Lectures for 1936-1937: Major James Sawders

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1936
Lectures for 1936-1937 by
MAJOR JAMES SAWDERS
twelfth season



LECTURES FOR 1936-1937

Dixieland—Yesterday and Today
Way down south in Dixie where romance lingers in a South that is old and the spirit of progress soars in a South that is new.  The Florida Riviera, the Carolinas' industrial districts, the development of the Tennessee Valley foretell a New South, but all that is the romantic Old South can never completely disappear.  The land of Longfellow's Evangeline, the fascination of New Orleans, the patrician beauty of old Charleston, the romantic charm of Natchez, the grandeur of the old plantation days from Virginia to Texas will always be dear to the American heart.  A little journey into Dixieland with Major Sawders and his beautiful pictures.



Seeing Mexico by Motor
Mexico—land of mystery, history, and modernism—is a country of absorbing interest.  Ranking third among our nation's investments in the foreign field, it is of great economic interest to Americans.  With the opening of the new International Motor Highway between the two republics, this interest has greatly increased.  Early last summer Major Sawders, long a student of Mexico, packed his cameras into his car and set off for another visit from which he has but recently returned bringing pictures galore.  His newest discussion of this wonderland of the south is an illustrated lecture from the motorist's angle.  Major Sawders describes with keen understanding the varied phases of the country—its archaeological mysteries, its colonial history, its struggle toward modernism—and his pictures are interesting and beautiful.



Our Fascinating Southwest
Our Hispanic Southwest is undoubtedly one of the most colorful sections of our country.  Here modern enterprising American cities are almost side by side with the homes of the most primitive of Uncle Sam's children.  These Indians—Hopi, Navajo, Apache, Piyute, Zuni—with their interesting villages and handicrafts are all part of a kaleidoscopic pattern.  No less brilliant is the beauty of the country—the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, the land of Pueblo and Cliff Dwellers, the country of canyons, most stupendous of these the Grand Canyon of Colorado.  Again Major Sawders brings to life before your eyes the whole gorgeous scene.



Ancient Civilizations of the Americas
We may call the western hemisphere the New World, but it is immeasurably old as far as mankind is concerned.  Not long after the glacial period human beings began to roam the forests and plains of the Americas and they had started on the road to culture at least ten thousand years ago.  Over wide areas civilizations were established, vanished, and were forgotten.  The origin of these ancient races and their works is one of the great archaeological mysteries of the world.  Major Sawders has been many years preparing for his presentation of this fascinating subject, and his pictures are remarkably fine.



The West Indies and the Spanish Main
Scene of the white man's first penetration into the New World, these isles of beauty and coasts of romance have long claimed the attention of the world.  Once the haunt of buccaneers and the prize for whose possession the maritime nations of Europe waged continuous and enthusiastic battle, the Indies and the Main have seen much of the march of history.  With the passing of its glamorous colonial days, the economic importance of this American Mediterranean waned.  But the charm of its beauty and marvelous climate still remains and every year it becomes more and more a rendezvous for holidaying Americans.  Major Sawders has pictured it from end to end.



Tropical Brazil
Once again the southland called him and Major Sawders journeyed to Brazil.  He tells of the strange beauty of its jungle and of the lure of the diamond country.  He takes us up to the highlands among the great coffee plantations, to São Paulo, city of industry and modern thrift, and on to Santos, busiest port in the southern hemisphere.  He shows us the glory that is Rio de Janeiro, the world's most beautiful city set like a jewel in her glorious harbor.  He tells of the romantic history of Brazil, and his glowing word pictures are made even more vivid by his superb still and motion pictures.  Major Sawders' cameras have caught the life and color of this land of beautiful cities and mysterious jungle—this land of the tropics.



The Gay and Magnificent Argentine
The Argentine, with its giant herds of cattle and vast wheat fields, has long been of great economic importance in Latin America.  Buenos Aires, its gay and enterprising capital, the largest city on the southern hemisphere, is often called the Paris of South America.  At the mouth of the La Plata—the river of silver—Buenos Aires is the gateway of a huge system of railroads and waterways.  These take the traveler over the pampas and into the heart of the southern continent with its teeming jungles roaring cataracts, rugged mountain ranges.  Major Sawders has but recently returned from the land of the gaucho and the tango, bringing with him the latest in news and pictures.



South America's West Coast
Amid shifting scenes we make our way from Panama to the Straits of Magellan through countries whose back doors are the snow-crowned Andes and whose front doors open to the blue Pacific.  During countless centuries these lands have known many masters from the prehistoric days, through the golden Colonial era, down to freedom as republics.  All this change has left its mark.  In the ancient ruins are reminders of bygone grandeur, and mediaeval charm is manifest in the mellowed beauty of Spanish Colonial architecture.  Again the tempo changes and today the modern era invades the age-old lands.  Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile pass in review as Major Sawders tells of the romance and mystery of their past and the promise of their future.



