Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1939)

Some Theatre Cleaning Don'ts • One way of knowing what to do is of course to know what not to do. And these suggestions are based on direct observation of practices By S. BRAVERMAN PROPER CLEANING of the theatre is something of an art. There are many different surfaces, requiring different methods. A surface improperly cleaned may be damaged, leading to needless expense for renovation. Imperfect cleaning may give the theatre a dingy, unattractive appearance ; it can also result in soiling the clothes of patrons, and a demand for compensation. Inefficient cleaning may waste the porter's time and involve unnecessary expense for cleaning materials. The methods used should not he left to the decision of porters. Advice about cleaning the theatre may be either positive or negative ; that is, counsel as to what should be done, or warning as to methods that are dangerous or otherwise undesirable. The current discussion will be confined to a number of conspicuous don'ts. First of all, don't neglect the outside of the theatre in the hope that rain will keep it clean. Rain leaves a deposit of dirt, as can be seen on any window or windshield. Dirt wastes illumination. It dulls the brilliant appearance of the marquee, attraction boards and so on. It Leads to Deterioration Strange as it may seem, even stainless steel will rust if sufficiently neglected. Both stainless steel and chromium acquire white coats of corrosion that give them a dull appearance. They should be oiled or waxed occasionally. When used as borders of attraction frames, they should be waxed weekly. Of course, lamps used for outdoor illumination need occasional washing, to preserve the full brilliance of their light, quite as much as the lamps which are used indoors. Don't neglect roofs, whether of the theatre or of the marquee. Rubbish leads to rusting. Rags that may have been thrown away on a roof, dead leaves, and similar trash, clog drains and lead to more or less leakage, rusting and subsequent expensive repairs. Neglect of snow is a point especially timely at this season of the year. There are chemical compounds that can be scattered when a storm starts, which will melt the snow and avoid the necessity of shoveling it. In some locations they should be used on roofs as well as on the sidewalk. Where it is necessary to pile snow, a pusher is usually more efficient than a shovel. A steel pusher lasts longer than one made of galvanized material. Snow, incidentally, should not all be piled at the curb to make room for sidewalk patronage. A large, healthy gap should be left at the curb also, to admit patrons who come by car. Melting the snow as it falls, by use of a suitable compound, avoids the need for any kind of piling. The compound also prevents formation of ice, which may lead to slipping and subsequent claims that the theatre has neglected the safety of its sidewalk. Interior Floors Interior floors present not one problem, but many. Don't use the same type broom on all floor surfaces. A broom stiff enough to do an efficient job on concrete is too stiff for terrazzo and will eventually harm it. There are brushes for mats which are much superior to mops. Rubber and linoleum, further, should be washed only with neutral soap. An alkaline soap softens them, making them more subject to wear. In the case of rubber tile, alkaline soap hardens the material and produces a tendency to crack. Scattering of green sweeping compound prevents raising of dust which, if not prevented, complicates the problem of cleaning other surfaces ; omission of the compound is therefore not an economy, but simply an avoidance of expense at one point which produces a greater cost in connection with some other operation. Carpets should never be washed with soap and water. Even a neutral soap is sufficiently caustic to weaken the fibers to some extent, especially if it remains in contact with them for a considerable period of time. And since it is very difficult to rinse out soapsuds completely, prolonged exposure of the carpet to the caustic is to be expected. Moreover, since the soapy mate rial is slow-drying, the jute backing is kept wet for a lengthy period, which tends to soften it. Materials that form "soapless lather" should be used for carpets. They clean effectively and dry completely in less than an hour. Toilet Rooms Dirt in a toilet room is more readily visible than anywhere else in the theatre. It is more objectionable. It is most likely to be a source of odor. Don't believe that the washroom has been thoroughly cleaned because it is clean to the eye. If there is odor, the place has not been thoroughly cleaned ; the porter has neglected to go beyond eye-level to the traps and plumbing. Don't believe that all strong-smelling substances sold for toilet room use are disinfectants. Many of them merely hide one odor with another and have no germ-killing power at all. There are odor-destroying chemicals available that chemically kill off the source of the odor and, incidentally, any germs that may be associated with it. Some of them are safe to use on plumbing. However, some odor-combatting compounds, and cleaning compounds, are acid enough to corrode the plumbing over a period of time, involving needless repairs which may prove quite costly. Don't neglect receptacles for sanitary napkins ; they are an ultimate economy. And don't buy cheap liquid soap. Any supplier can meet competition by making liquid soap as cheap as the customer likes; he merely dilutes it with more water. There is no reason to pay for shipment of water at all. Buy the concentrate and dilute it yourself. Cleaning Rags Rags are used for cleaning many parts of the theatre, and some managers think it is economical to buy the cheapest. Don't! Just as a single broom is not suited to different types of surface, neither is a single rag. The rag that is right for wiping polish or oil is not the rag to use on glass. It is cheaper in the long run to use the right rags, and instead of throwing them away, accumulate a small quantity and send them to the wet-wash laundry. The cost is insignificant ; the same rags can be used many times, and the theatre will have the right rag for every purpose. In the course of a few months you will pay less than for the very cheap, unlaunderable kind of rag. MR. BRAVERMAN, now a specialist in cleaning materials for businesses serving the public, was formerly a snowman, both as an independent theatre operator and as a circuit manager. He will be a frequent contributor to Better Theatres' columns on cleaning and sanitation, beginning with the January issue. BETTER THEATRES: December 9, 1939 9