American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1940)

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us that those lines had been fused for only ten amps. But before trying again, it was decided to line up the 1200, just in case — and for some reason unknown, on starting that machine — » Bang — the lamp went dead, although the motor continued to operate. A new lamp was tried. Result the same. Work for Staff, Plenty So, having only a partly used and slightly blackened lamp in reserve, we sought a new outlet, and having plenty of what the Englishman calls "flex," we drew our current from a distant lamp socket. That worked all right, but the poor bulb in the projector did not produce an image on the screen that would satisfy us, and we were fearful of the sophisticated undergraduate audience who would first see Donald Duck and a March of Time before our amateur films. The arc machine must work and must be kept working. Well, as events proved, it did, and from that angle all was well. And it was extremely well that our party consisted of five. For the arc machine calls for the entire attention of one person, and with none of us ever before having seen more than a picture of one, it took the careful attentions of two — one to "sit on" the focus and the other to watch and nurse along the arc itself. Then due to the cramped and unaccustomed position of the phonograph, the records had, perforce, to be handed, one by one, to the operator of that machine, and be received back the same way, when each was finished. This left the fifth person to rewind the films and rearrange the records in needed order, for we would begin the second show immediately the first one was done, with no intermission whatsoever, except that again would come Donald Duck and the March of Time. Bouquet for Projectionist But it all worked, and largely due to the aid and assistance volunteered in a most cordial and whole hearted way by the theatre projectionist — a medical student at the College; and an amateur, too, who works, aa we do, in 16mm. He was a "Rock of Ages" for the visiting troupe, and we hereby offer our sincere thanks to him. It was diff'icult, assuming we might succeed at all, to conv^ey to the audiences anything of the background of the various films, or of the idea and ideals permeating our Annual Shows. To have your only contact with your audience by means of a microphone and loud speaker, with the house dark, is hard. It might be that no contact at all was established, but we hope that we succeeded somewhat. But you have to take things as you find them, on such a tour. It is like dueling as opposed to fencing — the buttons are off the foils. No allowances can be asked, and you and your show must either go across because it is a good show, or you must go down, if it is not good enough to carry its own weight. We could only hope that ours went across. Competing with GWTW It was a weary group when 5 o'clock came and the shows were done. Hastily we disassembled our equipment and got out of the way of the evening's big show, "Gone with the Wind." At any rate, we had shared the screen that day with a real Top Ranker. The conference of the evening was something quite difi'erent and with only Snapshot of Duncan MacD. lAttle taken a couple of yearn ayo on the Little^ Nova Scotia porch. a small number in attendance. The aforesaid top-ranking picture undoubtedly drew most of the possible group. However, to this small gathering, we were able to tell a bit about the plans and history and aims of the Annual Shows, and, in addition, some odd bite from our own experiences with both camera and projector in this country and in Canada. Next morning, with the undergraduates, we attended a class session of the college "Script Writing" course, and then started our journey to Durham, about 130 miles distant. Our way led across and around the more southerly of the White Mountain group, and gave many opportunities for picturemaking, both still and movie, for it was a rare day and perfect "sugaring" weather. However, we were not on a picturemaking expedition, though we deeply regretted lost opportunities. Arrived in Durham in midafternoon, we sought the office, in the University Administration Building, of the "Lens and Shutter Club," our sponsors here, receiving a warm and friendly greeting and being promptly taken to meet the Dean. Cold Water That gentleman quietly and completely took all the wind from our sails by announcing that for his own part he entirely disapproved of the whole idea of our Show, but "that the boys and girls had greatly desired it, so I let them go ahead at their risk, and here you are, so let's see what can be done for you and about you." Well, to make a long story short, he took us to a photographic exhibit that had been arranged by the faculty and undergraduates, to be sort of a concurrent affair with our Show, and then he escorted Mrs. Little to a tea arranged in her honor, telling us men that we could come or not as we wished. But for our part, we wished to get set up before dinnertime, and then have no worries until the Show should actually get underway. So we were taken to the auditorium, and found a seventy-five foot throw to a sixteen foot screen. It was well that we had come ahead of time, for here it was found that we must draw the "juice" for projector, amplifier and phonograph from sockets; behind the screen, calling for two lines each more than a hundred feet! But, aided by what the "Lens and Shutter" boys had and could borrow, our supply of wire worked, and everything was soon ready. Soon, because we had at least two able volunteers for every job suggested. Again Full House And they used their heads, those boys. Early we had spoken about wanting a ( Continued on Page 286) 2,58 .June, 1940 • American Cinbmatographer