Handbook of projection for theatre managers and motion picture projectionists ([1922])

Projection in the Modern Moving Picture Theatre and What It Entails MODERN motion picture theatres are indeed temples of beauty. In many cases they represent an outlay reaching well into six figures, the income from which depends very largely upon the excellence of what paying patrons see upon the screen. Great producing companies have established reputations which have drawing power at the box office. The same is true of what we term "stars." The expert work of cameramen, and those others who contribute to the truly wonderful photographic results found in modern films, all have their share in popularizing the motion picture as a salable form of theatrical amusement. A good orchestra has considerable drawing power. Fine seats, good ventilation, beautiful light effects and decorations all lend aid in the sale of tickets, but the fact remains that even though a theatre have all these things, still, if there be anything less than high class, expert work in the projection room, the shadow forms of the artists will not appear to best advantage, the photography, though wonderfully beautiful in the film itself, will be only ordinary on the screen, and in many other ways the show will be made less pleasing, with the result that the box office income will inevitably suffer. The following is put forward as a flat statement of amply proven fact: Given a free hand, unhampered by unreasonable schedule restrictions, limited amperage or penuriousness in the matter of projection room operating expense, the careful, painstaking projectionist who is equipped with expert knowledge of his profession, can "put over" a production of mediocre merit, sending forth an audience at least fairly well pleased and of mind to come again; whereas the slovenly, careless projectionist, or the projectionist not equipped with expert knowledge, although otherwise equally unhampered, will either cause the same subject to fall flat, or will give a