Round South America Tour
Down the fascinating west coast of South America and up the brilliant east.  Over the lazy summer seas from Panama to Ecuador; down the blue Pacific to Peru for a visit to the land of the sun-worshipping Inca; past the vast nitrate fields of Chile to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar.  Up to Santiago and over the mighty Andes by plane; across the pampas to Buenos Aires, gay capital of the Argentine.  And then Montevideo, Santos, incomparable Rio de Janeiro, quaint old Bahia, Para at the mouth of the Amazon with a glimpse of the great river.  Eight thousand miles around the huge continent and its ten republics with Major Sawders and his faithful cameras!



Talks on Current Events in Latin America
Long before the appearance of man in the Americas, nature's own hand had destined these neighboring lands to be our natural business partners.  Latin America looms ever larger on the American business and political firmament, and Major Sawders' long experience in these republics to the south has made him eminently fitted to discuss their many and varied problems.  He knows the viewpoint of the leaders of these countries as well as that of the man in the street and is able to interpret these clashing ideas in the light of the rapidly changing world.  His frequent visits to Latin America and his numerous contacts there keep his information up-to-date.



Illustrated with pictures of exceptional beauty in color and motion





In Preparation
A NEW SERIES OF
LECTURES ON EUROPE
Major James Sawders
is one of America's outstanding platform personalities and during the past twelve years he has lectured in almost every state in the Union.  His point of view is always human and sympathetic and in presenting his material he has a gift for making sound information lively and interesting.

Major Sawders' lectures are illustrated with pictures of exceptional beauty in color and motion.  A photographer of rare skill, his pictures are in demand by leading magazines and newspapers.

For years Major Sawders has spent much time in the Latin Americas—traveling, studying, photographing these countries in which he is almost as much at home as in his native Pennsylvania.  His lecture-discussions of our sister republics have proved of great interest and enduring worth to his audiences which he numbers among the foremost auspices.

Now Major Sawders turns his attention and his cameras on our own great land, and Our Fascinating Southwest and Dixieland—Yesterday and Today are presented as his newest subjects.



Where Major Sawders Has Appeared

The Town Hall, New York
National Geographic Society
Institute of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University
University Museum, Philadelphia
The Brooklyn Institute
Academy of Arts and Sciences, Pittsburgh
Milwaukee Public Museum
Carnegie Museum
Park Museum, Providence
Detroit Town Hall Series
Cleveland Town Hall Series
Pittsburgh Town Hall Series
Woman's Club, Wheeling
Woman's Club, Reading
Gettysburg College
University of Delaware
Cosmos Club, Washington
Union League Club, New York
Union League Club, Chicago
Harvard Club, New York
Princeton Club, New York
Yale Club, New York
University Club, Pittsburgh
The Philadelphia Forum
Pacific Geographic Society
New Orleans Association of Commerce
Woman's Club of Central Kentucky
Goodwyn Institute, Memphis
Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Mo.
University Club, Milwaukee
University Club, Philadelphia
Brooks Club, New Bedford, Mass.
Oregon State Agricultural College
University of Utah
Southwestern Louisiana Institute



What They Say of Him
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY—Major Sawders is one of the most engaging personalities on the American lecture platform today and one of our best informed interpreters of things Latin American.  His knowledge of present-day conditions in Mexico and South America is based on wide travel and thorough study and in presenting his material he has a gift for making sound information lively and interesting.—Russell Potter, Associate Director, University Extension, Institute of Arts and Sciences.

GOODWYN INSTITUTE, Memphis—We have rarely had at Goodwyn Institute such splendid travel lectures.  They were superb.  We have not had such large audiences in several years.—C. C. Ogilvie, Director.

THE PHILADELPHIA FORUM—Every time that I have heard Major James Sawders lecture on South America I have been impressed with his exact knowledge of political, social, and industrial conditions in Latin America, and his fairness in presenting them.  In addition to this, he understands the Latin American mind and how it works, which is a valuable asset for a lecturer who talks about any country and its people.—William K. Huff, Executive Director.

STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE, Buffalo—We have long heard of the exceptional quality of Major Sawders' pictures, but yesterday we were likewise impressed with his excellent platform ability and skill in description.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY—Major Sawders' vivid description of his personal experiences in Mexico, illustrated by his exceptionally fine motion pictures and lantern slides, was most comprehensive and interesting.—Gilbert Grosvenor, President.

CARNEGIE MUSEUM—Your lecture on Mexico was a splendid opportunity to learn more about the life and conditions of an extremely interesting country from a keen and fair-minded observer.—A. Avinoff, Director.

CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS—Major James Sawders' 'Mexico' is a rare opportunity for any audience.  Some three thousand of Cleveland teachers were charmed and informed about the 'Wonderland of Mexico'.  He is always welcome to a Cleveland audience.—W. M. Gregory, Director, Educational Museum.

WOMAN'S CLUB of York, Penn.—Major Sawders, without doubt, gave the best lecture we have had this season—best material, best pictures, best speaker.

UNIVERSITY CLUB, Pittsburgh—We have just had Major Sawders with us for the fifth time.  He, more than any other lecturer we know, has the happy faculty of giving a mass of information in a pleasing and amusing way.

HYDE PARK TRAVEL CLUB, Chicago—We have heard a number of lectures on South America, but Major Sawders' 'Republics in the Clouds' surpasses them all.  His slides are unusually beautiful and his personality most pleasing.

Management James Sawders, The Workshop, Nutley, N. J.