See and hear : the journal on audio-visual learning (1945)

See & Hear Mid-Century Special Report Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Enters 21st Year of Production LIBRARY NOW INCLUDES OVER 330 CLASSROOM SUBJECTS ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA FILMS' library of 16mm educational sound films has grown to more than 330 subjects as EBF celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary with the opening of a new half-century. In those twenty years the company has produced films which make a sizeable contribution to the school curriculum from kindergarten to college. Films in primary science, chemistry, physics, human and animal biology, health and hygiene, social studies, history, arithmatic, athletics, home economics, art, music, teacher training and child development have been produced to enrich the curriculum of American schools. A Long Road Lies Ahead But with the completion of 330 films the task is by no means complete. To quote Dr. Melvin Brodshaug, vice-president of the company, the basic minimal film library for elementary and high schools would be in excess of 1100 motion pictures. That leaves a considerable amount of production activity ahead for the school film pioneers. In the first two years of its history. ERPI produced a series of teacher training films, obvious necessities because audio-visual education was in its infancy and no one knew much about the philosophy of visual learning. The first 19 classroom films were added in 1931. These were in the natural sciences and music. 26 Films Produced in 1937 Production climbed gradually, despite the handicaps of depression and the difficulties, still present today in many sectors, of convincing teachers that films are vital to a good education. In 1937, after a consistent production budget had been assured, the company hit its prewar high peak with the production of 26 films. The early films are still among the top sellers of EBF. In a recent tabulation made by the company of sales of films based on years of release, it was shown that the films released in the following years rank in this order: 1947 releases first; 1936 releases second, followed by releases of 1942, 1933, 1940 and 1937. This record is clear indication, according to Dr. V. C. Arnspiger, that producing the basic films first has been a wise policy. As schools first start their C. Scott Fletcher, Pres. Encyclopaedia Britannica Films basic film libraries they are interested in obtaining the basic films first, and it is significant that so many films produced in the 1930's are still the leading sellers. The leading sellers in EBF history in the order of their sales are: Sound Waves, and Their Sources produced in 1933 Heart and Circulation produced in 1937 Body Defenses Against Disease produced in 1937 Digestion of Foods produced in 1938 Molecular Theory of Matter produced in 1932 Even among the sales for last year alone, of the ten leading films six were productions of the 1930's. The leading films included, in the following order: Hare and Tortoise, Atomic Energy, Wool, Adventures of Bunny Rabbit, Common Animals of the Woods, Gray Squirrel, Heart and Circulation, Digestion of Foods, Live Teddy Bears and Animals of the Zoo. Only Hare and Tortoise, Atomic Energy, Wool and Live Teddy Bears Dr. V. C. Arnspiger Executive Vice-President of Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Dr. Melvin Brodshaug Vice-President in charge of product development James A. Brill Vice-President in charge of creative design Dennis Williams Vice-President in charge of E. B. distribution 38 SEE & HEAR