WPA AIDS THE BLIND, PATHE NEWS
Narrator: Men are sitting in a large industrial space. They are seated on high stools at three long rows of tables. They are working with their hands.
A sign is visible above a door that reads “EVERY MAN WORKING HERE IS DOING HIS PART TO MAKE THE BLIND OF THE COUNTRY HAPPIER.”
Two men cut out a shape in a square piece of wood. They insert a device into the opening.
A man then assembles the Talking Book machine.
A man is seen seated next to Helen Keller. Keller wears a Robin Hood style hat with a feather in it.
Man off-camera: Start over again.
Man on screen: Tell me when.
Man off-camera: Okay.
Man on screen: The Works Progress Administration has established a project for making Talking Book machines for the Blind. Five thousand of these Talking Book machines have been made, and they will be distributed into the homes of the blind of America by the libraries of America in the same way that you receive your books in the home. This is one of the most comfortable ways of reading that I know of and may be envied by those who have their own sight. The person who suggested this project and is responsible for it is Miss Helen Keller, not only the most outstanding sightless person in America but one of the Republic’s foremost citizens.
Narrator: Men and a woman recording a Talking Book in the recording studios. A narrator records a book.
Talking Books Narrator: The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith.
Ever of the opinion that the honest man who married and brought up a large family did more service than he who continued single and only talked of population. From this motive I have scarce taken orders a year before I began to think seriously of matrimony and chose my wife as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well, to do her justice.
Narrator: Viewer looks down on the lap of Jane Muhfeld, a blind auditory expert at AFB. Muhfeld is seated and holding a Talking Book, a Talking Book machine is beside her. Muhfeld flips the record over and reads the braille text on the record label. She then places the record on the Talking Book machine.
Muhfeld is sitting next to a Talking Book machine. She listens to the audio-recording.
Recorded voice off-camera: Ever of the opinion that the honest man who married and brought up a large family did more service than he who continued single and only talked of population. From this motive I have scarce taken orders a year before I began to think seriously of matrimony and chose my wife as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well..”
Muhfeld: Oh swell, now I can read everything from the latest detective stories back to Shakespeare. Oh, I’ve forgotten love stories!
Narrator: Robert B. Irwin, AFB’s Executive Director, who is blind, smiles.
Irwin: Splendid! It makes me independent, enables me to read without imposing on the good nature of my...[inaudible].