Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE 11 The Lantern Slide in Our War Camps Community Bureau Inaugurates Slide Service to Bridge "Waits" Between Reels Plan Is Called Biggest Single Attempt at Visual Education Ever Undertaken Maurice Richer. By Maurice Ricker (Editorial Assistant, Community Motion Picture Bureau, New York City) (Mr. Ricker was formerly principal of the West High School, Des Moines, Iowa, and is considered a leading authority on the subject of visual education. Recently, he returned from the British West Indies where he was superintending the production of educational films for the University of Iowa. Because of his peculiar knowledge and experience he was assigned to the staff of the Y. M. C. A. Motion Picture Department, operated through the Community Motion Picture Bureau. — Editor.) What is undoubtedly the biggest and most ambitious single attempt to apply the lantern slide to an educational enterprise has been inaugurated by the Communit)' Motion Picture Bureau, which organization supplies all the motion pictures shown in our war camps, both in Europe and in the United States. We are now organizing a lantern slide department of almost unprecedented scope to carry out our plans and we are exceedingly optimistic concerning the results to be achieved. We have found, upon investigation, that the "waits" between reels in our war camps are time wasted. Because of the fact that few camps have more than a single projector immediately available, these waits cannot be eliminated as they can in the picture house, where two machines usually are at the service of the operator. Hence we have come to the conclusion that this period of time can best be profitably used for educational and propaganda work with the medium of stereopticon slides which will appeal to the soldiers and interest them. In the aggregate, these showings will be a powerful factor in encouraging, amusing and instructing our men across the water and will likewise bridge the tedious wait while a reel is being adjusted. It is upon this hypothesis that we have gone ahead with our lantern slide plans. We estimate that when our slide service is in full swing we will have at least 7,000 showings each week ; and it will be seen that a vast library of slides must be quickly collected and the subjects must be chosen with infinite care, as they are to perform the double or triple mission of wholesome propaganda, amusement and instruction. The subject matter of the slide sets is partly humorous, partly serious and partly informative. We have not drawn the lines rigidly, rather taken the wants of the average soldier as a guide, attaining brevity, artistic attractiveness and the human interest appeal without which it is difficult to get and hold attention — one of the chief functions of the plan. Slides to Fit Film Programs* We are planning a service that will cover something over seven thousand showings per week, that is on the basis of our motion picture activities in the camps of the American armies at home and abroad, and in the Italian, French and British armies. The slides will always accompany the film programs. They will be of two kinds. Certain features, such, for instance, as "My Four Years in Germany," by Ambassador Gerard, will have a specifically arranged set of slides to accompany it. These slides will be shipped with the films and will make the rounds of the camps, following in the same box or in the same shipment. For this particular subject we are having prepared a very fine set of slides on the cathedrals of Northern France and Belgium. These cathedrals will be shown before and after the advent of German "Kultur." One can readily understand the interest which may be attached to these slides. We will so arrange our slides, where possible, so they will fit into the program and will not be considered as an interruption in the program. Another series of slides, or rather a different sort of slide service, will be that of having slides sent in sets, and, in fact, always on hand in sets, to project during any temporary disarrangement of projection. These slides will be as opportune as' possible, and will consist of cartoons from the different artists, etc., and I might say here that we have had the most courteous co-operation of these people. We have met with the most cordial reception when interview ing artists, editors and other people with reference to our slide program. We are permitted to use the original in color, such as the cover on Judge ("He's Won His Medal"), Leslie's ma'gazine, etc. We have the permission to use anything we please from the pages of the London Graphic and similar European papers. In fact, some of the cartoonists will do anything that we want done in an original way for the service. The slide service will command the best talent in this country, both editorial and pictorial, and it is easy to see the possibility of this service. National Boundaries on Screen Another point that has not been discussed as yet, but I think can be mentioned, is the reference to some historical and political map work which we are arranging for with the head of one of the largest universities in this country. I found a man who is an authority on historical maps. He is the author of an atlas giving especially the numerous nationalities which are now loosely bound into political organizations such as Austria-Hungary. Consequently, we have arranged to have in lantern slides all the necessary maps and explanations and which will be considered of importance to those who are trying to understand the workings of a peace conference. We see that we have something in this line that is not only new, but will be a very valuable thing. I expect that these slides will be in great demand in educational institutions and that they will be used in the discussion of national boundaries, or rather perhaps I ought better say in the discussion Red Cross motion picture show near front line trenches. Films and slides are supplied by the Community Bureau. in various countries of what is taking place in peace proposals andv have a bearing on problems taking up the difficult task of rearranging the boundary lines after the war is won. A man who is at the head of the intelligence service of a great European power expressed himself the other day, that this slide service represents the largest editorial hearing in the world. What is placed on the screen in a darkened room must necessarily demand the undivided attention of the audience. A man may buy a newspaper, read the sports, the markets and the headlines and what not, and be satisfied without reading one-hundredth of the contents of the publication, but the man who sits in a darkened room with his eyes fastened upon the screen cannot escape. Great care in the selection of this material must be taken. We have to study from every hand and try to make every possible examination of whatever goes into printed matter on the screen for the soldiers and sailors of our Allies. Truck Men Learn From Moving Pictures The moving pictures taken imder the personal direction of Harold P. Gould, chairman of the National Truck Owners' Conference at Detroit, in September, gave the truck owners a vivid example of the every-day truck transport problems and showed in detail how those problems are successfully solved by expert traffic men in every phase of present-day truck transportation.