THE KINEMA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 67, 13 December 1920, Page 8

THE KINEMA

EXPERIENCE OP THE Y.M.C.A. Some interesting comments on tho Yfihio of tho kinenm as a means* of educating- tho young are contained in tho annual report of the Y.M.C.A. The installation of a kinoma plant in the concert hall has been of unquestionable value, both from a. social and educational point of view," states the report. "To-day the 'movie' is recognised as one of the greatest amusement and educational factors in tho life of a. community, and, realising this, wo havo roado considerable uso of our outfit, during tho year. Wo havo arranged a programme once a week, and these evenings havo been largely attended. As our association programme consists of a number of activities alonjr various lines, wo use tho picture night as a General get-to-gether night of members, where wo cnu place before them tho full association programme in all its aspects, and draw recruits from the different obib activities, Popular choruses thrown on the screen serve to make these evenings of gre.it social value. ... Much has been said and written of the influence of certain pictures on boys, and yet much is to bo said from tho point of view of the picture pronrictors who contend that the responsibility for this state of affairs rests upon tho parents. They are willing on certain occasions to run special matinees of suitable pictures for children, but tho support accorded thorn does not warrant their enntinunnce. Boys will have pictures, and their parents will allow them to/go. In order to meet this need wo have conducted a rpecial picture night for boys weekly, when a speciallyselected programme is shown. In. eonjunction with this programme we nirniißo for a good speaker (o give a bright, inspiring address on some aspect of pood citizenship that appeals to boys. Th» attendance. each night shows that Ilia boys nro more than pleased with the typ" of pictures wo select,' and the attention given tho speaker makes the picture of ronllv grent value. Limitation of tim» and spnee prevent us from doing mor« along this line with boys. Thero aro many other uses to which we have put thn Icinema, such as providing an item in u concert programme, and filling .up an evening when some other activity ban had to bo cancelled. Securing tho right typo of film for our work has not been an oasv matter, but in our efforts wc havo had tho co-on"ratinn nf tlio lending film cxctinnges in tho city who nlay have made their supplies available, and helped us very considerably. YV> aro greatly in: debted to them for their holp in our work, and tnko this opportunity of tendering our thankl*