Today’s Frontiers
Identifier
F.2006-10-0110
Date Of Production
1936
Abstract
Official Social Security Board news trailer explaining unemployment compensation.
Description
From The Daily Mining Journal, Marquette, Mich.—February 15, 1937:
Security Act Movie Film Is Released
—
Will Be Shown in Marquette; Explains Compensation Statute.
—
Completion of a one-reel moving picture film entitled: "Today's Frontiers," which explains the unemployment compensation features of the national social security act, is announced by the social security board in a letter to E.A. Hester, in charge of the field office here. Clarence H. Zerbel, manager of the Delft theater, said yesterday that he is making application for the picture which will probably be shown here in about two weeks.
This is the fourth in a series of newsreel films produced and distributed by the social security board. "We, The People, And Social Security," "Youthful Old Age," and "Applications for Old Age Security" already have been shown in theaters to more than 100,000,000 people.
Released Today.
"Today's Frontiers" was written by Miss Ferol E. Thorpe, a member of the social security board's informational staff, and produced by Pathe News under the supervision of James S. Douglass. Release to theaters throughout the country has been set for February 15, with over 6,000 theaters booked to date.
As the story opens, the turning pages of a book entitled, "Today's Frontiers" flash, in rapid succession, scenes of Pilgrim fathers, Dutch settlers, pioneer scouts and covered wagon trains pushing the frontier ever westward. As this geographic frontier disappears, a series of scenes portray vividly the industrial advance from the days of hand labor and ox carts to the highly mechanized factories and locomotive methods of today.
Animated graphs and maps show the operation of unemployment compensation laws and the extent of their passage in states.
Shows Typical Case.
As R. Gordon Wagenet, director of the unemployment compensation bureau of the social security board, explains that one of the major purposes of the act is to encourage state enactment of compensation laws, the story is brought up to the present day by a portrayal of the experiences of three workmen—Smith, Brown and Jones—who are laid off by a factory because of slack work.
They apply at a state employment office and Smith is sent to a job at another factory. Brown, after two weeks of unemployment, also is placed on another job through the state agency.
The agency is unable to locate a job for Jones, however, and consequently, after the necessary three week waiting period, he applies for unemployment compensation. He is shown receiving an unemployment compensation check amounting to one-half his regular wages—compensation he may receive for as long as 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the law in his state and on the length of his previous employment. This enables him to purchase necessities for himself and his family. The film story explains how the sustained buying power of men in Jones' predicament will be a break on too rapid decline in general purchasing power during periods of unemployment in years to come.
In the 35 states and the District of Columbia, approximately 18,000,000 employees are covered by unemployment compensation laws and it is expected that these workers and their families will be especially interested members of the movie-going public who will see the first official film on unemployment compensation.
Security Act Movie Film Is Released
—
Will Be Shown in Marquette; Explains Compensation Statute.
—
Completion of a one-reel moving picture film entitled: "Today's Frontiers," which explains the unemployment compensation features of the national social security act, is announced by the social security board in a letter to E.A. Hester, in charge of the field office here. Clarence H. Zerbel, manager of the Delft theater, said yesterday that he is making application for the picture which will probably be shown here in about two weeks.
This is the fourth in a series of newsreel films produced and distributed by the social security board. "We, The People, And Social Security," "Youthful Old Age," and "Applications for Old Age Security" already have been shown in theaters to more than 100,000,000 people.
Released Today.
"Today's Frontiers" was written by Miss Ferol E. Thorpe, a member of the social security board's informational staff, and produced by Pathe News under the supervision of James S. Douglass. Release to theaters throughout the country has been set for February 15, with over 6,000 theaters booked to date.
As the story opens, the turning pages of a book entitled, "Today's Frontiers" flash, in rapid succession, scenes of Pilgrim fathers, Dutch settlers, pioneer scouts and covered wagon trains pushing the frontier ever westward. As this geographic frontier disappears, a series of scenes portray vividly the industrial advance from the days of hand labor and ox carts to the highly mechanized factories and locomotive methods of today.
Animated graphs and maps show the operation of unemployment compensation laws and the extent of their passage in states.
Shows Typical Case.
As R. Gordon Wagenet, director of the unemployment compensation bureau of the social security board, explains that one of the major purposes of the act is to encourage state enactment of compensation laws, the story is brought up to the present day by a portrayal of the experiences of three workmen—Smith, Brown and Jones—who are laid off by a factory because of slack work.
They apply at a state employment office and Smith is sent to a job at another factory. Brown, after two weeks of unemployment, also is placed on another job through the state agency.
The agency is unable to locate a job for Jones, however, and consequently, after the necessary three week waiting period, he applies for unemployment compensation. He is shown receiving an unemployment compensation check amounting to one-half his regular wages—compensation he may receive for as long as 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the law in his state and on the length of his previous employment. This enables him to purchase necessities for himself and his family. The film story explains how the sustained buying power of men in Jones' predicament will be a break on too rapid decline in general purchasing power during periods of unemployment in years to come.
In the 35 states and the District of Columbia, approximately 18,000,000 employees are covered by unemployment compensation laws and it is expected that these workers and their families will be especially interested members of the movie-going public who will see the first official film on unemployment compensation.
Format
35mm
Extent
900 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Notes
The last ~25' feet of this reel could not be digitized due to deterioration.
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Form
Subject
Related Collections
Related Places
Sponsor/client
Main Credits
Pathe News (is production company)
Douglass, James S. (is producer)
Additional Credits
Thorpe, Ferol E. (is writer)
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