Projection engineering (Jan 1932-Mar 1933)

APRIL, 1932 Sound picture ectures expansion BURTON HOLMES LECTURES, Inc., the internationally known motion picture lecture bureau and the foremost producer of the socalled travelogue type of screen subjects in the world, has contracted for the installation of RCA Victor Photophone recording equipment, according to an announcement made by E. A. Nicholas, vice-president and general sales manager of the RCA Victor Company at Camden, N. J. Under the provisions of the contract entered into between the two companies, Burton Holmes Lectures, Inc., becomes an RCA Victor Company licensee and hereafter will record its sound motion picture product by the Photophone system. For many years the Burton Holmes silent product was released through Paramount. At present and until next September, the current releases of twelve sound picture programmes are distributed by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Future releases will be determined prior to the expiration of the existing contract. In addition to maintaining a complete recording studio and laboratories for the production of standard size 35 millimeter sound motion pictures at its headquarters in Chicago, Burton Holmes Lectures, Inc. immediately will begin the production of 16 millimeter sound pictures for non-theatrical exhibition through the medium of the recently introduced RCA Victor Photophone portable sound-on-film reproducing equipment. Having upwards of 7,000,000 feet of standard size 35 millimeter negative in its vaults, among which are more than 2,000,000 feet that have never been publicly distributed, a vast library of subjects of inestimable value to schools, churches and other non-theatrical institutions is made available. From both the historical and geographical point of view, the Burton Holmes library is said to be the most complete collection of its kind in the world. Thousands of feet of exclusive material have been filmed during the past year and a large staff of cameramen, located in various parts of the world, are constantly shipping new subjects to the Chicago studios. "We are exceedingly well pleased over our new affiliation with the RCA Victor Company," said Hilles V. Mont Page 17 gomery, of Burton Holmes, Lectures, Inc. "With the introduction of the new RCA Victor Photophone 16 millimeter sound on film portable reproducing equipment, the reproduction of hundreds of subjects of particular interest to schools, churches and many other nontheatrical institutions is made immediately possible. The field for the distribution of such subjects is almost boundless, and our facilities, combined with those of the RCA Victor Company, will soon bring about the production of hundreds of subjects and make them available for early distribution. We have more geographical negatives than any other organization in the world, and when it comes to subjects of historical importance, we probably can go further back than any motion picture producing company. We can cover practically every event of outstanding significance as far back as the days when the late Czar of Russia's reign was brought to its sudden end. One of the principal activities upon which we will embark without delay will be the reduction of many existing 35 millimeter subjects to 16 millimeter with accompanying sound. Before the end of the current year a large and impressive library will have been produced." W. A. Graham, assistant manager, in charge of recording operations of the Photophone Division of the RCA Victor Company, conducted the negotiations with Burton Holmes Lectures, Inc. ROXY TO ADDRESS S. M. P. E. SPRING MEETING S. L. Rothafel ("Roxy") has accepted an invitation to address the spring meeting of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers to be held in Washington, D. C, May 9 to 12, according to O. M. Glunt, chairman of the papers committee. Mr. Rothafel will talk on "The Ideal Theatre" and is expected to describe some of the outstanding features to be incorporated in the theatres of Radio City. It is expected that this paper will be one of the outstanding features of the spring meeting. ▲ SIDNEY R. KENT ELECTED VICEPRESIDENT OF FOX FILM DIRECTORS of the Fox Film Corporation, on March 22, elected Sidney R. Kent as executive vice-president in charge of operations, and Leonard A. Woolams as vice-president. Edward R. Tinker, president, in making the announcement said: "I have realized since assuming the duties of my office that what Fox Film Corporation most needed was a general executive of outstanding experience in the motion picture industry. For some time I have been hoping Mr. Kent would be available. I consider it most fortunate for the corporation that at last a mutually satisfactory arrangement has been made whereby Mr. Kent takes up his duties beginning April 4. "The last two years have been trying times for all business. This industry has learned that it has no immunity from those influences which swing the tide of business. It is beginning to apply to its affairs those rules of sound management, without which no industry ever prospered long. It is developing a consciousness of its responsibilities to the public and to its stockholders. Mr. Kent's record is in complete accord with this philosophy of business management." A BUREAU OF STANDARDS TO BE HOST TO S.M.P.E. AT WASH'GTON THE Bureau of Standards will play host to the members of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, Tuesday evening, May 10, during the spring meeting of the society in Washington, D. C. At this meeting, Dr. L. J. Briggs, acting director of the bureau, will describe work carried on by the bureau of interest to the motion picture industry. Dr. I. G. Gardner will deliver a demonstration and talk on optical phenomena. A WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY REPORTS Net profit of Western Electric, including all activities of the company, for the year ended Dec. 31, 1931, amounted to $10,816,387. Total sales were $228,956,000, against $361,478,000 in 1930, and net profit rate on sales was 4 per cent against 2.4 per cent in 1930. A TRI-ERGON PATENT SUIT NOT DUE TO COME UP BEFORE FALL THE suits which William Fox, through Tri-Ergon, has brought against Erpi and others with respect to infringement of patents on sound reproduction apparatus, are not expected to reach the trial stage until next fall, at the earliest, according to the belief of the Erpi people. The pressing of the suits, however, depends entirely upon the plaintiffs in the actions.