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Decomposition gases are capable of escaping from a conventional film can. They are not that tight-fitting. So, they will not build up any pressure in there to start to blow the tops off, or anything of that nature. But if we punch a hole in them, now those gases may come out and, in falling, because they would be heavier than air, would then enter these holes in the other cans, and speed up further decomposition.
Mr. Preyer. So, it is a case of a rotten apple poisoning the rest of the apples in the barrel.
Would it be fair to say that there is some disagreement among experts on that point ?
Mr. Degenkolb. Yes, sir.
Mr. Preter. You mentioned the Holywood film vaults. Were those safety films, or were any nitrate films in tlie vaults ?
Mr. Degenkolb. No, sir. We do not permit nitrate and safety film to be mixed. We have millions of feet. Technicolor has something over 30 vaults in one location, all filled with nitrate. Each of the studios has nitrate film.
There is supposed to be an unwritten law that any time nitrate film comes out of a vault it will not go back in — it will be printed onto safety film.
When I brought this up at a safety committee meeting last year, I found that it is not being done universally, but that was a policy that was supposed to be followed. Mr. Preyer. So, those are nitrate films located in populated areas? Mr. Degenkolb. Yes, sir. Mr. Preyer. Thank you. Mr. Butler?
Mr. Butler. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do appreciate the witness' testimony. What is the safety committee to which you just referred ? Mr. Degenkolb. That is the Motion Picture and Television Producers Safety Committee representative of the entire motion picture industry.
Mr. Butler. And it is your effort to get the best judgment as to appropirate safety procedures, and this is a compilation of your information and the industry-wide safety program ? Mr. Degenkolb. Yes, sir.
Mr. Butler. Are the Library of Congress and the National Archives a part of that ?
Mr. Degenkolb. No, they are not.
Mr. Butler. Do you try to keep them posted on your judgments, or do you have any liaison with them at all ?
Mr. Degenkolb. I left the Motion Picture Association last year. But up until that time, I might get a call from somebody in Washington on tlie average of once or twice a year, asking a question about film handling or something to do with the motion picture industry.
Mr. Bun^ER. But on a regular basis — there is no regular dissemination of your information ? Mr. Degenkolb. No, sir.
Mr. Butler. Turning to your statement on the Safety Committee, you said it was the practice, whenever you remove nitrate film, to immediately transfer it to safety film.