THE RECREATION SERVICE DIVISION 



727 



The Memphis Park Commission holds an annual play tournament for 

 children. Each playground contributes a pantomime for which the chil- 

 dren themselves have made the drapery. Points are awarded on the basis 

 of excellence and dramatization, rhythm, costumes and properties. 



Parks furnish unexcelled facilities for festivals and pageants and are the 

 scene of many beautiful productions. Closing festivals for the playgrounds, 

 community celebrations and city-wide pageants are frequently given. The 

 presentation of out-of-door plays such as Shakespeare's "Merchant of 

 Venice," presented at Nibley Park, Salt Lake City, by the playground 

 children, are helping to make parks centers for many thousands of people. 



PLATE No. 279. IN THE PUPPET THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES 



Another activity of park departments serving large masses of people is 

 the motion picture show which a number of the departments are giving. 

 Motion picture machines are carried from park to park, the pictures being 

 shown on large screens. Some park departments have found that in addi- 

 tion to renting the films from commercial houses it is possible to secure 

 educational films sometimes free of charge from the extension division of 

 the state universities and colleges. 



Social Activities. 



As has been suggested, parks, to many people, are the social centers 

 where they meet their friends and find social enjoyment largely in an 

 unorganized way under their own leadership. Very often, however, careful 

 organization is employed to extend the usefulness of the recreation service 

 in creating social opportunities, and programs of social games and activities 

 are offered on evening playgrounds and at other park centers. 



