THE FILM:
ITS USE IN POPULAR EDUCATION
THE FILM:
ITS USE IN POPULAR EDUCATION
BY
M. JACKSON WRIGLEY, F.L.A.
CHIEF LIBRARIAN, THE LIVERPOOL LIBRARY, LYCEUM, LIVERPOOL
WITH A FOREWORD BY
RT. HON. SIR GILBERT PARKER, BART.
AND
AN INTRODUCTION BY
WALTER A. BRISCOE, F.L.A.
CITY LIBRARIAN OF NOTTINGHAM
AUTHOR OF “LIBRARY ADVERTISING,” ETC.
GRAFTON & CO.
COPTIC HOUSE, LONDON, W.C.
THE H. W. WILSON CO.
NEW YORK
1922
To the
Memory of two Dear Colleagues
THOMAS RILEY
(late) of the Birmingham Public Libraries
AND
ERIC A. PEPPIETTE
(late) of the Liverpool University Library
Who died for their Country
“Somewhere in France”
FOREWORD
I have read Mr. Jackson Wrigley’s little bookand I think it an admirable statement of theuses of the Film in Popular Education. It isclearly and succinctly written and its argumentsare undeniable. I have just come fromCalifornia where I spent nearly a year inwriting films and studying the industry andart, and Mr. Wrigley is right in saying that6,000 schools in America have cinema rooms.Quite apart from the entertainment in storiespresented on the screen, there is immensevalue in the teaching of the film in geography,science, and natural history and topical events;and I would, if I could, put a film in everyschool, or rather, have films shown in everyschool in the land. I believe some fears havebeen expressed that the films may injure theeye-sight. Well, there is steady improvementin the lighting of the films, and expert medicalauthorities must decide as to that. Of one thing[6]I am sure, that if injury does ensue it willbe dealt with by scientific experts, and thedanger will ultimately be removed.
Mr. Wrigley’s book is an excellent contributionto general knowledge on the subject,and it should be widely read. The timewill come, I believe, when Municipalities inEngland will do as is done in Wellesley,Massachusetts, and give “Municipal Movies”two days a week. I have faith that theenquiries and reports of the Cinema Commissionwill induce the London County Councilto include the film in the educational life of thecountry, and that all Councils throughout thecountry will do the same.
Gilbert Parker.
AUTHOR’S PREFACE
Some of the matter contained in the followingpages has been included in papers and lectures,and after frequent requests from varioussourc