Young America Films/Centron Films
After they realize that they won’t be able to afford a turkey for the Thanksgiving meal, Bill Johnson and his family of five count their blessings being American citizens. This film stands out as unique since it doesn’t show prosperity as one of the benefits of our country’s democracy – something that is evident in most films sponsored by a pro-business organizations.
This film is available on the Educational Archives Vol 5: Patriotism DVD 
Shotlist
ms Typical American family in living room listening to radio;
father expresses his gratitude about Thanksgiving Day.
ms Children lounging, setting the table, reading, anticipating
the meal. Mother tells them there won’t be any turkey and children
whine, pout, bitch and moan. Father and children talk about
thankfulness and the meaning of Thanksgiving
cu Children thinking about what they have to be thankful for;
boy eats cookies and milk, reads; girl fits clothes, sings in
church; boy studies, bats ball; baby in tub, playing with doll;
children play with baby; mother doing chores; family eating
popcorn; father answers door, works on car, reads newspaper, votes;
family says grace
Films that illustrate the subtley of good salesmanship while trying to make a buck or two. Films include – Who Killed the Sale?, Tough Customer, Goodwill Ambassadors, Kirby Sales Pitch Film (featuring Don Ameche), Atlantic Imperial Gasoline Promo Film and The Butcher, the Baker and the Ice Cream Maker. 
In order to keep up their status as an edu-info- tain-gency, the A/V Geeks present an evening of films that show you how to do things. For example, How To Build an Igloo teaches us step-by-step how to build a shelter in the ice. With How to Get Cooperation we learn the fine art of twisting classmates’ arms to cooperate. And The Shoplifter accidentally teaches you some nifty shoplifting tricks (circa 1964).
Films that explain the wonders (and potential pitfalls) of this new machine called the computer. Films include: Thinking Machines, Basic Computer Terms, Ethics in the Computer Age and Hackers 
Short films about motorcycles and the people who ride them. Films include – Not So Easy (featuring Peter Fonda and Evel Knievel), Vicious Cycles, Popsicle, Motorcycle Safety and Courtesy in Traffic and Beginning Motorcycle Rider Course: Unit 2 (Motorcycle Instrumentation).
December 5th, 2006 - 6:51 pm
I remember Centron filming movies around town when I was a kid.
I didn’t realize they went back this far, though they were a well established company when I moved to Lawrence in 1963. Lawrence, Ks. was a vastly smaller town than it is today, something like 14,000 odd in the 1950 census IIRC.
The guy I learned to work sound from had been a recording/mixing tech for Centron in it’s latter years.
I guess I do qualify as an AV geek ’cause I did video in high school back in the days of open reel video recorders. . .