The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

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better Ppojection Vhis Department Was founded in 1910 bt{ its Mserd Sditor^ ^Jf.Mcliardson ISIineteen Mis^fTfcimes Spotted in Seven Reels LEONARD HASTEE, projectionist, Strand Tlieatre, Niagara Falls, N. Y. says : "Have read your department for several years. Will now have a fling at writing to it. "We are using 'La Boheme,' starring John Gilbert and Lillian Gish. The print we have was supposed to be from Buffalo. Instead we got one from New York and what I shall say is absolute TRUTH, every word of it. In reels 1, 2, 3 and 5 there were FOURTEEN MISFRAMES, in reels 6 and 7 there were five more. "Besides this terrible OUTRAGE the print was scratched, oily and had many, many loose splices. I attach several of the mis-frames we took out. Buffalo Seldom Errs "What is your opinion of an exchange which will send out such a thing as that, Mr. Richardson, and send it to a first run house at that? It is very seldom that we receive a print from a Buffalo exchange containing a mis-frame. We received this THING Sunday forenoon for use that afternoon. You may picture the screen of the Strand that day. "I wonder if any other projectionists have such outrages handed to them ? Would like to see the inclosed mis-frames in print and hear what they think of it." A mis-frame is a mis-frame, so it would hardly do any good to print the ones you sent; also it is difficult to get a good cut of them. These were not just a little out of frame. They were apparently just cut any old place the shears happened to meet the edge of the film. • What do I think of it? Well, first off, don't think all our New York exchanges are that punk. They are not, though it is true we have some pretty gummy ones. Wlnat I think is this : Were it practical I would say your management should have closed the show until decent prints were received and brought suit against the exchange for damages. The Legal Viewpoint I don't believe there is a court in the country which would not award substantial damages under such conditions. In the very nature of things it is the duty of the exchange which sells film service to a theatre to send them in usable condition. That is just a plain horse sense proposition. It would be a bit foolish to think otherwise; That is what the theatre pays for, and if films are received in any other than a physical condition which will enable them to be projected with safety, or to enable the projection of as good a screen image as is possible considering the rain and eliminations (jumps) found in all old films, then the film exchange has collected money for something it has not delivered. Better Projection Pays Bluebook School Question No. 553. — What is the objection to using ordinary iron wire for resistance purposes? Question No. 554 — Name the chief objections to iron grid rheostats. In other words when a lilm exchange agrees to supply film service to a theatre it automatically, and at the same time, agrees to send films in such condition that they may be used with safely, and with at least reasonably satisfactory results. That comes pretty close to being a self-evident fact, does it not, and sending films with loose splices, wide, stiff splices, mis-frames or ripped sprocket holes most emphatically is NOT sending film which may be used with reasonable satisfaction, hence the tactic agreement as between the theatre and the exchange is violated, and if a fire results or serious damage to tiic show the film exchange is the one that ought, in justice, to be responsible, and to have to pay the damage. That this is true is provpn by the fact that, as you all know, there seldom is any certainty that films will be received from an exchange in time to permit of their examination and repair before projection. That was the case in this instance. Suppose one of those loose splices had caused a film fire, and people had lieen injured or killed. Is it not a self-evident fact that the exchange, and no one else would have been wholly to blame? Certainly the projectionist would not. Certainly the theatre management would not. Ergo, the exchange is "it." J. H. Hallberg Returns to Fold ALL the old-timers in the industry will remember J. H. Hallberg, who started the supply business down on Twenty-third street, New York, way back in the early days of the industry. His "stock" then consisted of the still well-known Hallberg Economizer, a large wad of optimism and high-grade selling ability. Friend Hallberg drove through many obstacles and became, in the end, one of the largest and best supply dealers in the entire industry of that day. About three years ago Mr. Hallberg accepted the position as director of a large private research laboratory, in which position he continued until a comparatively short lime ago. After relinquishing this position, Mr. Halll)erg looked around and finally decided to re-enter the motion picture supply business as a dealer in high-grade specialties. J. H. Hallberg is a live wire, in all that the term implies. He is a corking good business man and "knows his onions" in the supply business. He has already secured what looks to me like a corking good reflector type arc lamp, a motor generator to supply it with current, and a few other specialties. Anyone who has a specialty of superior merit will be well advised to consult with Mr Hallberg to get him to handle it if he can. This department welcomes Mr. Hallberg back into the field and wishes for him all that success which is the just due of a competent, high-grade, live-wire business man. » ay