Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

October 27, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 101 How to Save 60% In Insurance Illustrating Pyrene device on projector Pyrene Develops New Device To Fight Film Fire (Continued from page 99) By ERNEST A. ROVELSTAD For compliance with Item 9 1.70 For compliance with Item 10 — . .71 For compliance with Item 11 71 $11.45 11.45 Annual cost per $1,000 after completing improvements $17.25 The use of sprinkling systems in the auditoriums of theatres has practically gone out. One reason is the fact that to remodel a theatre with such equipment would entail a complete shutdown for two months. Installation of automatic sprinklers for the stage section would cost between $5,000 and $6,000 if no tank is added. If the latter is required because of low water pressure, the cost would approximate $15,000. Among the neighborhood theatres in Chicago which have them are the Pantheon, Sheridan, Uptown, Riviera and Granada. Automatic sprinklers are required in the Chicago building code. There are several sprinkler financing agencies to assist the exhibitor in making installation without feeling the cost as a burden. Likewise, theatre owners can obtain insurance against faulty sprinklers at a very low price. On the stage section the damage from a faulty sprinkler would be confined to the scenery. Note the saving for correction of electrical defects. Time was when the utilities companies had their own theories on recognition of wiring defects, and it seemed that the company's interest almost ceased when the original contract had been signed. Today they all insist on good wiring. In some cases it is noticed that the company would not connect the service until the wiring conformed to the building code. Rating authorities say that some theatre electricians have complained to them against the "utilities trust" and the like, but the electriqians have received scant sympathy, as the authorities hold that cheap work usually is the most expensive, and the wise exhibitor is practicing the best form of economy when he insists on the best wiring. Inspection service on wiring is provided without charge by the rating offices. A certificate of approval of the wiring of a theatre cannot be obtained at a charge. It will be of interest to note that rating authorities no longer make any distinction between motion picture theatres having full stage equipment and the socalled "legits." The four general classifications of theatres used are (1) theatres without scenery (no stage); (2) theatres with a small amount of fixed scenery; (3) theatres with a large amount of fixed scenery, and (4) theatres with lifted scenery and complete stage equipment. But the "legit" and the motion picture theatre equipped for presentations are now in the same classification as far as insurance rating is concerned. Honor British Producers NEW YORK.— Alex de Wichfield, president of St. George's Productions, Ltd., and Captain Alastair Mackintosh, production and general manager of the same company, which 61m organization produced Rex Ingram's "The Three Passions," were honor guests at informal luncheon with United Artists' executives at the Colony last Tuesday. A new device for extinguishing film fires has been developed by the Pyrene Manufacturing Company, 650 Belmont avenue, Newark, N. J., in the form of a Pyrene fire extinguisher which is mounted on the projector. The device was demonstrated recently before members of the press and representatives of the office of Will H. Hays. At the demonstration a quantity of film was crammed into the projector and ignited. In about three seconds or less the new Pyrene device automatically stopped the projector and completely extinguished the blaze. The demonstration was repeated several times and officials of the Pyrene Company declared that more than 25 similar tests have been made in the past with similar fine results, and without damage to the projection machine. The device not only automatically and virtually instantly extinguishes a film fire, but in addition will, at the same instant, cut off all electric current used in connection with the operation of the projector. At the first flash of fire a deluge of Pyrene liquid under pressure is formed into the several compartments of the projector, smothering the fire before it has a chance to spread or cause panic among the theatre patrons. It was pointed out that the device reduces to a minimum the footage of film destroyed by the fire. The projector can be put in operation immediately after the fire has been put out and damaged film removed. The Pyrene Fire Extinguishing liquid used does no damage to the film or projector, it was explained. Film used in Simplex projector for the experimental work has been set on fire 25 or more times, and still, it was pointed out, there is no evidence of the projector ever having been on fire. The Pyrene Extinguisher can be recharged in a couple of minutes. Bloom and Kamrath, Consultants, Form Architectural Firm S. C. Bloom and Charles F. Kamrath, exponents of modern refrigeration and air conditioning practices in engineering and architecture, have merged their activities and will conduct a consulting and architectural engineering business. The new firm, which will have headquarters at 330 South Dearborn street, Chicago, will not confine its activities to any one industry, but will cover the broad field of air conditioning and refrigeration. $2,500 for Storm Relief (Special to the Herald-World) NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 23.— About $2,500 was realized at the midnight theatrical performance at the New Saenger theatre Friday for the Red Cross storm relief fund.