Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
By C. MORAN.

of educational motion pictures, is going
J to produce "talkies" Government farm
and industrial screen dramas will be
produced "synchronized" and 100 per cent
ell-talkie."
Motion picture directors at the Department
of Agriculture have announced that one or
more "all-talkie" features are being planned
for presentation at the big live stock shows
next Winter. Meanwhile short specials Will
be turned out experimentally and for exhibit
tion at dairy shows and other agricultural ex-
positions.
Department of Commerce motion picture Of
icials also are investigating the possibility OF
mining and manufacturing subjects. in which
emphasis is laid on the use OF safety equipment
and practices. They are exhibited chiefly In
mining and factory communities
The Navy Department. too, has the "talkie"
complex In connection with the wiring OF bat
tleships for sound reproduction. Ninety per
cent of all commercial films are leased by the
Navy for use in its recreational activities aboard
ships. and the gradual monopolizaton OF the
s'talkies" requires that some system OF wiring
the ships for reproduction must be developed
OFFICIALS Of the Government departments
declare that talking films present the
greatest opportunity yet offered for extending
to the general public the educational phases Of
research work. In agriculture. for example, the
researches dealing with production and mar
keting technique may be much more effectively
described by means of audible films For some
phases of its work the Agriculture Depart
snent has never found satisfactory substitute
for the old-fashioned illustrated slide lectures.
although instead Of the former bulky glass
slides an entire lecture Is now printed on a
small roll of movie film.
The exhibition of educational talkies in
mining and factory districts is expected to
Impress more effectively on workers in these
areas the advantages Of approved practices 1t
will also assist greatly, the Commerce Depart
ment officials believe, in the assimilation OF the
foreign element in mine and factory occupa-
tions Silent films produced to date by the Bu-
reau of Mines include practically the entire
range of industrial activity from coal mining
to automobile manufacturing.
The big problem in the Government "talkie"
program Is the installation of reproduction
equipment in agricultural and industrial COM
lnunities. The cost of such equipment is, at
present, obviously out of reach of schoolhouses,
assembly halls, small rural movie houses and
community centers. The Government officials,
therefore, are investigating the use Of portable
reproduction equipment, such as portable pro-
:jeckorS with sound attachments. 1t Is believed
to be only question of time before portable
apparatus at reasonable cost will be available,
land that event will mark the passing OF the
silent pictures entirely SO far as the Govern
:ment departments are concerned.
The Department of Agriculture has in Wash
ington what Is said to be the largest motion
picture studio south of New York. From one
to two feature films month are turned out
here and copies distributed among agricultural
colleges and other extension agencies, and in
some cases shipped to foreign countries for
exhibition in farming areas. Practically all
interior shots" in the farm films are made,
developed and printed in this studio, the out
eide scenes being made by staff of experienced