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SELECTED OMAHA FUBLIC SQHOOLGBXLDKEKpf '
fHS TOURTH, StfW* AKE SIXTH SHADES
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Municipal U niversity o f Omaha
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In f a l l a l fulfillm ent of
the Requirements for the Degree
M aster o f Arts
fcy
Elsa A. Voifcer
August 1950
UMI Number: EP74489
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The author widhee "to express her elnoere appreciation
to ail. ttioee the contributed th eir tin* m& effort to mate
this otat? pOBSitl©. Particular mention ie given to
Dr. Leelie o* Taylor* i r , le a lie K. Garlou^i* end Dr. F. E.
60rasa for th eir guidance and encouragement throughout this,
project* The assistance of Mr* Fred B ill and the hoard, of
Education office is also acimowleagea. Tho splendid
.cooperation of Hie teachers and th eir pupils as well as the
helpfulness of Kre. L. Aashury and the M iller Park School
?*'** A*. Board smmhottM Kra. A* Post* Mrs* L* Orexel*
Mrs* a. victoria* Mrs* J, a. sdhaidi* and Knc* L. a* Cutler*
a ll deserve ptniee. tact* but not least* is the recognition
o f tho services of these teachersi Miss Martha Hoffman*
Miao 1* Zenalde Luhr, and nice L. A. Volker tho* with the
aethers, made the weekly observations at tho theatres. The
completion of this study was possible only through tho
combined efforts of a ll thee# individuals to shorn the
author feels deeply indebted*
E. a* Volker
TAXIS OF CONTESTS
Page
CHAPTER I . 1
The Problem and lie General scope
CHAPTER II . '3
The History of Movies for Children
CHAPTER XIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
The Review of Previous Research
CHAPTER XV 58
A Description of the Procedure Deed in
This Study
CHAPTER V . . . . .................................................. 78
Summary of the Data collected
CHAPTER VI . .................................................................. 115
interpretation of Hie Data
CHAPTER VXX . . . . ...................................................129
Generalizations and Recommendations
APPENDIX OF DATA............................................. 152
BXILXOORAPHX................................................... 193
UBf Of fMMM
W&itott .W&vi0 Attendance
: 1 ". i * .
2. Comparifion of Reasons for doing to
Rei^iborheod Saturday Matin©# Movie©
3. Comparison o f Kinds of Pictures
Children Like and Si alike
4* Comparison of Effect© of Movies
■on eniadren ■
5. Comparison of influences of Movie©
■ on Children
CHAPTER X
THE PROBLEM ADD ITS GENERAL SCOPE
The movie© have had a definite part in Hie entertainment
program of both ohildren and. adult©. Ever einoe th eir firs t
appearenoe as peep Hums* up to th e ir present development of
sound motion pictures, they have beoome increasingly popular
as a reoreational activ ity . The la te s t figures indicate that
sons seventy-five to e.igity m illion people go to the movies
1
every week «
The popularity of th is entertainment grew rapidly* because
i t offered the public a means of enjoying a variety of
vicarious experiences. For those unable to trav el, the movies
have shown pioturee .from, areas, a ll over .the .globe. They have
presented famous a rtis ts and th eir music, portrayed great
literatu re and drama, and offered many other inform ational
2 ......................................................................
©ubjeots * These opportunities of enjoying the cultural h eri
tage have fille d the human need for ooaaslonally escaping
reality and finding pleasure in participating in a ctiv ities
3
beyond the boundaries of the personal world * Hie fact th at
Charles P. Skouras, "The Exhibitor",
Hie Annals, Vol. 254, November 1947, p. 26,
2
Henry L. olapp, "Motion Picture shows".
Education. Vol. 33, June 1913, pp. 620-0,
3
Franklin Fearing, "Xnfluenoes of the Movies on A ttitudes and
Behavior", The Annals, vol. 254, November 1947, pp. 70-5.
much of th is m aterial, however, 'was' approached .front, the
adult level, le ft muoh to be desired fo r children#
the Juvenile exposure, to. a ll type# and degrees of
Influences refloated in the movies was the subject of many
long and controversial a rtic le s. Host of the .earlier authors
were quite emphatic lit denouncing the moving pioture
4 5
. .
theatres as schools for crim inals. Boards of Control had
no way of forcing producers to reduce sensationalism in
film s, nor could they enforce ordinances restrictin g
6
ohildren from seeing pictures" of crime, sex, and corruption.
The provision of Wholesome movie'entertainm ent'for
children was a problem for many discrim inating parents, and
Its' partial" solution was met In the experiment set up, In
Hew lork, by M rs.Laura Cogswell. Her effo rts in starting
one "of the firs t Saturday "matinee programs for youngsters
8
was soon followed by sim ilar projects in Boston and
4
William A. MoKeever, "Primary School for Crim inals",
3PM housekeeping. Vol. 51, August 1910, pp. 184-6.
"Censorship for Moving Pictures",
Survey. Vol. 22, April 3, 1909* pp. 8*9.
