Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

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94 Motion P i c t u r c N e w s October 4 , 1930 Projection, Screens and Theatre Lighting Discussed by Engineers Installation of Wide-Measure Screens Observed by Progress Committee of Society of M. P. Engineers SCIENCE continuously points the way to new standards in the field of exhibition. New methods of projection, improvement in threatre designing and lighting, problems offered by wide film and the resultant changeover to wider screens, all are topics of vital importance to every theatre operator. In this article, the second and final installment, the Progress Committee of the Society of M. P. Engineers reports developments affecting technical aspects in the theatre field. The report lists the source material from which the facts were gleaned, thereby opening the door to additional information by reference to the original. Included in the authorities mentioned there is frequent reference to Motion Picture News and The Showman. The report follows : Dahlgreen203 has given data on a German projector of the suitcase type as "Kinobox C." Light is reflected from a mirror set at an angle of 45 degrees to the film plane and the rotating shutter is positioned between the light source and the film. Descriptions have also been published of two other portable projectors of German manufacture, the "Grawor" and the "Matador."-04 A window display projector uses 35 mm. film and projects pictures 9 inches by 12 inches, which remain 7 to 12 seconds on the screen. 205 The Kohm advertising projector uses a loop of 16 mm. film, 120 meters long.206 In the "Speico" automatic projector, the lamp house, motor drive, gate, and lens system are mounted on a horizontal box holding the film which feeds from the center and rewinds from the outside of the roll. The film edges rest on a number of threaded metal cylinders arranged radially around the center of the magazine. One of these cylinders is connected to each of the extremities of a vertical drum for guiding the film from its entrance to its exit from the case and to keep a constant length of film outside of it. Upper and lower sprockets, ventilation of the film, and the lantern, and a humidifying device are features of this projector.207 A few patents have been issued concerned with improvements in projector design, methods of utilizing an endless strip of film, etc. 208 Stereoscopic Projection Barth200 prepared a review of the systems for the production of stereoscopic motion pictures. A device for which claims of relief effects were made was demonstrated in Hollywood in November.210 A standard camera and regular film stock were used. Another apparatus was demonstrated also on the Coast which was paterted in 1915 but was perfected mechanically only recently. Bi-lensed optical systems are avoided and individual viewing frames are said to be unnecessary. Alternate frames are photographed from laterally varying positions (angles), the optical center of the lens representing the pivotal point. A train of motor-driven gears and cams are built into the tripod head.211 Only two patents were noted dealing with devices for obtaining relief effects. Non-intermittent Projection In one type of continuous projector supplied by an English firm, a ring of lenses rotates in the place usually occupied by the rotary shutter. The speed of rotation of each lens corresponds to the rate of travel of the film in the gate in such a way that each lens is maintained central with its appropriate film picture which is thus projected stationary on the screen.213 Another non-intermittent type of projector, also manufactured in England, was designed so that the film passes upward through the gate which accommodates two picture frames. Moving parallel with the film and at equal speed is a continuous band of 14 lenses arranged in a channel shaped like the letter "D" the flat side of which is nearest the gate. Two images, or one complete image with parts of two others, are available which, by means of a master lens and an ordinary projector lens, are superimposed on the screen.214 A continuous projector designed by a Frenchman, M. R. Hue, has several novel aspects to recommend its consideration. Film is passed on a curved track in the form of a part cylinder before a light aperture somewhat higher than that of a single frame. An image is projected onto a mirror in the center of the cylinder and set at an angle of 45 degrees to the light path. The mirror turns at a speed one-half that of the moving film through a slight arc and then returns to the original position while a shutter cuts off the light momentarily. A stationary image is projected on a screen placed at right angles to the original light source. Means are provided for framing a single picture on the screen. A projector with continuous movement and using unperforated film on Ozaphane stock has been demonstrated in Paris.215 Screens Screens. — Larger screens are generally being installed for standard projection, the size most used in the larger houses on the Coast being 18 feet by 24 feet. Certain producers are planning installation of large screens for the showing of wide films. A mechanical device operated from the projection booth permits masking the screen to any size needed in three seconds.217 A sound screen is constructed entirely of asbestos. 21s Another sound screen is made with a glass beaded surface.210 The screen is fire-proof, may be washed, and rolled up. A screen used by the Film Guild Cinema is stated to be made up with laminated gold and other metals as well as pigments. Arc amperage is said to be lowered 50 per cent by its use.220 Some of the ideas patented relating to projection screens are the following: a screen surface comprising agglomerated microscopic spheroidal particles of a considerable range in size ; screens having mica dust or finely ground quartz on their display surface, a daylight screen which includes the use of a rayon screen before the regular screen, the former stopping the light falling angularly on the screen ; a screen comprising a thin sheet of water dropped through space from a suitable container, etc. Theatre Illumination. — Paints which fluoresce strongly under ultra-violet radiation have been used to paint costumes and scenery for the production of startling effects.222 Types of batten spotlights available in Great Britain for stage illumination have been described.223 Electrically interlocked motors form the connecting link between the control board and the grouped pre-set modulators in different theatre stage lighting circuits.224 A new stage and theatre lighting system known as Colorama has been developed by the General Electric Company. It consists of a scheme of cones and flutes with lamps and color media so arranged as to give changing and overlapping color and shadow effects. Glass filters are used instead of gelatin.225 Considerable attention has been given the theatre acoustics problem during the year of 1929. One firm has made an acoustical analysis of over 1500 theatres and made recommendations for treatment of the auditoriums. A lowering of the accepted optimum reverberation time as a function of volume was reported.226 Theatres with square auditoriums were found in general to have better acoustic properties than long narrow theatres. Kellogg227 stated that the trend will be toward very "dead" theatres in the future with the recording and reproduction arranged to adjust such variables as reverberation and loudness. According to Friend.228 seats should be made of materials which absorb nearly as much sound as a person. Hair felt and other soft materials which reduce the reverberation have a high selective absorption for frequencies above 1000 and a masking of the audibility of high tones results.229 Eyring230 has shown that the common method of calculating reverberation times {Continued on page 106)