From The Archive

Moment of Decision (1962)

Sid Davis tells the story of four boys who are faced with a decision–whether or not to steal a car and take a joy ride. Shows that even though a boy’s decision may be colored by his background, the responsibility is his.

This film is available on The World According to Sid Davis DVD-R

From The Archive

ABC of Sex Education for Trainable Persons (1975)

Demonstrates how sex education should be taught to trainable mentally handicapped persons and shows actual training sessions. Stresses learning about body functions, simple mechanics of reproduction and social behavior and responsibilities.

This film is available on the Educational Archive Volume One: Sex and Drugs DVD

From The Archive

Get’em at the A/V Geeks Store!

How To Be A Man

For centuries, parents have struggled to usher their children through the magical, often treacherous, journey to adulthood. But in mid-century America, a new form of tutelage was engineered: the classroom film. Suddenly, the prickly issues of sexual development and juvenile delinquency could be addressed in tidy, ten-minute sermons disguised as dramas. To deal with the subtleties of behavior and the importance of fitting in, social guidance films were made on such topics as coping with failure (Planning For Success) and teasing (The Other Fellow’s Feelings). The films in this collection-curated and introduced by Skip Elsheimer, founder of the A/V Geeks educational film archive sample some of the lessons that were routinely taught to boys. In them, one sees slices of Americana, discovers the world of educational cinema (with a language all its own), and gains an insight into the hopes and fears of the parents and educators who relied on the power of cinema to initiate, educate and indoctrinate the young.

How To Be A Woman

As the daughters of the baby boom reached adolescence, the American school system struggled to educate them on matters of sexual and social development lessons that were not always being taught at home. To the teacher uncomfortable with such topics, classroom films were a godsend. They depicted the reproductive system in anatomical detail (Growing Girls) or through puzzling symbolism (The Wonders of Reproduction, produced by the Moody Institute of Science). Beyond sex education, classroom films addressed a wide array of social issues, from the importance of cooking skills (You’re the Judge, starring a young Bonnie Franklin), to self-defense (Attack) and how to appear more pleasing to others (Improve Your Personality). Often corny, sometimes frightening, these cinematic life lessons curated and introduced by Skip Elsheimer, founder of the A/V Geeks educational film archive provide a fascinating window to the hopes and fears of parents and educators in mid-century America.

From The Archive

S is for Sissy

What could be worse than to have a little boy become a sissy? The A/V Geeks examine the behavior of potential wimps and what can be done fix it. Films include: Soapy the Germ Fighter, Fears of Children, William’s Doll and Neurotic Behavior – a Psychodynamic View.

From The Archive

Bell Science! Volume 2

Two classic Bell Science Series Our Mr. Sun and Thread of Life that aren’t available, but are just as entertaining and inspirational as they were when they were first made.

From The Archive

Anatomy of a Brat

It’s fun to watch kids misbehave – especially when they aren’t yours! These films try to educate kids that it isn’t cool to be a snotty brat. Films include – Me, Too?, Parents – Who Needs Them?, If Mirrors Could Speak, Magic House, First Friends, Just Joking