Location of the 1922 Cedar Point Ohio IBSA Convention Film
Like many other Brother's and Sisters I too have been searching for the 1922 Cedar Point IBSA Convention Film. Remember when it was announced in The Watchtower? It was exciting and we were all hopeful. So he is a recap of what I have done.
1) Of course I searched YouTube, Wayback, Internet Archive and lots of other online sites.
2) I scoured The Watchtower magazine from 1915-1925 and the Golden Age from 1920 to 1925. Found several bits and pieces of information. But nothing solid.
3) I searched the Internet for "Kinemo Kit Corp" and the "Instrusto cinema services company of Chicago".
4) I did a logical deduction of all those whom I knew of from 1922 that may have bought a copy and reached out to their surviving family.
5) I contacted every reputable film archive and all have said they do not have a copy. I have also reached out to the Library of Congress.
6) I researched the descendants of the Driscoll family.
No results. But here is what I have discovered.
The Golden Age of 1922 placed an advert for the Kinemo Film Corp and for Friends to purchase films. The purpose of which was to be shown in the homes of Friends and interested ones. So, Rutherford and Driscoll created this project. Driscoll owned and operated it. What Driscoll did was genius. He took 35mm film, split it and created 17.5mm film. Splitting the cost of production in half and creating a larger profit margin. By doing this he could produce films for the Friends at cost and then produce commercial films for profit to keep the company going.
1) Of course I searched YouTube, Wayback, Internet Archive and lots of other online sites.
2) I scoured The Watchtower magazine from 1915-1925 and the Golden Age from 1920 to 1925. Found several bits and pieces of information. But nothing solid.
3) I searched the Internet for "Kinemo Kit Corp" and the "Instrusto cinema services company of Chicago".
4) I did a logical deduction of all those whom I knew of from 1922 that may have bought a copy and reached out to their surviving family.
5) I contacted every reputable film archive and all have said they do not have a copy. I have also reached out to the Library of Congress.
6) I researched the descendants of the Driscoll family.
No results. But here is what I have discovered.
The Golden Age of 1922 placed an advert for the Kinemo Film Corp and for Friends to purchase films. The purpose of which was to be shown in the homes of Friends and interested ones. So, Rutherford and Driscoll created this project. Driscoll owned and operated it. What Driscoll did was genius. He took 35mm film, split it and created 17.5mm film. Splitting the cost of production in half and creating a larger profit margin. By doing this he could produce films for the Friends at cost and then produce commercial films for profit to keep the company going.
Advert in the Golden Age Magazine
Advert in The Watchtower
Brilliant, except somehow Kodak discovered what he did and exactly in 1923, YES 1923 Kodak marketed 16mm film. This was a death blow to Driscoll. I wonder if he had a more tactful approach...well nevertheless Kodak destroyed the 17.5mm market. Driscoll could still produce films for IBSA, but he had no market for profit to keep the company going. Another feature of the 17.5 Kinemo film stock, it was the first non-nitro safety film, to be exact Driscoll used Kodak 35mm safety film for his base that he cut in two for his 17.5mm film. He gave Kodak everything. Since Driscoll USED Kodak material, Driscoll had no claim to what he did. Kodak owned it all, even Driscoll's idea.
The Golden Age 1922
So, Driscoll has given Kodak the golden ticket. Time frame...
1922 - Up until this time Driscoll has produced 3 films for IBSA on 17.5mm stock and they are to be used for showing in homes of interested ones.
1922 - September (9) The IBSA Convention is held at Cedar Point Ohio. (Keep that late month of the year in mind.)
1923 - Kodak uses Driscoll's idea and markets 16mm film stock, destroying the 17.5mm market. Driscoll has no means whatsoever to make profit from other projects to provide IBSA films at cost.
1922-1923 End of 1922 to beginning of 1923 Driscoll is taking orders for the 1922 IBSA convention from adverts place in The Golden Age and The Watchtower magazines, however he is NOT filling the orders.
1922 - Up until this time Driscoll has produced 3 films for IBSA on 17.5mm stock and they are to be used for showing in homes of interested ones.
1922 - September (9) The IBSA Convention is held at Cedar Point Ohio. (Keep that late month of the year in mind.)
1923 - Kodak uses Driscoll's idea and markets 16mm film stock, destroying the 17.5mm market. Driscoll has no means whatsoever to make profit from other projects to provide IBSA films at cost.
1922-1923 End of 1922 to beginning of 1923 Driscoll is taking orders for the 1922 IBSA convention from adverts place in The Golden Age and The Watchtower magazines, however he is NOT filling the orders.
Kinemo Film 1923 Watchtower
Driscoll is bleeding money from the Kinemo Kit Corp. He needs cash infused badly. At this point in early 1923 there are accounts of Driscoll having a falling out with Rutherford. It is reasonable that Driscoll turned to Rutherford for a cash infusion. However Rutherford would not have personal funds and he would not used dedicated funds. So at some point in 1923 Driscoll leaves IBSA.
