How did kids in school see the world in the 1960's? Frequently by means of film strips.
Film strips were strips of 35 mm film that had positive images on them, much like movie film. However, it wasn't designed to be quickly run through the projector like a movie. No, each slide was a scene in itself.
Many film strips were silent. Words at the bottom of the image described whatever was portrayed. But it was also common to see film strips that were synchronized to records. The teacher would play the record, and a beep would indicate it was time to move on to the next slide.
Of course, it was easy to get lost. When that happened, the class would loudly offer the teacher their assistance in locating the correct slide for the dialog.
We loved film strips. It meant a break from the tedium of regular classwork.
The sound film strips would be shown at my school through an ancient projector, much like the one illustrated above. It had a noisy fan that kept that great big light cool, and presumably the film as well.
But in the school libraries, there were more personal versions of film strip viewers. I remember we had models designed for single use and text-only filmstrips. There was no provision for sound, like the students from 1972 had in the illustration to the left. We had little separated cubbies on a long table so we could view our film strips side by side.
We would be shown pictures from other countries, photomicrographs of cells and protozoa, health/hygiene stuff, and occasionally, fun stuff like cartoons.
I remember one teacher with a two-pack-a-day habit who would appoint a kid to be the film strip advancer and would slip off to the Teacher's Lounge for a smoke. Don't worry, Mrs. Finley, your secret is safe with me. ;-)
Today, of course, our grandkids in school are treated to live videos streamed over the internet, or perhaps DVD's viewed on plasma TV's. But if you're old enough to remember JFK, you can recall when multimedia in class meant the teacher wheeling in the 1950's model film strip projector, and playing a scratchy record. It was great stuff.
Comments (7)
When I worked for the Audiovisual Department at the college I went to, I would have to set these up quite often. It was the precursor to Powerpoint presentations. Some teachers used these for special occasions while others had them scheduled for almost every class instead of actually teaching.
Posted by David S Paleg | March 12, 2007 3:03 AM
Posted on March 12, 2007 03:03
Oh, great memories. I loved filmstrips. It was just play time.
Posted by Rhea | March 12, 2007 9:52 AM
Posted on March 12, 2007 09:52
Thanks from a proud member of the Junior High Projection Club,
Jim
Posted by Jim | March 20, 2007 7:23 AM
Posted on March 20, 2007 07:23
I remember from elementary school, this projector/viewer. It stood as tall as the teacher. The projector was inside this box with a screen and the film was projected on the inside of this screen. You could see the image from the other side of the screen as if you were watching a TV. It was on this wheeled cart that was easily pushed around.
They seemed to have disappeared from the face of the Earth by the time I went to middle school. I've been feeling nostalgic lately and have been wanting to track one down, but no one seems to know what the heck I am talking about (except the folks I grew up with).
To understand how technologically unadvanced our school district was, I can remember using the film projectors as late as 1993, watching the same film strips you did when you were kids. This time the films were falling apart and deteriorating. I'm 27 and remember them clearly. In 1993, the school district splurged and put a 24-inch television in every classroom. They didn't get the internet until 2002.
Posted by Bill | March 20, 2007 11:34 AM
Posted on March 20, 2007 11:34
I have been a social studies teacher for 35 years and have gone from using filmstrips and films to dvd and powerpoint.
Posted by Jim B | March 20, 2007 7:03 PM
Posted on March 20, 2007 19:03
Can anyone tell me how I can locate schools that are getting rid of their old supplies of these type of film strips?
I've found some of these types of film strips on Ebay. Anyone have any they want to sell?
Posted by Dee | July 13, 2007 9:09 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 21:09
I really don't remember this! I am sure we must have used them. I sort of remember the movie projectors and large reels of film more then anything. Usually when a substitute teacher was called in, they resorted to using projected movies to pass the time. Lots of Disney stuff from the 60s. Walter Cronkites movies on the future. And a lot of the early Hammer horror movies with Peter Cushing.
Posted by Rivers End | June 6, 2009 7:06 PM
Posted on June 6, 2009 19:06