The motion picture projectionist (Nov 1931-Jan 1933)

November, 1931 Motion Picture Projectionist 23 The S. M. P. E. Fall Meeting OBSERVING at the same time its 31st convention and the fifteenth anniversary of its establishment, the Society of Motion Picture Engineers completed on October eighth last a four day symposium dedicated to the advancement of motion picture science. The meeting, which was held at the New Ocean House, Swampscott, Mass., numbered some one hundred and fifty members, and was marked by spirit of mutual helpfulness and a desire to be of genuine service to the industry at large. New officers were elected for the coming year, and at a banquet held in the evening of October 7th in the main dining hall of the hotel, high praise was bestowed upon the pioneers of the industry. In an effort to complete the reading of the papers within scheduled time, practically every moment of the four days devoted to the meeting were given to the business of the society. Notable among the papers read at the convention were: "Motion Picture in Relief" delivered by Dr. Herbert E. Ives of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, "Development of the Light Valve" by T. E. Shea of the same company, "Notes on Vitrolac Motion Picture Records" by F. C. Barton, RCA Victor Company, and the reports, discussion and recommendations of the various committees of the society. At the banquet on the evening of October 7th, tribute was paid to Thomas A. Edison, Frederick Ives, Louis Lumiere, Charles Francis Jenkins, George Eastman, Jean Acme Leroy and Eugene A. Lauste as torchbearers of motion picture science. New Officers Elected Officials elected to guide the destinies of the society through the coming year are: President, Alfred E. Goldsmith, vice-president and general engineer of the Radio Corporation. Vice-President, E. I. Sponable. Secretary, J. H. Kurlander, commercial /. J. Crabtree, Past President of the S. M. P. E. engineer of the Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company. Treasurer, H. T. Cowlic, Eastman Kodak Company. The Board of Governors was attained by L. C. Porter, illumination engineer, General Electric Company, and 0. M. Glunt, research engineer, Bell Laboratories. The addresses of the retiring president, Mr. E. I. Crabtree, and of the newly-elected president, Dr. Goldsmith, which were delivered in the course of the society banquet, stressing as they do the present accomplishments and the future outlook of motion picture science, are reported verbatim for the benefit of our readers. Mr. Crabtree's Address "On a similar occasion as this two years ago, in response to a question as to how it felt to be a presidentelect, I said that it seemed as though I had ridden down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and I suddenly found that I had to walk back again. The journey, however, has been a very pleasant one and not as difficult as I had imagined, thanks to the loyal help of the members of the Board of Governors, the various committees, and the members at large. "But there is hard work ahead for our Society. The present problem of the industry is not that there is any immediate need for new tools but that the industry should better know how to use the tools which it now has at its disposal. "One of the most striking facts which a visitor from the east to Hollywood observes is that the quality of sound reproduction in the screening rooms of the studios is better than that which exists in the majority of theatres throughout the country. The inferences from this are two-fold, namely that the present size of the sound track is adequate for the industry's immediate needs and that sound reproduction in the theatres has not kept pace with recording in the studios. This is due to several causes including deficiencies in the maintenance of equipment, imperfect release prints, and imperfect projection. Recommends Attention to Details "Although a wider sound track, and especially sound tracks on a separate film, will give some improvement in sound quality, their general adoption will be impracticable for some considerable time to come. It, therefore, behooves the industry to pay the greatest attention to details so as to get the utmost from the sound track which is at present available. It is possible to get better sound by means of higher quality reproducing equipment such as the recording machines available for studio work but much improvement could be obtained by meticulous attention to details with present equipment. "Demonstrations using hill and dale cellulose acetate disc records and improved reproducing equipment in Newly elected officers of the S. M. P. E. Reading from left to right: Dr. A. N. Goldsmith, president; E. I. Sponable, vice-president; H. T. Cowling, treasurer, and J. H. Kurlander, secretary