The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-07-29
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Pictures NoU Used
as Aides in the
Prevention Of
Accidents
By GARDNER MACK.

One of the most important uses to
which moving pictures have been put
during the past few years is in the
development Of the safety" idea by
the public service corporations. In
several cities sets of films have been
made for the purpose of showing the
people of those cities how to take
care of themselves in the streets.
1t probably comes to the average
citizen as a shock that until the au-
tomobile was invented the most dan
gerous place in the world was the
home. Accident insurance compan-
les are authorities for the state
ment that most Of the accidents Tor
which they pay damages took place
in the homes of the people insured,
until the perfection Of the automo-
bile and the electric car has made
the street more dangerous. This
has caused an increase In the num-
Der Of neutrality-suspicious. acct
dents-and has brought about the
origination of traffic rules, etc. In
the old days of horse transportation
people were more careful in cross
ing the streets than they are today
in proportion to the amount OF dan
ger involved in the Undertaking.
The multiplying of the traffic rules
and the regulations for getting on
and Off street cars has been such IN
the past few years that 1t has al
most been impossible for the pubic
to keep up with the changes.
Therefore, the moving picture nas
been called in as an AIDE 10 the
public officials and corporauon Of
public The results that have been
obtained from the pictures nave
been most encouraging ana tnere
has been a suggestion made tnat tne
street railway companies ana au.o-
mobile clubs or users OF eacn cry
cooperate in the producuon o p.
lures that would snow e r. .aSs
Tn Chicago, where this has peeh
done with more or less success, the
street railroad companies were tne
first to interest themselves IN lne
scheme. A reel of film was nnaae
showing the various ways OF poaTu
ing and leaving street car. tne
dangerous ways and the results mat
are likely to follow from tnelr use,
were shown in startling detail anu II
is stated IndI lucic
accidents on street cars IN CHca7o
since the film was made than there
ever were before. The automobile
film not only shows how the ma
chine should be operated TO De sale;
hut also how they should he steered
on crowded, thoroughfares. how stops
should be made, and how pedestrians
should conduct themselves TO avoid
danger. The suggestion has been
SGT NJ would
be useful in Washington. The pic
lures must be made in the city where
they are exhibited, for while the gen.
eraJ dangers are the same every
where. each city has IT'S own peculiar
conditions to meet and Its own way
of meeting them.
Just at present the utilization Of
moving pictures for all sorts of pur-
poses is becoming quite general.
Recently a film was made on the
Pacific coast showing TIE various
methods Of craftsmanship practiced in
department stores. with the idea of
teaching salespeople how they should
perform their duties and how their
duties should not be performed. The
exhibition of these films suggested
an elaboration of the idea with
view OF giving salespeople irstruc-
ton as to the manner in which the
articles tney are calied upon 20 sell
are made. with lectures by qualified
experts on these subjects. Films
have already been utilized in factor
les to show the proper methods OF
managing machinery and all sorts Of
apparatus, and IL is stated that very
shortly 4 large automobile concern
contemplates sending out reels of
film that will demonstrate thu proper
methods of running automobiles for
the benefit of persons who are just
learning the art