Classroom Scare Films Vol. 1: Drug Evils

Pills, thrills, and public-service chills.

Overview

A rollicking reel of 16mm morality plays, this first volume digs into mid-century “just say no” panic with earnest narrators, stern guidance counselors, and trembling teens who try marijuana, pills, heroin, and LSD—then face swift, melodramatic doom. Culled from actual classroom prints and public-service shorts, these grainy time capsules mix jittery jazz cues, sensational warnings, and unforgettable visual metaphors (demons, downward spirals, and very bad dates) to illustrate the “evils” of drugs. Equal parts camp and cultural artifact, it’s a fascinating look at how schools taught vice and virtue—complete with period slang, square authority figures, and vintage poster-art charm.