lowering of the high cost of living. "This might seem to be a far cry as a result of using the worth-while motion picture, but any earnest student of the situation will agree with me that there is more in this idea than appears on the surface."* American Egret or White Heron on Outpost Duty — Burrowing Owls Executing Left Dress. Both of the above pictures were taken from the "Bird and Animal Life" film produced by William L. Flnley.