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PUBLIC HEALTH PROPAGANDA
FILM SHOWS.
During the Metropolitan Boroughs' Golden Jubilee Exhibition held at
the Public Baths the film "Another Cass of Food Poisoning" was shown,and
members of the public were invited to spot the i'ood handling faults in
the film. This competition was a success and it was decided to give
film shows to the public as a means of conveying some of the "do's and
dont's" of health and hygiene.
Although not intended purely for juveniles the first show, held at
the Central Library, was organised on behalf of a local Youth Club and
was very poorly attended.
A second show given to a Social Club on their premises produced a
larger audience, 61 persons being present.
Whilst still determined to run these shows it was realised that
some form of attraction would have to be employed to obtain better attendances,
and it was decided to use commercial feature films for this
purpose. Arrangements were therefore made with a Film Company to
ply feature films, and since they have been exhibited the shows have
been extremely successful. The average attendance at the four shows, one
a month from September to December inclusive, was 138, and as the
seating capacity of the hall is only 150 and a certain wastage is inevitable,
these figures are considered very satisfactory.
Educational films on health subjects are shown before the feature
films, which themselves are from a specially selected group with an educational
flavour, e.g. "Madame Curie"„
Alternatively, a speaker addresses the audience on a particular
subject, usually followed or preceded by a short film on the subject,
e.g. Speaker on the Mass X-Ray Service - film on Tuberculosis.(The
shows last for approximately two and a half hours and are given from
7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.).
The shows, which are to mixed audiences,are introduced by a member
of the Public Health Committee and suggestions, comments and criticisms
from the audience are invited. They are all held at the Central Library
and I would like to record my appreciation of the co-operation of the
Libraries Committee, the Librarian and his staff.
In view of their success, the Committee plan to increase the number
of shows given next season (September to March) from seven to twelve.
They will be organised on the same lines as those of last season.