International projectionist (Jan 1959-Dec 1960)

International PROJECTIONIST R. A. ENTRACHT, Publisher JAMES J. FINN, Editor R. A. MITCHELL, Contributing Editor Volume 34 FEBRUARY 1959 No. 2 Index and Monthly Chat 3 Projection Screens for 16-mm Film Showings ... 5 Robert A. Mitchell All-Purpose Test Alignment Film Now Available from MPRC 11 Aperture Filing for Keystone Effect: Outline for Proper Procedure 12 Letters to the Editor 12 Glass Aperture Pressure Plates to Control Film Buckle? 13 The What, Why and How of Chromatic Aberration 13 IN THE SPOTLIGHT 14-15 Not Quite the Millenium — But Almost; IA Elections; P. A. McGuire, 1875-1959; Obituaries AUDIO-VISUAL 16-20 Tips on A-V Equipment Procedures, by Joseph F. Holt; B&H "Explorer" Projector; AudioVisual Education: A New Era Begins; Genarco Slide Changers; TSI Projector Leasing Service; Two Fine B&L Program Aids; Victor Animatograph 25th Anniversary; Stereo: What It Is and What It Does. Silicone-Treated Cloth? . . 21 James J. Finn Unique Kodak 3-D Projection System 24 News Notes — Technical Hints — Miscellaneous Items INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST, published monthly by the International Projectionist Publishing Co., Inc., 19 West 44 Street, New York 36, R. A. Entracht, President. Telephone: MUrray Hill 2-2948. Subscription Representatives: AUSTRALIA— McGills, 183 Elizabeth St., Melbourne; NEW ZEALAND— Te Aro Book Depot, Ltd., 64 Courtnay Place, Wellington; ENGLAND and ELSEWHERE— Wm. Dawson & Sons, Ltd., Macklin St., London, W. C. 2. Subscription Rates: United States, Canada, and U. S. Possessions, $3.00 per year (12 issues) and $5.00 for two years (24 issues). Foreign countries: $4.00 per year and $7.00 for two years. Changes of address should be submitted four 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., under the act of March 3, 1879. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST assumes no responsibility for personal opinions appearing in signed articles, or for unsolicited articles. Entire contents copyrighted 1959 by INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST PUBLISHING CO., INC. monthly Chdt Joint Industry Technical Effort /^RATIFYING indeed was the favorable response by ^•TATSE, representing the organized crafts from studios to theatres, to the appeal by the Theatre Owners of America for a concerted effort in launching and maintaining a nation-wide projectionist training program. Sponsors would be, in addition to TOA and IATSE, equipment manufacturers and dealers and the service companies, Altec and RCA. Only last month in this space we lamented the cessation of activity by the IA-manned field-team which was sponsored by the Motion Picture Research Council. This team inspected more than 700 theatres in more than 100 cities, including drive-ins. Their findings are nothing less than a disgrace to the industry. Just a quick rundown of the major deficiencies exposed by the survey : common lack of image focus, screen brightness levels which in a majority of theatres was less than half the minimum standard, incorrect focal length of lenses for the particular situation, faulty screen masking, and damaged prints. The drive-in theatres were revealed to be in a desperate plight on the score of screen brightness. In 57% of the drive-ins visited screen brightness level was less than 3 foot-lamberts, and in only 5% was the level slightly over 5 foot-lamberts! This situation is almost incredible to anybody having even a modicum of projection know-how. As for print condition, the findings revealed the following major deficiences: 1, scratched prints; 2, unrepaired damaged splices; 3, damaged leaders, leaders of improper length (footage missing), leaders not spliced to reel, and missing leaders; 4, damaged bent reels; 5, damaged film containers (especially the cardboard type recently put into service) . Sad indeed is it that the end result of all production effort, the image projected onto the screen, is only now exciting the interest of exhibitors, who for years regarded projection as a necessary evil. However that may be, IP applauds George Kerasotes, new president of TOA, for his initiative in forcing recognition of the fact that "exhibitors' only merchandise is the screen image." IP shuns any impassioned defense of the projectionist craft for the situation aforementioned (we're sure no little blame therefor accrues to them ) but it is interesting to note that on the score of film damage it was commonly agreed that the film was delivered to the theatre in a sad state, necessitating extra and fast work by projectionists to effect repairs. The culprit on this score is of course the exchange, where the cursory inspection routine has been a joke for many years. The Council report stated: "Some among management have seemed too prone to criticize projectionists. Blanket criticism does not, of course, solve anything, and in this case cannot be justified in the over-all picture. It has been the experience of the Council theatre staff that projectionists, as a craft, are conscientious, competent, and show an above-the-ordinary interest in their jobs that is praiseworthy. In one city, for example, 14 projectionists spent half a day on their own time at theatres being visited by a Council field man. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • FEBRUARY 1959