The Washington times., 1914-06-25
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
corporation Formed
to Make Film for
Churches and
Schools

There is more than usual interest
In Washington in the announcement
made in New York of the organiza-
ton Of corporation for the purpose
Of manufacturing motion pictures of
an educational and religious char
scter. The idea is to supply the
demand that exists in churches and
schools for pictures that will help
in spreading accurate knowledge "f
religious subjects as we'll as educa-
tional features that are not now
prepared by existing film concerns.
The organization is headed by The
Rev. William Carter. a member of
the national board of censors; the
Rev. DR.. Charles H. Psrkhurst is
vice president of the corporation;
s. s. Mcclure. the magazine and
newspaper syndicate owner. is secre-
tary. and Henry Clews. the banker.
is treasurer. Each of these gentle
men. according to the announce
nent. has taken an active interest in
The organization Of the company.
and viii be engaged in its manage
nent. An advisory board will con-
sist CT prominent churchmen and
educators throughout the country.
The new organization is called :he
Church and School Social Servi e
Corporation It is explained by :he
president of the company that while
the primary object of the new cor
poration is to use moving pictures
as an important factor in religious
and educational work, the matter
has not been taken up without COM
plete investigation Of the CONNER
cial possibilities of the proposition
IN other words, the promoters of the
company have convinced themselves
that they cannot only do a vast
amount of good, but can make the
company self-supporting.
There is nothing visionary about
the plan" Mr.. Carter said; we feel
that there is a great demand for the
kind of pictures which we intend 10
provide and. with the thought Of
perpetuating the activities of our
corporation' we have arranged 10
handle il in thoroughly business
like way
A practical moving picture man
who Is now employed as assistant
general manager of one of the large
film exchanges has been engaged as
general manager of the new corpora
ton and will Join il within the next
few weeks. Temporary oIllGes nave
been established with the 1nterna-
tional Peace Forum, in which Mr.
Carter is also interested, at IS East
Forty-ftrst street
The first pictures made bv the cor
poration will come from the Holy
Land. and negotia tions are already
under wav for the sending Of com
pany of operators to the scene OF
the early Bible stories The prepara-
ton Of these early releases is eX-
pected to require many months, and
in the meantime, with the idea OF
creating a market for the kind OF
pictures which the corporation in
tends 10 handle. the corporation VIII
at once begin the assembling OF
library of films by purchase Of SUCH
subjects as are available from the
products Of commercial coTnpaniss
already in the field. These pur-
chased subjects will be used for the
first wear and after that time there
will be ready for addition to the IL
brarv pictures which have been e.
pecially made by the company.
IN 10 ldhlha- ~NN- 49,
new corporation also plans to enter
the exhibiting field, but. because a
distribution more complete than
could possibly be secured in this way
is required. the subjects will be
rented 10 such exhibitors. whether
represented by churches. schools. So
ciai settlements. or moving picture
theater men. as find 1t profitable
20 use them.
Tho Rev. Carter has spent the past
three months in investigating condl-
tions throughout the country with
the idea of ascertainlng just how
great demand for religious and ed
UcationaI pictures really exists. and
Il is because of the results of this
investigation that the new company
has been formed. II is said that
many inquiries have alreadv been re
csived for the kind Of service which
the corporation plans 70 supply, in
ouiries coming from social settle
ments and churches throughout the
country. among the latter being one
OF the most prominent churches in
New York city. where il is desired
TO use a program of carefully select
ed moving pictures in place Of the
regular Sunday evening service each
week