The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

February, IQ36 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 79 957,000,000 Admissions Mr. SIMON ROWSON'S Survey at Royal Statistical Society Statistics are a vital factor in the planning and organisation of modern industry. While to the layman they often appear dull, uninteresting and altogether outside his comprehension, to the engineer and the technician they are essential. Insurance Companies, engineering and electricity departments, Government offices, in fact all the complex assortment of industrial and civic bodies would be lost without them. Hitherto the film industry has been almost alone in its complete lack of comprehensive statistical information. This remarkable omission has at last been remedied in what can only be described as a monumental work prepared by Mr. Simon Rowson, M.Sc, and read before the Royal Statistical Society on December 17th last. Mr. Rowson's paper is, in his own words, "a pioneer effort in scientific investigation in the social and economic problems of the people's amusements and recreations." Mr. Rowson commences his survey with some figures (based on entertainment dutv returns) relating to attendances at British Cinemas. In all the cinemas of Great Britain the total admissions in 1934 were about 957 millions, or at the rate of 18,300,000 per week. The total gross bo.xoffice receipts were about /40,950,000, and the average price paid per seat was 10-3d. \\ sum of no less than /6,80(),()()0 was paid to the Treasury in the form of Entertainment Dnt\durin.tr the \-ear. The tremendous hold which the cinema has acquired over the population is shown by the fact that the total number of paid admissions represents an average of nearly 22 visits every year for each man, woman and child in the country. That "going to the pictures" is in truth the primary recreation of the masses is proved by the fact that 42°,, of the entire admissions are in respect of seats priced at 6d or under and that another 36^ "^ paid not more than a shilHng. Well might Mr. Rowson comment — "When we consider the duration of the programme presented, and there is added the splendour of the modern structures, the comfort and brightness of the interiors, it is no extravagant language to say that this modern institution is one of the sociological wonders of the century." A table of the number of cinemas and seats in Great Britain reveals further interesting information. A.i the end of 1930 there were about 4,305 cinemas containing 3,872,000 seats, or an average of 900 seats each. Taking the total population as 45.^ millions this gives a cinema for every 10,600 persons and one cinema seat to every 12 persons. We who live in London, surrounded by gigantic Plazas, Astorias, and Empires, are sometimes apt to think that cinemas everywhere are of similar size and opulence. It comes, therefore, as something of a shock to realise that no less than 70",, of all cinemas have a seating capacity of less than one thousand. ( )l this total of 4,305 cinemas, 3,085 NEWMAN-SINCLAIR AUTO KINE' CAMERA THE MOST MARVELLOUS CLOCKWORK DRIVEN CAMERA IN THE WORLD. The N.S. Auto Kine' Camera is the only instrument driving nearly 200 ft. 36 mm. film with one winding. Mr. ROBERT J. FLAHERTY produced "Man of Aran" with the N.S. Auto Kine' Camera. Mr. BASIL WRIGHT produced "Song of Ceylon" with the N.S. Auto Kine' Camera. Price from £120 Send for Price List. JAMES A. SINCLAIR & CO. LTD. 3 Whitehall, London, S.W.I the filmcraft books Ivach ?>,() net from all booksellers (Nevvnes) FILMCRAFT By Adrian Brunei FILM TECHNIQUE By V. I. Pudovkin MAKING HOME MOVIES | By D. Charles Ottley HOME PROCESSING By Percy W. Harris FILM TITLING By G. P. Kendall and FILM ACTING By Pudovkin (Illus.), 7 6 net 1 The most popular and authoritative film books on the market. newnes