Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

CaB'123772 M A G A Z I NT E VOL. I NOVEMBER 1918 NO. 9 Teaching Citizenship With Pictures A Survey of Civic Cinematography and Its Availability for Use by Municipalities Report of Investigations Conducted by Municipal Reference Library of New York By Ina Clement (So many requests for information on this subject have been received by the Municipal Reference Library of New York that Miss Ina Clement was delegated to make an investigation, the results of which are embodied in what is called Special Report No. 2.) [HE foes of democracy are twofold — those within and those without. Because the first are more insidious there is danger of neglecting them in the glamor of the present struggle. To ivin the war is the first great aim of every American city. The world looks to America not only to help "make the world safe for democracy," but to keep democracy safe for the world. The problems of Americanization, public health, social service, child labor, regulation of employment for women, good government, safety to life and many others become doubly vital in the present crisis. Perhaps the most successful medium for awakening public interest in questions of this kind is the moving picture. Mr. H. F. Sherwood, one of the most enthusiastic workers for "better films," says : "Picturization was the primitive man's method of passing on what he had to say. A motion picture comes nearer to being the universal language than any other common medium of communication. . . . The motion picture serves to break down horizontally and vertically barriers between peoples and classes. . . . For the first time in the history of the world, a means of expression which furnishes large opportunities for artistic development has been brought to the door of the burdened wage-earner." National officials have found the movie invaluable in visualizing war activities and necessities. Who can tell how many recruits for Uncle Sam may be placed to the credit of the movie? Who knows to what extent the movie may be respoiisible in helping to make "food win the war?" An interesting example of such a film is "Winning with Wheat," whi^ch was produced by Kansas Agricultural College and the State Council of National Defense for use in a quick campaign during the summer of 1917 and greatly influenced agricultural production. The film was shown in 92 busy places during three weeks, the total attendance being 23,275. Ex-Ambassador Gerard, when asked at a recent gathering in New York City what the United States could do for Russia, answered "Show them moving pictures representing conditions among the working classes in a republic." The fact that recently the government has decreed that 20 per cent of the films exported to European countries must be educational or propaganda films is sufficient evidence of the importance placed upon the educational value of the motion picture. Municipalities and the "Movie" Various cities have found the motion picture of equal importance in enlightening the public regarding civic matters. Salt Lake City, in a film "The Work of Protecting a City's Health," pictured the work of the Health Department, part of the proceeds being devoted to the Red Cross. Baltimore produced a film, "Collection and Disposal of Refuse and Garbage of Baltimore." Other cities have used existing films on many subjects. Dallas, Texas, has recently shown an interesting collection of such motion pictures in connection with its Child Welfare Exhibit. Opinions differ as to the advisability of direct participation by municipalities in the presentation of motion pictures and in some cases the theaters themselves have strongly opposed such competition. The New York City Department of Health considers the plan of co-operating with the regular theaters and having the films presented as part of the theater programs more suc cessful than the free open air performances. The summer evenings make it possible, however, to use the movie as a recreation feature in the public parks, thus not only giving people something worth while to see, but keeping them out in the open. Such open air performances have been successfully conducted in New York, Boston and St. Louis. The Municipal Reference Library has recently been makmg a study of this subject, in the course of which all of the important manufacturers of educational films in and around New York City, as well as the various organizations interested in the betterment of the quality of the motion picture, were interviewed. More than a hundred letters were written to manufacturers, city officials and private corporations owning special films. _ Although a widespread interest in the subject of civic motion pictures was found to exist and a number of previous studies had been made, no one person or organization, apparently, has endeavored to publish a comprehensive Hst of civic films, with information as to their cost and availability. That there is great need for such information is evidenced by the large number of inquiries received by civic and educational institutions, both public and private, throughout the country. Films Divided in Four Classes An examination of the data collected shows that the films may be divided into four general classes : those produced by commercial manufacturers, those produced by commercial manufacturers in co-operation with some association for propaganda purposes, those made for city officials, and, finally, those made by corporations for advertising purposes. This last class includes some of the most valuable films produced. Many of these industrial films are of too technical and scientific a nature to be included in this list and yet are excellent for instruction. They have also been used in vocational guidance courses and are serving as an aid to those interested in the rehabilitation of handicapped soldiers and sailors in showing special processes for which these men can be trained. Probably the most popular film is the story with a civic message or information interwoven with the plot. Good examples of this type of film are "The Locked Door" (Fire Prevention), "For the Commonwealth" (Prison Reform), and "The Rule of Reason" (Safety First). Such a combination, however, is very difficult to obtain, especially in connection with such subjects as road building, water supply, municipal government. Some of the films, therefore, are largely descriptive, as, for example, "Filtering a Water Supply" or "The Production of Antitoxin." As to subject matter, the following classification of films examined is significant : Health and sanitation (in Police 6 eluding milk supply and Americanization 4 tuberculosis) 28 Education 4 Safety 12 Gardening 3 Social service 8 Crime and criminals 3 Fire protection and preven Public utilities 3 tion 7 Public works ., 2 Roads and pavements 7 Municipal government 1 Recreation 7 Commerce 1 Child welfare 7 Miscellaneous 15 The greatest number of films were found for subjects which have been given the widest publicity. The last ten years have seen wonderful progress along the line of health education, especially the prevention of tuberculosis. "Safety first" has within the last five years become a familiar term to all. Until quite recently the question of Americanization has received scant attention. The obligations of citizenship are presented forcibly through the medium of the motion picture. In states where women have