6
Dorothy c. Fox, "The Child and the Movie",
Outlook, Vol, 128, August 24, 1921, p, 660.
7
"C hildren's Motion Pioture league",
Outlook. Vol. 104, JUly 26, 1913. p. 643.
"C hildren's Movies",
outlook;. Vol. 109, Haroh 17, 1915, P. 612.
Louisville . 'The success o f those experiments prompted a
10
leading publisher to Inaugurate a campaign to educate the
publlo to demand hotter film s. Suggestions th at the schools
eeleet platurea for ohildren,^and thereby safeguard th e ir
teachings were also current* '' In '1985* the Hays* Office set
up a national program of Saturday matinee movies for young
■ ■ 18'
folhs in thirty-tw o hey elites* Shis was followed by the
13
film Industry's adoption of a Code of standards to promote
-better pictures*
These various measures* put into effect to provide more
suitable entertainment for children* however, did not satisfy
those who fe lt that movie attendance was infringing' upon the
youngsters' outdoor play and causing other injuries to th eir
9
E* Leslie Gilliam s, "B ettor Movies for Children"*
Ladles' Home Journal. Vol. 33, January 1916. P# 30.
10
Helen Puey, "Movement for B etter Films",
Msm&Za m m aasasslaa* van, 4s» «aroh 1915, p* 3.
.11
"school Teachers as Film Censors",
m m :*, m m * vo** m , juiy 1924, Pp. 243-9.
12
• •
Jason s. Joy, "Saturday Homing Movies for youngsters" *
Aaerlean C ltv. Vol. 3 2 ,'June 192$* pp. 632*3.
Jason s. Joy, "t&tlon-wlde Saturday Morning Movies"*
Playground, Vol. 19* JuJy 1925* P» 215.
13
"Movies, Ethics* and children",
gawfflft a t m m m sm m im * vo3U 22, jmy 1930, pp. 573-30,
14 15 n
health. ■ ' the Payne Fund Studies were a very impressive
aeries of investigations which pointed, out the undesirable
features o f motion pictures and' th e ir effects on ch ild ren ..
Bollywood indifference was- fin ally punctured by. the p ersist
ent .efforts of oivie organizations and the. stem oensor- .
17
Ship of religious groups demanding improvement in screen
programs. Gradually, the appearanoe of more wholesome
pictures began to increase.
Whether or not foots supported the extensive publio
18
condemnation of the movies was questioned by Dr. 0. s. Bead .
who claimed that the ev ils of -film entertainm ent had been ..
greatly - exaggerated* Hie history of motion pioture develop*,
stent reveals that the industry has passed throug* many
14
Dr. George van Bess, "children a t the Movies",
ia&asa m& saslsM* vol. 4o, July as, 1934, pp. 127-8.
15
James Rorty, "Hew Facts About Movies and Children",
ftBMMa a u ttim * . v°i* a, juiy 1933, pp. 18-19.
‘ ' ) *
James Rorty, "How Movies Ham Children",
parent's Magazine, Vol. 8, August 1933. pp, 18-19.
16 - ’
V ictor E* M arriott, "P. f, A. and the Movies",
flMttBimp SSEim* Vol. 50, January 25, 1933, P. 124.
17 -
"catholic Crusade for B etter Movies",
BUSM SS SSQ3te2X* vol. 51, May I f, 19% 9. 852.
Vol. 51, August 15, 1934* PP. 1037-9.
18
Dr. C. S, Read, "Children a t the Cinema",
nineteenth Century, Vol. 118, Deoeaber 1935, pp. 750-82*
c ritic a l' periods*' bub sash1 euseeedtog • stage has bbou#vfc‘ao»e
Measure of improvement, eith er in toe product its e lf or in
<
toem anner of presentation. ''Today* th is grant medium of .
entertainm ent offer® a wide variety of film m aterial both to
type and in subjeot matter* The addition of beto sound and
oolor hae greatly enhanced the modern film . Experiences
during the la st war have revealed further uses of thin 1
popular form of expression, and the p o ssib ilities of b etter
19
motion pioture® are more promising. Every convenience has
been provided in toe theatres for the patrons * comfort, and
the m anifestation of the children's enjoyment of a ll these
wonderful achievements was evident a t toe neighborhood
Saturday matinee programs.
Thq Problem
The purpose of th is study was (1) to dleoover how often
Ohildren went to toe nelghboxfeood Saturday matinee shows, toy
they went, and with whom they went: (8) to see what preps-
* 1 - • ‘
rations were made before going: (3) to find out what types of
pictures they lik ed ,or disliked, and toy: (4) to learn the
effect of these movlee on a few general behavior patterns:
(5) to note toe influence of these movies on oltisenShip;
(6) to ootnpare the children's evaluation of to e ir oonduot a t
these matinees with adult observers’ evaluations; and (?) to
19
Catherine C. Edwards, "What's Ahead in too Movies?",
Parent's Magazine. Vol. 18, ootober 1943, pp. 30*1.