Here is where is gets interesting. This was a posting from and very bad OCR image. I do not know of its reliability or am I able to vet it. I believe it to be the same advert from The Golden Age magazine.
"Anouncement was made concerning the makfng of certain film to be exhibited
on a miniature projecting machine suitable for use in
parlors of homes, small halls and, schoolhouses, in connection wlth
teaching the truth. Following that Brother Driscoll and Brother
Rutherford visited Europe, Egypt and Paleatine and made a number
of films. Films have also been made ef the Imperial Valley
(Califorma). These pictures have been exhibited on standard
projectLng machines at a number of places, namely, Oklahoma
City, Boston, Detroit, Buffalo, and some other places, and many
of the friends have expressed themselves enthusiastically in favor
of them."
So what films were shown? I believe it is referring to the first 3 Kinemo productions, not the 1922 IBSA convention. It even mentions the visit of Rutherford to Europe, Egypt, etc.
CONCLUSION:
After all my searching I think the logical conclusion is that Driscoll never produced a single copy of the 1922 Cedar Point Ohio Convention Film. It would likely have been around the end of September or early October of 1922 that Driscoll arrived back at his studio to even consider postproduction. Then at some point, maybe late 1922 to early 1923 after taking a few orders for the 1922 IBSA Convention he was ready to start producing copies, but then he learned of Kodak and their 16mm film stock. Driscoll saw the writing on the wall, he knew he was destroyed. He turned to Rutherford, they had a falling out and parted ways, Driscoll left the Truth and never filled a single order for the 1922 IBSA Convention, although the Watchtower does state he took several orders. In fact, it could be concluded that at this point only the original print existed, if he did have film in the camera, this would be early 1923. So, we have to ask.
When Driscoll's companies went under did he destroy the only print of the 1922 IBSA convention, or did it get stored away somewhere with all the other Kinemo Kit company items?
The only way to answer that question is to attempt to discover what happened to everything Driscoll used for the Kinemo company. At this point I believe that is the only means of learning what happed to the 1922 IBSA Film.
It is very possible that Driscoll packed up everything and stored it, and it may have been handed down and to this day the original print may be stored away, and no one knows it. Or it may never have had film in the camera.
But there is another possibility, out of anger and spite toward Rutherford, Driscoll may have destroyed the only copy that ever existed.
Here is where is gets interesting. This was a posting from and very bad OCR image. I do not know of its reliability or am I able to vet it. I believe it to be the same advert from The Golden Age magazine.
"Anouncement was made concerning the makfng of certain film to be exhibited
on a miniature projecting machine suitable for use in
parlors of homes, small halls and, schoolhouses, in connection wlth
teaching the truth. Following that Brother Driscoll and Brother
Rutherford visited Europe, Egypt and Paleatine and made a number
of films. Films have also been made ef the Imperial Valley
(Califorma). These pictures have been exhibited on standard
projectLng machines at a number of places, namely, Oklahoma
City, Boston, Detroit, Buffalo, and some other places, and many
of the friends have expressed themselves enthusiastically in favor
of them."
So what films were shown? I believe it is referring to the first 3 Kinemo productions, not the 1922 IBSA convention. It even mentions the visit of Rutherford to Europe, Egypt, etc.
CONCLUSION:
After all my searching I think the logical conclusion is that Driscoll never produced a single copy of the 1922 Cedar Point Ohio Convention Film. It would likely have been around the end of September or early October of 1922 that Driscoll arrived back at his studio to even consider postproduction. Then at some point, maybe late 1922 to early 1923 after taking a few orders for the 1922 IBSA Convention he was ready to start producing copies, but then he learned of Kodak and their 16mm film stock. Driscoll saw the writing on the wall, he knew he was destroyed. He turned to Rutherford, they had a falling out and parted ways, Driscoll left the Truth and never filled a single order for the 1922 IBSA Convention, although the Watchtower does state he took several orders. In fact, it could be concluded that at this point only the original print existed, if he did have film in the camera, this would be early 1923. So, we have to ask.
When Driscoll's companies went under did he destroy the only print of the 1922 IBSA convention, or did it get stored away somewhere with all the other Kinemo Kit company items?
The only way to answer that question is to attempt to discover what happened to everything Driscoll used for the Kinemo company. At this point I believe that is the only means of learning what happed to the 1922 IBSA Film.
It is very possible that Driscoll packed up everything and stored it, and it may have been handed down and to this day the original print may be stored away, and no one knows it. Or it may never have had film in the camera.
But there is another possibility, out of anger and spite toward Rutherford, Driscoll may have destroyed the only copy that ever existed.
There are several references to Driscoll mentioned in The Watchtower and Golden Age not quoted here. Also through Internet searches it was discovered that after 1923 he moved to California and attempted to start another film company, that too failed. He ended up starting a religion and writing a book, that the content was a reflection of Brother Russel writings. That religious venture also failed.