The Washington times., 1915-01-29
PHOTOPLAYS AND
P.HOTOPLAYERS
By GARDNER MACK
Lectures in, M otto n
Pictures Replace
Speech in Some
Universities.

"A new idea for the adaptation of
the moving pictures to daily life has
recently been advanced In the sug-
be made each week or each month
In all lines Of industry. and In cities
and villages which can be utilized as
Q record Of the progress of the In
dustry of the city. The idea seemed
rather ordinary when 1t was first
proposed. but OH analysis It develops
Into Z first-rate proposition.
A Philadelphia man who was blind
Tor . period Of ten years. was as
tonished at the improvements that
had taken place in ordinary things
during the time he could not see.
The great things that had been done
during that period he was prepared
to see. Tho descriptions Of airships.
Of wireless telegraphy. ETC.. had con-
veyed to his mind some indication OF
tho appearance Of these things. But
the improvements in the ordinary
things, the things that anect the
daily life of every citizen Ike the
street cars. the street lamps. tho
store windows, the method Of laying
streets or constructing buildings
the changes in these things had been
30 gradual that nobody had really
noticed them.
The man who had been blind found
them wonderful. however. To him
they were moro marvellous than the
great discoveries of science and me-
chanics. and he was not at all pre-
pared for them as he had been for
the great things. This gradual
growth or change in the things that
surround the average citizen gave
impetus to the establishment of the
bureau of commercial economics by
this man. and he set about securing
for the bureau a set Of motion pic
ture films that would keep pace with
progress.
day there are institutions and bu-
reaus In all sections Of the coun-
try keeping track of average de-
velorment In much this same way.
The University Of Wisconsin has
done great deal in this direction.
although IL was not primarily tne
object the university authorizes =!
nim. The University Of Cincinnati
has gone even further than the
Wisconsin institution. 1t has
started making q series Of Aims CT
the latest developments OF sci'
ence. And in this connection lee
lures are now being E:ven at th1s IS
flms rather than the SPOKEN word.
The Aims lecture Is probable the
newest development OF the Use or
motion pictures In education. Inc
subject matter Of the lecture Is
visualized before the students and
what is meant than in the spoken
lecture. OF course. there are some
subjects that cannot bc SO treated.
but there are also many topics
that can be so treated and are
0sth Ths Federal Government has AL
kind In connection with the gooc
roads campaigns Pictures Of road
building In all its stages are
shown together with the condition
Of roads Of certain kinds under the
ordinary conditions Of wear ana
others interested in the matter OF
roads receive a good idea OF the
value of using proper materials
and doing the work thoroughly
that 1t may last. The automobile le
organizations have likewise util.
ixed motion pictures In their good
roads work.
In the instruction of workmen
the motion picture has been found
Invaluable. especially In teaching
workmen the use and care of new
machinery and bringing before
them the dangers of the misuse OF
such machinery. The film has really
become a very important factor In
every day life--in fact It Is one of
the few things that touches the in
terest and activities Of every men,
her Of the family. G. NJ.