Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE either sending or accompanying the children to these matinees. This led to an extensive organization among the various women's clubs and organizations in this co-operative movement. Daily papers contributed liberally in editorials. Pictures were carefully reviewed before being shown to the children. Fairy and clean dramatic stories were added to the list of scenic and travelogs. This effort has been showing satisfactory and tangible results. As the company, with whom the writer is associated, was handling "Modern Mother Goose," special efforts were made to meet these large organizations and work in through a general cornmittee planning to arouse greater interest and prepare the way for continuous showing of such programs. At another theater in Chicago the same method of work resulted in total attendance of nearly five thousand. In South Bend, Indiana, 18 school buildings worked in unison with the women's clubs and more than 3,000 school children saw the picture. What They Did in Elkhart In Elkhart, Indiana, the Council of Parent-Teachers' Association and women's clubs gave a Friday afternoon matinee and evening performance where a total of 2,500 attended. As Elkhart had a number of poor families who could not afford to go, private individuals and organizations furnished these children with free tickets. In Gar}', Indiana, the same picture was given by women's clubs, schools and churches as a benefit for the Neighborhood House with a total of more than $800, the children of Gary having an opportunity to see it. These facts are simply mentioned to show that co-operative work along this line will bring results. Any other good fairy story or clean picture would have brought the same results with the same combined efforts. The desire for better pictures has spread so rapidly, entered into so many different avenues, that it has become known as "The Better Films Movement." Under this plan, schools and churches are co-operating and announcing pictures that have been endorsed by persons or committees within this movement, who are reviewing and giving them their approval. Occasionally a minister has been found to say, "I am not working to build up an attendance for the theater." By this he meant, where there was no moving picture machine in the schools, or a centrally located organization, and the committees arranged with the theater on a co-operative plan, his first thought was, he was not willing to encourage pictures when shown in the theater. Not having given serious thought to the matter, he did not fully grasp the importance of doing so. But, when "the better films movement" was more fully explained to him and he was shown that every organization interested in the uplifting of children and public morals were in the movement, furnishing clean, interesting, wholesome, entertaining and instructive pictures, he changed his mind and was ready and willing to announce it in his Sunday school and church. He then recognized it as a part of practical Christianity. At a convention of producers not long ago the subject of "the better films movement" was discussed. A large majority seemed to express the opinion that suggestive pictures should be eliminated. Pic tures having parts tending to direct young boys' and girls' minds toward robbery and crime should be eliminated. They also expressed themselves as feeling that a new and different field of literature would be profitable and highly satisfactory. This indicates that the trend of the times is inward and upward to still better things — to good and worthy things. Legislation Is Proposed The work of "the better films movement" has taken another step in advance. As a result of the discussions in various district and state conventions of women's organizations, educational and religious movements, a bill was offered in congress for a national board of censorship of scenarios. This board was not to be political. It was to contain representation from every phase of society interested in art, drama, education and entertainment who were to review the scenarios. If objectionable parts were marked to be eliminated, or after leaving the censorship board phases were added which had not been approved by the board, there was to be a penalty of $5,000 to $10,000 fine and three to five years' imprisonment. But when war was declared there were other issues which crowded this out for the time General interest in "the better films movement" is becoming apparent. Its field of usefulness is just beginning to be realized. Great things may be expected along this line in the near future. Those interested along this line will find it to their advantage to co-operate in every way. It will bring more and better pictures into our schools and churches. It will increase the attendance and bring better pictures into our theaters. MORE LIGHT WITH INCANDESCENT LAMPS IN THE Victor Animatograph ThaQ in Any Other Motion Picture Projector designed with, not merely adapted to, the new high power Mazda projector lamps. Guaranteed — a motion picture image of standard illumination, clearness, sharpness and steadiness — entirely free from eyestrain. There are other features that make the Animatograph the superior projector — simplicity, economy, light weight, lasting quality. It's all explained and illustrated in a new catalog. Write for information and terms. VICTOR ANIMATOGRAPH COMPANY 125 Victor Building Davenport, Iowa, U. S. A. Please say, "As advertised in REEL and SLIDE," ivhen you write to advertisers.