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The Short Subject
cutting of diamonds, directions to detect cheating at cards, the proper method to fly an airplane, the collection of raw rubber from trees, and the growing and roasting of coffee. The subjects are handled in authentic manner and made clear by illustrations familiar to the listener.
One short subject, with highly comic but scientifically accurate comments by Pete Smith, is credited by many economists with having halted the economically dangerous "dime chain letters." With pictures of human players, with graphic pictorial charts, and with his clever, accurate remarks, Smith explained pictorially and verbally the ridiculous nature of the whole plan. Until this short subject came out, no amount of printed expositions had been able to check the progress of the evil.
The success of the "narration'' short subject led to an abrupt change in the handling of newsreels, for it was early seen that pictured news was more acceptable when explained verbally. Newsreels are standard in every film theatre. No showman, even in those states where two big features are offered at a single performance, would think of presenting a program without a newsreel. In the larger cities there are theatres which run nothing else. The importance of the newsreel and its cameraman cannot be questioned, but the newsreel, even after the coming of sound, used written explanatory titles. The "narration" short subject soon demonstrated the superior value of presenting background information orally.
The newsreel goes everywhere. Many feel that it is
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