Business screen magazine (1938)

CRITICAL MOMENTS A great railroad had to clear its tracks. An entire train and train crew had to be enlisted, scenes shot at night, voices and natural sounds recorded on location — when the National Carbon Company decided to re-enact for the screen one of its thrilling *'true experience" Eveready Flashlight Battery ads. To meet these problems. National Carbon relied upon the technical skill, resourcefulness and facilities of West Coast Sound Studios. West Coast has made notable contributions to national screen advertising with this and other productions in the "Critical Moments" series. Producing effective Screen-ods is a highly speciolized art. Lei us ploce our facilities and technical skill at vour service when you consider Screen Advertising. STUDIOS RCA EQUIPPED WEST COAST SOUND STUDIOS, Inc. 5)0-22 West Fifty-Seventh Street Hew York Circle 7-2062 N. Y. Nat Sales Rep: SCREEN BROADCAST CORPORATION ^...^t'-'"^ tor INDUSTRIAL PRODUCERS W E SUPPLY on rental all or any equipment necessary to make a Feature — Short or Commercial. SOUND — SILENT — COLOR — SLOW MOTION • Latest Mitchell Cameras • Blimps — Dollys — Accessories • Latest Type Lighting Equipment • Variable Area Location Sound Truck • Portable Recording Equipment • Single System News Reel Type Cameras • Moviola Editing Equipment SALES SERVICE — RENTALS KXCLVSirs EASTERN REPBESEKTATiyES MirrllEI.I. CAMERA corporatioh MOTION PICTURE CAMERA SUPPLY, Inc. 723 Seventh Ave. Phone BRYonl 97754 Nev, York, N Y. Coble — CINECAMERA ♦ The first annual equipment review number of Business Screen, in preparation for several months, promises to be a most useful tool for the industrial film user. \Yateh for it! Bowes Amateurs in IGniin Reels ♦ M.i.joK Bow K.s' A:\i.\TEuns are now available in Kinim. sound-on-film according to an announcement made by H. Threlkeld Edwards. President of Commonwealth Pictures Corp.. 7'29 Seventh Avenue. New York City. This company, which specializes in the .sale and lease of 16mni. sound subjects, has just acquired the exclusive sub-standard distribution rights to six two and six one-reel releases featuring these nationally known amateurs. A partial list of titles includes Variety Revue, Melody Makers, Musical Varieties, Radio Revels, Hit Parade and Harmony Broadcast. Major Bowes appears in each of these releases and with his inimitable "all right — all right — all right" guides these talented youngsters in their screen debut. He has developed a public numbering in the millions for a new and irresistible source of human interest by introducing a heretofore unknown flood of talent. Every performer has gained an opportunity for recognition by being presented on these sympathetic and immensely popular programs. An outstanding program of the air becomes the leading short subject of the screen and is ideally suited for rounding out commercial presentations. With an infinite variety of melody, singing, and wholesome amusement and a universal appeal, they constitute an outstanding addition to the 16mm. sound field. Commonwealth Pictures Corp. also have available for purchase or lease over 17.5 feature pictures as well as a wide assortment of short subjects including musical comedy shorts with Donald Novis and Bing Crosby, cartoons, travelogues, and novelty reels. Spencer Lens Elects Officers ♦ Following the Annual Stockholders' Meeting of Spencer Lens Company, Scientific Instrument Division of the American Optical Company, on March 17, 1939. the following oflScers were elected: H. N. Ott — Chairman of the Board of Directors; B. H. Witherspoon — President & General Manager; H. D. Rhynedance — Vice-President and General Sales Manager; B. Glenny — Treasurer; C. W. Barton — Secretary and Manager of Research & Development. Mr. B. H. Witherspoon, who has had broad experience in sales, engineering, and research nnil development work, has been active in the management of Spencer Lens Company since I9.'J5. serving as a member of the Executive Committee, and Vice-President and General ^Lmagcr, from which position he now assumes I he Presidency of the Company. RCA Advances E. C. Cahill ♦ Annoiimements from RCA Photophone confirm the advancement of E. C. Cahill to the post of Manager of the Photoijhone Division, a position which he will fill in in addition to his duties as Director of the General Service net ivi ties of the company. Harry Sommerer, former Division manager, has been made assistant to the executive vice-president. Homer Snook is director of Sales for the Photophone Division. New DaLJte Catalogs Ready ♦ The Da-Lite Screen Company has just published a new and larger catalog that is more than just a listing of Da-Lite Screens. This 48-page book contains technical information on the brightness characteristics of various types of screen surfaces, charts of picture sizes which facilitate the selection of the right size of screen for use with various kinds of still and motion picture projectors, practical suggestions regarding the selection of the right type of mounting for each user's requirements and recommendations on the care of screens to obtain maximum service from them. The data would be helpful to anyone considering the selection of a screen, regardless of the make. One chart is particularly interesting to those who have given consideration to ways of minimizing distortion. ]\LTny claims have been made for projection screens to the eff'ect that certain types of surfaces are beneficial in reducing distortion. The chart and explanation of it in the Da-Lite catalog show clearly that it is not the function of the screen to eliminate distortion and that distortion is a phenomena of perspective — that the screen cannot cause it. and cannot control it. It shows that regardless of the type of surface of the screen, people seated far to either side of it will always see a picture which is distorted by perspective, in which the figures always appear narrower and taller than normal. The solution, of course, is through seating the audience within viewing angles which will minimize this effect of perspective. Da-Lite makes all types of surfaces but recommends the glass-beaded as the most efl?icient for average projection requirements. The DaLite glass-beaded surface reflects the maximum of light yet it is so constructed that there is no glare or sparkling. Its greater brilliance is especially appreciated in color pictures because the density of color film cuts down the light from the projector. Da-Lite al.so makes white and silver screens for the installations where these types of surfaces are best fitted. THE AMPRO VOLTAGE REGULATOR IS A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THE industrial film department where varied eurrent conditions are eneountered in field projection. 34 BusiNE.ss Screen