International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1954)

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONISl With Which Is Combined PROJECTION ENGINEERING FREDERICK HODGSON, Editor JAMES MORRIS, Associate Editor Volume 29 JANUARY 1954 Number 1 Index and Monthly Chat .... 5 1954 Seen As Biggest Year for Color 7 James Morris Recent Projection Advances In Europe, II 9 Robert A. Mitchell Color Catalyst in Battle of the Tubes 14 Frederick Hodgson The 3-D Score for '54 16 Thomas L. Burnside What's Your Problem? 17 Personal Notes 17 In The Spotlight 20 Turn Your Projection Skills Into Cash 21 Michael Smollin Free Polaroid Land Cameras. 23 More Small Theatres Go Stereophonic 24 lA Obituaries 25 Index: International Projectionist January to December, 1953 33 News Notes Technical Hints Miscellaneous Items Pub//sfiec/ Monthly Isy INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST PUBLISHING CO., INC. 19 West 44th Street, New York 36, N. Y. Telephone: MUrray Hill 2-2948 R. A. ENTRACHT, Publisher SUBSCRIPTION REPRESENTATIVES AUSTRALIA: McGills, 183 Elizabeth St., Melbourne NEW ZEALAND: Te Aro Book Depot, Ltd., 64 Courtenoy Place, Wellington ENGLAND and ELSEWHERE: Wm. Dcv/son & Sons, Ltd., Maeklin St., London, W. C. 2 YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION: United States and possessions, $2.50 (two years, $4); Canada and foreign countries, $3; single copies, 30 cents. Changes of address should be submitted two weeks in advance of publication date to insure receipt of current issue. Entered as second class matter February 8, 1932, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., with additional entry at Yonkers, N.Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Entire contents copyrighted 1954 by INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST PUBLISHING CO., INC. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST assumes no responsibility for personal opinions appearing in signed articles, or for unsolicited communications. MONTHLY CHAT As 1954 opens the film trend is still towards the wide aspect ratio, stereophonic sound, more 3-D, and the ultra-skilled tub-thumping of 20th Century-Fox. One producer after another is jumping on the bandwagon, each whipping the horses in his own way. International Projectionist, surveying the scene with what we fondly hope is editorial detachment, holds with Shakespeare that "the play's the thing" and that no amount of gadgetry can substitute for good pictures. Technological progress is inevitible, desirable and healthy but it must not be allowed to become an end in itself. Illustrating the point in Columbia's "From Here to Eternity." Here we have a picture, shot in standard black-and-white, that has been cracking boxoffice records all over the world. Why? The film does not have the advantage of Cinerama or CinemaScope novelty. Nor does it have the curious fascination of 3-D. Yet "Eternity" stayed at the 4,000-seat Capitol Theatre in New York for more than 20 weeks and grossed over $1,450,000. It broke alltime records in Tokyo, Japan, in Sydney, Australia, and in dozens of other cities abroad. It's well on its way to doing the same thing at the Marble Arch Theatre in London. At this writing the picture is playing a phenomenal 18th week in Washington, D. C. Even at the Shore Theatre, a Skouras house in Huntington, L. I., "Eternity" grossed $30,500 in one week. What's the answer? Simply this: A good picture will bring in the business— with or without 3-D, trick lenses or color! "From Here to Eternity" is good enough to have won the top award of the New York film critics. It has been on every "ten best" list so far compiled, never below third place. And, according to those in the know, "Eternity" stands a better than even chance of winning the Academy "Oscar" in March. True, Columbia did make an unfortunate bow towards the new processes by filing the aperture and showing "Eternity" at the Capitol in a ratio of 1.85 to 1, plus stereophonic sound. Most spots, however, are playing the picture straight. Maybe, just maybe, the lesson of "Eternity" will be learned by the industry. Maybe, just maybe, 1954 will see the "sin" taken from CinemaScope and a move towards a safe and sane aspect ratio. Some projectionists, we're told, are filing apertures for greater picture height, rather than for width. Maybe, just maybe, this indicates that the trend has started. IP hopes so sincerely. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • JANUARY 1954 5