Record Number: 29370

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at 73 Northcourt Avenue
Friday 28th March 1930
1. Minutes of last meeting were approved.
[...]
6. A warm message of sympathy to be sent to our secretary, H R Smith
7. F E Pollard opened the discussion by speaking on The Cinema and The Theatre pointing out that the silent film could only represent incidents & visible emotions, the Talkie was a mechanical reproduction, while the best dramatic art must be given there and then by living Personalities[.] Each may have its place but it would be a disaster if the theatre was driven out of existence. Geo Burrows followed dealing with the influence of films on backward Races to whom the worst was often shown with undesirable effects; & the possibilities of using Films for missionary work. H R Robson thought Films were of little use in Education; he regarded them as a species of dope, in which he indulged for the soporific effect. C E Stansfield whilst disclaiming any familiarity of them spoke of their possible deleterious influence on our language which he heard would before long be “Ammricanized” [sic] he dreaded the actions of the “Smellie” & “Feelie” & the possible increase of armaments to further the trade. Robert Pollard expressed unbounded enthusiasm for the Talkie & Colour films. The movies were dead & orchestras being displaced by records of appropriate music attached to the films. T C Elliot dealt with their effect on public life and morals which he feared was almost wholly deleterious; he produced and commented unfavourably on some of the magazines published.
An interesting general discussion followed but whilst it was felt that many undesirable features were associated with the Cinema the Club did not feel equal to the task of reforming it.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

28 Mar 1930

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: 73 Northcourt Avenue

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Francis Pollard

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

n/a

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker or associated with the Friends

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

members of XII Book Club

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Francis Pollard

Title:

The Cinema and The Theatre

Genre:

Drama, Essays / Criticism, Arts / architecture, Cinema, aesthetics

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

29370

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

n/a

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 2 (1915-31)

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

199–201

Additional Information:

The secretary of the club being absent, the author of this set of minutes has not been identified

Citation:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 2 (1915-31), private collection, 199–201, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=29370, accessed: 03 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

It is uncertain whether this was a reading more or less verbatim from a well worked out MS, or an elaboration of written notes.
Material by kind permission of the XII Book Club. For further information and permission to quote this source, contact the Reading Experience Database (http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/contacts.php).