Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

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fetter Projection K»/ $hi$ Department Was founded in 1910 by its Present 6ditor~ O-Jf. Richardson Better Projection Pays Loeiv Has Progressive Projection Procedure MARCUS LOEW has adopted progressive methods for the handling of projection matters in his enormous chain of theatres, and when an organization headed by a man who has demonstrated his keen business ability as has Marcus Loew, I hold it to be unquestionably and distinctly encouraging. It is evidence that we are beginning to really go ahead in matters projectional. For many years it has been to me a matter of astonishment that such a brilliant business man as Marcus Loew has much more than amply proven himself to be, has permitted so basically important a matter as projection, upon which the final success of everything must, in the very nature of things, depend in a very large degree, to remain in the hands of and under the direction of men whose lack of projection knowledge and whose methods represented what could only rightly be termed the very last word in inefficiency. Policy Change Needed On several occasions I have made an effort to direct Mr. Loew’s attention to the need for a radical change in projection policy in his rapidly growing theatre chain, but seemed unable to make much if any impression. I venture the assertion that had Mr. Loew consented to talk the matter over with me personally some years ago when I called at his office for the purpose, I could have convinced him of the need for a change, and thus have literally saved him tens of thousands of dollars in wasted electrical power, many, many thousands of dollars in wasted equipment, and would have increased the total income at his box offices by many HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS through the years. Mr. Loew, however, doubtless, and perhaps naturally, thought that because I am a writer I am merely a theorist, forgetting or not aware of the years I served in projection rooms as a practical projectionist. There are others who think the same thing. They do not stop to think that after years of practical work I have studied just ONE thing for nearly twenty years ; that I am in constant touch with the best men in projection literally all over the world; that the questions asked me constantly compel me to keep right up to the minute, and perhaps a few jumps ahead of the minute in projection matters, BOTH theoretical and practical, and that the man who has “been through the mill” as a practical worker who later masters the technical end of things must, in the very nature of things, be pretty thoroughly effiicient. That is NOT a “brag” or self boost, but a plain statement of common sense fact. Marcus Loew is not much to be blamed, because he is the head of enormous enter Bluebook School Question No. 555 — How would you make a temporary repair if a rheostat coil or grid burned out? Question No. 556 — Draw diagram of tyo rheostats connected in series. Describe the effect of series connection. prises and cannot be expected personally to direct everything. It can’t be done with one brain, no matter how high grade that brain may be. But finally Mr. Loew did wake up to the fact that something was wrong, investigated and there was a sort of projectional explosion. When he got busy he did the right thing, and pretty thoroughly upset the whole foolish procedure of the past. The first step was to appoint a progressive, well informed motion picture Projectionist as Supervisor of Projection, and that man was Lester Isaac, who, in his address at the dinner tendered the Society of Motion Picture Engineers by the Washington, D. C., local union of motion picture projectionists last spring, said: “I am a motion picture projectionist, NOT a mere machine operator. I want you all to understand that clearly. Washington men are motion picture projectionists, not merely machine operators.” A Wise Selection Mr. Isaac has been a Loew projectionist for more than ten years, and Mr. Loew, I think, picked wisely and well when he selected him for supervisor. Morton D. O’Brien has been appointed Assistant Supervisor upon the recommendation of Supervisor Isaac, who believed Mr. O’Brien’s experience and ability fitted him for the position. Mr. O’Brien is, in addition to his other qualifications, a competent draughtsman, possessed of ability to put his ideas on paper, and into practical operation thereafter. Both men are members of the Motion (Continued on page 79) To All My Friends IT is utterly out of the question that, much as I would like to, I answer all the hundreds upon hundreds of Christmas cards. I want to thank you every one for your kindly remembrance and to tell you that they made my Christmas very happy. To those who sent remembrances other than cards, I want to assure you that I have enough handkerchiefs to keep a very clean nose and avoid the laundry for a good while to come ; also the good Lord knows my neck will be warm if mufflers will do it. “Well, anyhow, friends I thank you sincerely. It is not the gift or the card. It is the fact that you thought enough of the “Old Man” to send them. Wants School That Teaches “Operating” A MAN in a small city in Massachusetts asks : -“Have had a little ex perience in motion picture operating. Would like to learn the business fully. Would you give me what information I would need, or are there schools in New York City where they teach operating?” That letter is pretty nearly a crime on nomenclature. “Motion picture operating” might mean most anything from taking the picture up to projection. Of course he really means motion picture projection. Why not say it then? Once again I say, as I have often said before, that there is only one right way to learn projection, and that is by means of serving a real apprenticeship, meanwhile studying the Bluebook, the projection department and such other books and publications as you may find of value. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, if you want to do the job right. A Stuffing Process There are schools, yes; and in New York City, too, BUT all of them I have knowledge of merely put you through a sort of stuffing process, teaching you the answers to questions they think you will be asked at examination. Some of them guarantee you to get a license, and to supply you with a job, yes. You will be “stuffed” sufficiently to pass the examination if you stick long enough, and don’t get discouraged when you are refused, perhaps time after time, with months between refusals. If 3rou get a license they will also actually get you a job, but they will NOT guarantee that you won’t get fired within an hour. Get that last clearly ! Stick and Study If you really want to learn, and learn RIGHT, get you a job as reel boy, apprentice, or anything else which will permit of you being a helper to a projectionist, and then STICK AND STUDY. You would not expect to become a locomotive engineer, a master painter, a plumber or a carpenter in a month or two, would you? Work and study hard for at least a year before you even think of taking a position as projectionist. Not what you want to hear, but what you ought to hear just the same. We already have entirely too many half-baked, almost totally incompetent machine operators. Projectionists are needed, and I know of but one method of producing them and it takes time, hard work and study. HAVE YOU WRITTEN MOVING PICTURE WORLD FOR THE NEW HANDBOOK OF PROJECTION?