Sociology of film : studies and documents (1946)

CHAPTER 4 Impressions and Reflections on Children's Cinema Clubs Between August 1944 and June 1945 I spent approximately twenty Saturday mornings in the Odeon and Gaumont British Children's Cinema Clubs. I always sat right among the children in order to be able to observe their behaviour, expressions and attitudes. I took my assistants1 with me in order to check my own observations. In addition, I took children (and their mothers), children whose educational and family background were intimately known to me. It is only fair to say that I saw only about 1 per cent of the Children's Cinema Clubs then in operation, but as my children's 'experimental stations' were situated in three different counties (Home and West Counties) with different social structures, it is probably admissible to draw certain general conclusions, particularly in view of the fact that these children's clubs are guided by strict central directives and are fed as far as films are concerned by two central offices with whose chiefs I had lengthy discussions. In addition, I had full opportunities of discussing with the local managers the whole range of problems which these children's shows present. The child audiences of these clubs vary in size. They may amount to 1,200 children, sometimes to considerably less, but I would not be surprised if, once all these children's clubs which for safety reasons had to be stopped, are again operating, several hundred thousand children attend these shows every week — all the year round. The children are enrolled free as club members, but pay sixpence or ninepence for every performance they attend. As such a large number of children is involved one would think that the State I I owe much to my assistants, Miss I. Seresin and Miss M. McCrae, whose enthusiasm and patience have helped me to carry out these investigations. 51