The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

February 7, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 891 and have knowledge of drawing and sketching. Am now employed in one of the largest theatres in , but would like to make a change. Could you inform me where I could reach some company or give me the address of some projectionists' union in the United States? Can supply references. Splicer Closed. I'm supposed to be the projectionist. I don't call myself an "operator," because I am willing, ready and anxious to learn. The man who is content to be classed as the mere operator of a machine has little ambition to advance. Am I right? (You are.— Ed.) House Is Forty By Fifty. Our little house is forty feet wide by fifty long. Have a Simplex, which has worked perfectly ever since we purchased it. Am using .75-inch carbons, with 60 amperes at arc — A C, of course. Is this right? (Think you will do better with % inch. Get the Special A C White Light or the Alterno carbons. Both made for A C and both good. — Ed.) Find that I get better results witli jack-knife set. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. Well, friend Votolato, you will get a higher c p with the jack-knife set, but if you get steady, even illumination you certainly are a stem-winding wonderthat is if you use the full jack-knife. On Personal Application Only The editor receives many communications similar to the following, which comes from Nova Scotia. Once and for all let it be clearly understood that it is a waste of energy to go about things in that way. This friend asks for addlresses of companies or unions. ^ r i ^ I could supply them. But of what avail? He would write and, in all human probability receive no answer. If any one did answer it would be to tell him what he might have known, that positions may only be had on personal application. In this case the only thing to do is come on over here and go after a job in the same way every one else does. The union will not help you. Nova Scotia, unless it is actually in need of men to fill positions, which is not very often the case. Must Do as Others Do. You do exactly what every one else does, viz: get a position first, by your own efforts, after which you may see about joining the union, with the proviso that you are not eligible to membership until you h.n.ve resided within the jurisdiction of the union for six months. Would be glad to help every deserving brother, but — . The correspondent writes : Would like to Introduce myself to the moving picture companies. Have had wide experience in projection, using all projectors (which would mean the Power's, Simplex, Balrd, Master Machine, Edison and Motlograph In this country. — Ed.), An Excellent FUm Splicer The General Machine Company, New York City, has placed in our hands for examination and practical test a film splicer which seems admirably adapted to use in projection rooms of theatres. The little device, which we have tested and had tested by others, is extremely simple and, when used properly, makes a perfect splice, with perfect joint and perfect alignment of the sprocket holes and film sides. Great damage is done by ill-made splices, the product of hand work in projection rooms. It is possible, but extremely difficuu, to make a splice by hand and get perfect alignment of film sides and sprocket holes and secure a perfect weld clear across the splice. It is, in fact, seldom done. By means Splicer Open. of this splicer all these things are quite possible, and that, too, without sacrifice of speed. But, best of all, the price is low. This places it well within the reach of all theatres and I strongly advise its purchase and use. From Missouri From the Linwood Theatre, Tarkio, Mo., comes the following letter, which its writer apparently forgot to sign : In response to your invitation to attend an experience meeting on the Boylan Even Tension Reel, we have been using same for six months and find them even more than satisfactory. On one machine we locked the tension device tight; on the other we allowed it to remain the same as for use with ordinary reel. They work equally well both ways. The tension at one time became too strong. This we rectified by putting just one drop of oil on the tension spindle. From our experience, we should say that every exhibitor should use the Boylan unless he has already found some other infallible take-up. House ISqnipment. You might be interested in the equipment of our house, especially in consideration of the fact that Tarkio is a town of but two thousand people. But mighty good people are they — appreciative and willing to pay the bill. On a board over the walk we mount banners made of paper. A week's supply is put up at one time. Each night, the outer one is torn oft, leaving those for the next program on display. We use two large window displays, painted on compo board. On these we advertise the larger programs for a week in advance. They are lighted with globes concealed behind the dater strips. An ample lobby lies directly behind the outer doors. Therein we have more space for the pushing of coming attractions; and, being enclosed, patrons linger there to sweeten their anticipations of feasts to come. To make the lobby yet more inviting, we use amber globes in the cold seasons as being suggestive of warmth. In the summer we flood the lobby with green light to suggest the opposite. Beside the advertising layout at the house, we have placed in the prominent parts of the town two twenty-four sheets, two three sheets, one six sheet and numerous one sheet boards, each so situated that they are lighted by street lights and consequently work as long as people are out of bed. We also have quarter sheet frames with removable backs in the hotel lobby, at all soda fountains and barber shops. Projection Room Outfit. That our projection room would meet with your approval I have no doubt. It is eight by twelve feet. Three twelve by sixteen inch observation ports, all glassed. Projection ports are four Inches in diameter. Forced ventilation with a sixteen inch exhaust fan. Electric rewind geared to eight minutes to a two thousand foot reel. Baird machines, one a shaft ratchet, drive; the other belt. (Why did they ever adopt the belt drive when they had so reliable a drive as the shaft?) A Tallberg generator supplies the arc current, and complete control board is placed directly in front of the two machines and is kept lighted. Main switch board contains forty switches ranging from 10 to 200 amperes. All lighting systems on dimmers — there is not a light in the auditoriuh that comes on or goes off with a bang. And FinaUy. And finally, one of the best things we have in the house. A buzzer system with a button at the organ, a button in the office, one at the doorman's position and one for the ticket seller — and a person on duty near every button who can see the screen at all times. One buzz means: "Something wrong with the picture — look at the screen and hurry up about it." We never have poor light long; we never have misframes long; we never have a sleepy projectionist long, for there are five people to wake him up Splicer, Straight Edge Down