The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

ettep ppojection ^his Department Was founded in. 1910 bi{ its Sreseni 6ditor'* Better Projection Pays Orders 36 Handbooks For Canadian Field HM. THOMAS, general manager. Western Division Managers of * Famous Plaj'ers Canadian Corporation, invited V. Armand, Canadian Theatre Supply Company, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, to attend the recent convention of the said Western Division Managers as Supervisor of Projection of his district. Mr. Armand addressed the convention, his subject being co-operation between managers and projectionists, the value of highgrade, efficient projection. He says: "My address was right along the lines which have been pretty nearly your gospel — a gospel you have preached to us for many years. I concluded the address by suggesting that Richardson's Handbook be in the hands of the theatre manager as well as in the hands of all projectionists. Mr. Thomas has given his consent to the distribution of your books to western managers. Just Like That! "While in New York Gty recently I was, much to my regret, unable to meet you as you were, our mutual friend Herbert Griffin informed me, out of the city just then. I am informed that there will presently be available a new edition of the Bluebook — your handbook — and you may place my order for three dozen (36) of them, forwarding them as soon as possible." Mr. Armand's letter was a bit long, so I changed his wording, but not, in any particular, his exact tneaning. I am sorry indeed to have missed him, but hope next time he's in Gotham I may be able to have a chat with him. Mr. Thomas has acted wisely, and for the best interests of Canadian Famous Players Corporation. Theatre managers ought by all means to have a Blucl)oo'<. if only to enable them to check up on the work of their projectionist. If he needs no checking, he cannot and will not object. If he does need checking up — vVell then he ought to be checked up, and that's that. Projection and Receipts The theatre manager is directly responsible for the box ofiice income. I nless that makes good he may figure he won't either. The projection has niucli to do with (a) box office receipts, which are directly and largely affected by its excellence or lack of it, and (b) with "overhead" expense, since a very large amount of electric power and expensive machinery may be wasted through inefficient, unintelligent work by the projectionist. Certainly the theatre manager ought to be able to check up at least reasonably well on such things. That is just plain common sense. I told you in my announcement of the new book that the first 500, which I agreed to autograph upon request, would not last long. There go 36 of the 500 at one chp. Bluebook School And now here is another "practical" question, suggested by the editor himself. Recently in conversation with Otto Kafka, president of the American Projection Society, he advised me that the A. P. A. rooms were all cluttered up these days, with a (lock of pencils and much argument in the air. He tells me the secreteiry has to keep his desk double-locked to keep members from swiping all the available paper on which to make drawings which don't convince. And here is what it is all about: Question No. 551 — How many times do light rays cross between the light source and the screen? This question I give you just as it was stated to me by President Kafka. You may do your own commenting upon the form of the question itself, as well as try to answer it. The results from both ought to be interesting. I shall do my commenting at the time the answers are published. Question No. 552 — Why should rheostats, as a whole, be insulated from earth? Transverters Add To Installations THAT the Hertner Transverter gives satisfactory service is evidenced by the number that are being installed. Among those theatres recently equipped with them are the following, and it is only a partial list of recent installations too, mark you welL The Transverter is a high-grade machine which gives satisfaction. This is not press agent stuff, but your editor and friend talking: Read's Long Branch Theatre, Long Branch, New Jersey; Lewllyn Theatre, West Orange, N. J.; New Brook Theatre, Bound Brook, N. J. ; Capital Theatre, Dunkirk, New York; Interocean Forwarding Co., New M P W— McGuire— Dec 13 York City, N. Y. ; Capital Theatre, Montreal, Que., Canada; Read's Kingston Theatre. Kingston, N. Y. ; L.\ ric Theatre, Asbury Park,. N. J.; Chrisedge Enterprises, New York City, N. Y. ; New Atlantic Theatre, East Rockaway, L. L ; Regent Theatre. Pittsburgh, Pa.; Broadway Theatre, WoodclifT, N. J.; Capitol Theatre, Trenton, N. J. ; Capitol Theatre, Jersey City, N. J. ; New Capitol Theatre, Lowell, Mass. ; Jerome Theatre, Bronx, New York; Broadway Theatre, Long Branch, N. J. ; Cameo Theatre, Jersey City, N. J. ; Shea Kensington Theatre, Buffalo, N. Y. ; Belsize Theatre. Toronto. Ont., Canada ; Boston Road Theatre, Bronx, New York; Daly Theatre, Bronx, New York. What Suggestions For Damaged Screen? HB. FRANK, Macomb, 111., is having trouble which he describes as fol* lows : "Have, or had, a Gardner Gold Fibre screen. Was using vaudeville and an actor got against it, leaving a big spot. 1 tried to remove it but merely succeeded in ruining the screen surface. Have tried three or four coats on surface but cannot get bright marks and brush marks off. In other words, cannot get a smooth surface. Can you advise me as to what to mix and how to mix it ? ".-^m using Mazda at a 100-foot projection distance and got a wonderful picture until this happened. Of course I can send it in, but that involves lots of work taking it down. Tried spraying aluminum on with an air brush; then rubbing it on a tacky varnish surface. "And now here is the best receipt for keeping film soft that I have found in 22 years' experience. To one pint of glycerine add three ounces of Oil of Eucalyptus. Put on blotters and place blotter in both top and bottom of film box. In twelve hours it will soften the hardest film you ever saw. If exchange* would place this in their film boxes once a week it would save them a great deal of money in the course of a year. I have tried it out for eight months. It works perfectly." Test and Report That last is recommended to the attention of you all. I see no reason why it should work especially well, but that does not prove that it does not. Try it out and let us know your findings. It it is. as friend Frank says, and there is no kick-back to it, then it should be very valuable indeed. As to the screen, I'm indeed sorry but can't advise you as to any practical method for re-surfacing your screen with any metallic substance, other than white lead paint, while it is in position. So far as I know it cannot be successfully done. The troulilc with the air brush method is the impossibility of spraying an absolutely even coating. The trouble with friction application is that some spots or streaks get themselves more or less polished, in which condition they are not good screen surfaces and, moreover, do not "fit" with surrounding unpolished surfaces. There is the possibility that by laying the screen flat, applying a very even coating of size, letting it set to the tacky stage and then sifting on a heavy coating of powdered aluminum, permitting it to lay until the size is dry and then just dumping the aluminum off without any rubbing at all, except dusting off the surplus with a soft brush, you might get fair resits. I do not guarantee it, however. Making a metalized surface is a job for trained experts. (Continued on next page)