Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

10 REEL and SLIDE New Animated Doll Films Appeal to Imagination of the Younger Generation WHAT kind of comedy for the children? The old days of trick motography are past. The clown who rose from a heap of ashes, the matches that danced, the goblm who jumped out of the pail are no longer popular. The boy and girl of to-day find pleasure in the fairy tale if well filmed, and especially if they are familiar with the story in advance. Howard Moss, who believes that animated dolls offer excellent screen comedy for juveniles. _ Howard S. Moss of Chicago has been engaged in the production of animated doll subjects for some years, under the auspices of the Essanay Company. It is Mr. Moss' belief that the animated doll is especially appealing to the youngster and the wide latitude of material in this field permits almost an endless reportoire of subjects. Quite recently Mr. Moss completed a five-reel production in which animated, life-like doll characters played the leading parts, though actors also were used to get certain effects. The Essanay Company sent this feature out over their circuit Scene from one of Mr. Moss' fivc-recl doll comedies. (Essanay Film Mfg. Co.) with excellent results. In speaking of the appeal of the doll series to youngsters, Mr. Moss said recently: "There is a dearth to-day of wholesome screen fun for juveniles. An occasional fairy tale is about all the important producers give them. Usually there is no specific plan by which these films may be brought to the attention of the children. I know in my own family the animated doll picture brings pure entertainment. The fun in these subjects is purely elementary and appeals to the child's imagination. The popularity of Palmer Cox's 'brownies' was due to the same thing. "It has been my aim in producing the doll series to make certain that the younger audiences could get something out of them. In most cases, I have been able to make them pure, unadulterated juvenile fun. It is time for the child to be recognized, not only in the theaters where they go, but any place where moving pictures are shown for the wholesome benefits they bestow." In making the animated doll pictures, much tedious labor is needed. To make a doll run across the foreground a whole day may be consumed, the figure moving a few inches for each turn of the camera crank. Libraries Are Considering Films to Increase Interest THE relationship between motion pictures and literature was recognized at the annual meeting of the New York Library Association, held at Lake Placid the last week of September. On the program was an address on "Motion Pictures as Visualized Book Power," by Orrin G. Cocks, Advisory Secretary of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The address was heard by librarians from every part of the state. It brought to their attention a new point of view which many of them had never recognized before. It was that the motion picture might be a medium of interesting a large part of the public in books, which is not now at all interested in literature. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Cocks said: "This great association may well recognize that throughout the State of New York the motion picture is preparing the ground for thousands of potential readers. Plans might well be made for some systematic co-ordination of the library with the motion picture theater. It might go farther and use the picture in various auditoriums which attract this same non-reading public to the place where literature may be had for the asking. "I feel certain you wish some definite suggestions for utilizing this new amusement agency. You must have asked yourselves how can the great dailv audiences attending the picture shows be transformed into a larger reading public? This becomes the subject of the last point of this paper. "Probably the most important suggestion which I can make is that there be a change in the mental attitude of librarians toward the motion picture. In the past, where there has not been indifference there has been antagonism. Indeed, this has been characteristic of many classes who might have helped the motion picture to find itself. Please do more than acknowledge that there may be something good in the motion picture, and try to use it while you win to the library the people who have become devoted to it. "I do not suggest that scenarios and motion pictures plots be written, because this is far more technical than many lay enthusiasts imagine. It is, however, possible to develop a widespread demand for subjects which have a definite relation to good literature. Please witness the instant response of the producers of motion pictures for those films which are patriotic. It is equally possible to turn the thoughts of city dwellers toward agriculture. It has been demonstrated that great social subjects which require national support can be aided quickly and materially by the motion picture drama. "It is quite possible, also, for librarians to become more intelligent about the better films which have been made and which are appearing constantly. The Library Journal has made a beginning in undertaking to print each month a short list of films which have been drawn from literature. "I can see no reason why it is not possible for librarians to learn, from the exhibitors in their own towns, of the pictures which are soon to be shown. When those appear which are good, it will be valuable to support such by indorsements in the libraries. If your local motion picture managers are convinced by friendly conversations that you are interested, many of them will be willing to show slides informing the public that the book can be obtained from the nearby library. The exhibitors may even be willing to have a short, popular address now and then in their theaters, telling of attractive books on the library shelves and how easily they may be obtained. The story of the part that the sailor plays in life today was told in an illustrated lecture given at the Young People's Association of the Central Congregational Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. The lecturer was the Rev. George Sidney Webster, secretary of the American Seamen's Friend Society, No. 76 Wall Street, Manhattan, which conducts work for sailors on an international basis.