Reel and Slide (Jan-Sep 1919)

28 REEL and SLIDE Service of Motion Pictures to the Church By M. Bernays Johnson (Chief of Projection Department, Westinghouse Lamp Company) FROM a business upon which men looked askance until a few short years ago, the motion picture has passed through rapid stages of evolution to an industry which ranks third among those of our nation. Not only has the motion picture subject, its treatment and method of distribution been altered to such a degree that it is equally welcome as a medium of entertainment and of instruction, but the projector or machine which reproduces the splendid efforts of the Griffiths, Inces and De Milles has been correspondingly improved through the untiring activities of a small group of scientific engineers, in order that perfect definition, detail, clarity and safety might prevail wherever motion pictures are shown. In some quarters it is greatly regretted that numerous beautiful biblical subjects were produced before the projector was fully refined and improved, for even men farthest removed from church and pictures agreed that the mechanical and optical defects which were apparent in those days detracted much from the dignity and spirituality of these subjects and tended to lessen' greatly the effect which those pictures should have had upon the observer. As a medium of instruction, either in church or schoolroom, there should be nothing whatever to detract from interest in the subjects being presented upon the screen and unfortunately the hastily procured and ill-chosen projector, through its constant breaking down, has done much to halt further introduction of highly edifying motion pictures in the church and school field. Use Care in Selection Since the checking up of war activities has been made, it has been truthfully said, that the motion picture has helped in countless ways for the spreading of government propaganda with its resultant good during the world war. Surely, if the great lessons of duty to a nation can be told upon the screen to millions of citizens, the message of the church can be similarly conveyed if proper care in selection be used. With the enormous choice of wonderful instructive, educational and religious subjects at hand, together with the simplicity of projection operation, there should no longer exist a good material reason why the lessons of the Scriptures should not be interpreted through the medium of the screen. The selection of the motion picture projector as a part of the church equipment should be an act that carries with it the same amount of discrimination and thought as does the most careful selection of a fitting subject for entertainment and instruction. It should be borne in mind that no motion picturecan be better than the projector with which it is shown, and the "three S's" — Service, Simplicity, Safety — should be looked for. All of these "three S's" are combined in the Simplex Westinehouse Incandescent Projector. Built of the finest material by men who have played an important part in the history of the industry, it is worthy of consideration where the installation of a high type of projector is required. A point which is worthy of mention in connection with this machine is the latest product of the builders of Simplex, namely, the Simplex Westinghouse Incandescent Lamp Equipment. This improvement does away with the carbon arc lamp, with its necessity for the professional projectionist and substitutes the incandescent lamp, which simplified the operation of the commercial projector. All that is required, as far as illumination goes, is to have the proper adjustments made at the time of installation — after that a single snapping on of the switch. Many laymen look upon the introduction of commercial motion pictures as carrying with it an element of danger and fire hazard. Though the commercial film now in use is highly inflammable, its danger before and after use lies entirely in the method of its handling by the individual. While it is actually being shown on the projector, however, the various safeguards incorporated in the projector must be added to the care of the person in whose charge the film might be. The Simplex Westinghouse Incandescent Projector has been so constructed that, when used as designed, should the film stop from any cause without the knowledge of the operator it is impossible, owing to the Simplex Film Trap, to ignite the film and burn more than a one-inch hole in same. This feature alone commends it for church and institutional use where the surroundings demand a maximum of safety. Minister Relies on the Cinema to Add Members By C. A. Rehm (Secretary, Atlas Educational Film Co.) In the past three years I have had hundreds of ministers come into my office and I have listened to their stories of success and to their problems and difficulties. I have gathered a wealth of i nformation which I am glad to pass on in the hope that it might be useful. Motion pictures are one of the greatest aids in bringing people out to church ever devised. I fully appreciate that there are some people who are prejudiced at the very thought of running motion pictures in the church, but these same people, had they lived years ago, would probably have been just as adverse to having music and singing in the church. Many ministers that I know are very successfully using pictures in connection with their church work, running three or two reels, or possibly one before the regular church service. By this means people who are not in the habit of attending church may be induced to come in, if they do so at first only to see the pictures. A welcoming committee ready to extend a hearty handshake and a warm invitation to come again will bring these same people back and in a short time they will be counted as just as conscientious workers as some of the older members. A minister who I know very well personally told, me he had added 314 new members in a three weeks' campaign, using no outside talent and relying entirely on motion pictures. The large number of subjects available, such as Biblical stories, clean moral dramas, sociological subjects, interesting nature studies, travelogues, etc., make it possible to increase attendance as by no other method. The increased plate offerings which will be apparent right from the start will not only pay for the outfit and films, but will also aid in raising money for general and benevolent purposes as well. Paramount Enters Industrial — Educational Field By Nathan H. Friend (Educational and Industrial Department of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation) Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, with the beginning of the new season, entered that branch of the motion picture industry which I firmly believe holds promise for the greatest fut u r e development. The educational and industrial department, of which I am head, has been established and is now in full operation. In the educational field we are working along two lines. We first aim to make all our educational and industrial films basically entertaining. I think it has come to be the conviction of most educators that one of the big troubles with our educational system today is that it fails_ to interest the pupils — to get their attention and hold it. Therefore, our educational subjects will be made as interesting as possible with the imparting of knowledge. These educational subjects will be made both for exhibition in theaters and in schools and other educational centers. A section of this department will produce subjects for the specific purpose of being shown first in schools. We do not intend to supplant the text-book. Our field, as we see it, is as distinctive in this connection as the motion picture theater is from the legitimate house. In this connection we have the full co-operation of educational authorities in the arrangement of different courses. Educationals for the Theater Besides these purely school pictures, we also shall produce educational pictures for the theater. Of course, we already have the Paramount-Burton Holmes Travelogues, which, in addition to entertainment, have educational value. The Paramount Magazine will mark a new department in screen entertainment. Then we shall have the Your America Pictures, which, showing the wonders and advantages of our country, have the indorsement of Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior. There will be fifty-two numbers of the Paramount Magazine, each number to run 1,000 feet. Each number will contain about 150 feet of epigrams, written by Henry L. Mencken and George Jean Nathan in the Smart Set Magazine, or by Helen Rowland in the New York World ; an animated technical drawing of some subject treated in Popular Mechanics, and an animated comic cartoon. The editorial staff of Popular Mechanics will edit the technical subjects treated; in fact, this section will be a sort of animated supplement to Popular Mechanics. For some time Famous Players-Lasky Corporation has made a study of the industrial field. With the (reconstruction period at hand, and the remodelling of the world before us, the motion picture comes into its own as an engine of commercial propaganda. Trade competition, it is predicted by economists, will be keener than ever before between the nations, and the proper exploitation of a given product to the world at large and to the personnel en(Continued on page 30)