A/V Geeks

how_to_be_a_manHow 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_womanHow 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.

August 9, 2009
8:00 pmto10:00 pm

frontlin1965_000480As the current unemployment rate climbs, the A/V Geeks thought they could help with some amazing employee training films to re-train you to seek a new career in working at McDonald’s or washing dishes. Classic corny edutainment to delight and horrify! Films include: Six Steps To Success, The Front Line, Mr Dish Machine Operator, Project the Right Image and more! 

8pm, Sunday, August 9th, Tir Na Nog, 218 S. Blount St. Raleigh, NC 27601

This show is available on DVD. buy-dvdr

August 7, 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

A greedy old woman and mad scientist use atomic energy to attempt to transfer her brain into the body of a sexy housekeeper.

atomicbrainrevenge

As you can imagine, something goes horribly wrong in this classic low-budget/high-entertainment film. Show up early to get a good seat and watch a film from the A/V Geeks archive. FREE!

7pm. Friday, August 7th, NC Museum of Natural Sciences 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC

September 4, 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

WillyWonkaMoviePosterIn honor of the Chocolate: The Exhibition, the A/V Geeks pull a no-brainer by showing the classic candy scientist gone mad musical comedy – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. You’ve seen it before, but see it on the big screen. Show up early to get a good seat and watch a short from the A/V Geeks archive. FREE.

7pm, Friday September 4th, NC Museum of Natural Sciences 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

Hosted by the fine folks at Aurora Picture Show. A/V Geeks presents a family friendly screening event about arts and crafts at the Hits Theatre in the Heights.  Come learn about the art of the craft from the 1950s with fun film titles including At Your Fingertips: Boxes, Rag Tapestry and Puppets. After the screening join in for your own crafting fun experience. The Contemporary Arts Museum’s Teen Council will help kids make their own fun crafts after the show.  Pizza slices and soda snacks provided too! $10 non-members, $5 kids under 12, members free

Sunday, August 30, 3pm, Hits Theatre, 311 18th Street, Houston TX

A/V Geeks Event Calendar

August 2009
S M T W T F S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031EC

  • No events.

Popular Tags

Search

From The Archive

Kingdom of Plastics (1945)

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm


Illustrates the properties and uses of both thermoplastic and thermosetting compounds in the ‘FOURTH KINGDOM’ of plastics.

From The Archive

The Potheads – Let’s Get Nice

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

THE POTHEADS IN LET’S GET NICE (5 minutes, black and white, 1969. Made by Alfonso Sanchez, aged 18.) Some of the hallucinatory effects of marijuana-smoking are imaginatively conveyed through trick photography. Time seems to stand still and the world stands on end when one is under the influence of this drug (thanks Dwight Swanson for finding this blurb)

From The Archive

Those Naughty Animals

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

Animals acting badly. Films include – Hoppy the
Bunny, Skipper Learns a Lesson,
Squeak the Squirrel
and more.

From The Archive

Atomic Age Classics Vol 3 : A-Bombs, Fallout & Nuclear War DVD

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

These films try to head off problems early. Films include: Living with the Atom, Radioactive Fallout and Shelter, The Atom Strikes!, Fallout: When and How to Protect Yourself, The Atom Goes To Sea

From The Archive

Angry Night

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

Educational films that teach us about anger and how much fun
it can be! Films include – I’m Mad At Me, Angry Night,The Aggressive Impulse,
Mr Finley’s Feelings, Oops I Made A Mistake, It’s Not Much Fun Being Angry,
Getting Angry
and more!

From The Archive

P is for Police Officer

August 30, 2009
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

Training films made for one of the most stressful and dangerous jobs in a democracy – being a police officer. Films include: Disturbance Calls, Failure to Protect, Shotgun – Second Weapon and more!

Help support the A/V Geeks cause.
Proudly powered by WordPress. Theme developed with WordPress Theme Generator.
Copyright © A/V Geeks. All rights reserved.