Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

38 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 5, 1930 W SOUND PICTURES BLUEBOOK SCHOOL . . . IMAGE VERSUS SOUND By F. II. RICHARDSON BLUEBOOK SCHOOL QUESTION NO. 47 — What troubles may we expect to encounter with amplifier tubes? On what basis is the life of amplifier tubes reckoned and what is it chiefly which lowers their length of efficient service? From what is current for heating the amplifier tubes derived? What is the voltage with which the amplifier tubes are heated? VISUAL PROJECTION LOSING GROUND? SOME complaint has reached me to the effect that visual projection, meaning the screen image, is dropping backward by reason of the fact that all attention, or nearly all of it, is being centered on sound. Our old and valued friend, P. A. McGuire of the International Projector Corporation, is one of Methods of wrapping and folding paper condensers. ( Solid lines indicate plates. Dotted lines indicate insulation.) These drawings were sent in by Karl Friedrich with his answer to Question No. 36. those who put up a vigorous kick to your editor. And I am by no manner of means sure the complaint is not well founded in fact. I have myself visited a number of theatres lately wherein, while the sound was excellent (and I would not go to the length of saying the visual projection was poor) the pictureprojection itself did not seem to be quite as snappy as it once was. In some very high class theatres I have seen a bit of travel ghost, which of course injures both definition and picture contrast. I have seen other minor faults not present before sound came. In almost every case, however, the sound itself was very good. Now, gentlemen, that is entirely wrong. Sound should of course be just as good as it is possible to make it, but that by no means offers any excuse for slighting or becoming careless with visual projection. Perfection in sound and mediocrity in visual projection would be unthinkable. One big interest must not be permitted to transgress upon the rights of another big interest, and perfection in sound is in no degree more important than perfection in visual projection. Sound engineers who sacrifice visual projection merely to improve sound, are most emphatically not benefiting the business. Some concession can be made, it is true, to get better sound, but not too much. Now, gentlemen, don’t get the idea that I am saying that visual projection has sunk to the point of being poor. It has not! It has, however, fallen off a bit. Of that I am pretty certain and this is a warning that perfection in sound cannot possibly be accepted as an excuse for any deterioration in the screen image. The point has been reached where ample knowledge is available on visual projection, and most projectionists have it stored in their minds. The point has been passed where the average exhibitor considers a “picture a picture” and is satisfied regardless of how poorly it is sent forward to the screen. We have advanced with the years and by hard work to a distinctly higher plane of visual projection. Let there be no depressions, holes or ruts in that plane. We have set up a high standard. We have reached that standard. Let us have no backward step. That high standard means better prices and more patronage for the exhibitor. It means better wages for the projectionists. It means that every one has a higher respect for him. Think all that over, men, and put and keep your very best foot forward in visual projection as well as in sound. I want to look the next man who complains, in the eye and tell him he is dreaming. High voltage brass and mica condensers. (Solid lines indicate plates. Dotted lines indicate insulation.) This also wus sent in by Karl Friedrich with Ins answer to Question No. 36. INTERNATIONAL USES A FINANCIAL SHOEHORN NTERNATIONAL Projector Corporation has just used a “financial shoehorn” and expanded its factory almost doubly. It has purchased the adjoining six-story-andbasement building, opened up doors and passageways between the two buildings and thus has added about 400,000 square feet of floor space to its factory. Gosh ! One more such stunt as that and a trolley will have to be added so the superintendent won’t get tired out walking around the building. The purchased property is a substantial stone and brick structure, erected a few years ago to house some big leather dealers. It is practically a new building, and already the International has machinery installed on some of its floors, though the actual occupancy only passed to it a very short while ago. My compliments to the International and to those able gentlemen who have steered its course to success through sometimes rather troubled waters. Vice Presidents W. C. Mitchel and S. E. Burns are entitled to swell out their chests. Theirs has been a hard job, but their “chairs” have been filled chockful of them. They have worked hard, and that the hard work was good work, is amply proven. They have, however, had able assistants. There is Factory Superintendent L. Frappier, General Sales Manager Herbert Griffin, General Advertising Manager P. A. McGuire and Export Manager A. E. Myer, and others, all of whom have done their duty faithfully and efficiently. I am not telling the tale of President Harley L. Clarke. However, I can say, with absolute certainty that Mr. Clarke has performed some financial wonders for the corporation.