Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 25 {l-rom lliuyclopcdia of Exploitatioii) □ How about BOOTH AND PROJECTION equipment? □ Can the qualitj of SOUND be improved? □ Is the house checked for proper soimd distribution ? □ Is sound too loud? □ Is it too low? □ Are horn units checked daily? □ Check projection for poor definition, □ unsteady projection, □ flicker, □ poor hght, □ out of frame, □ out of focus, □ poor masking, □ bad change-overs, □ dirty apertures. Q Does stage apron reflect light? □ How about the SCREEN . . . is it dirty? □ Shaky? □ Bulging? □ Is it properh masked? □ Are projection and movietone lenses cleaned daily? □ Reflectors, too, should be cleaned daily, and brushed several times each day with cheese cloth. O Is proper light and economy obtained from carbons? □ Carbon economy can be acquired through proper adjustment of the arc crater and by keeping the generator commutator properly cleaned and brushes correctly adjusted. □ Short carbons can be saved for short reels and screenings (rate of carbon burn per minute should be determined). □ Sound amplifying equipment should be kept free of all dirt; and make and break contacts, including tube prongs and contacts, should be thoroughly cleaned each week with nonabrasive material (rough brown paper can be used). □ Tubes must be kept in first class condition to assure sound transmission without interruption. □ Spare parts and replacements sh.ould include such items as tubes, horn units, generator brushes, motor brushes, main driving gear for projectors, spare reflectors for lamps, spare intermitlents and film sprockets. □ How about the carbon supply? □ Is there an emergency supply held in reserve? □ Is the booth properly equipped with FIRE EXTINGUISHERS and SAFETY DEVICES? □ Do the FIRE SHUTTERS work okay? □ Can they be used by hand, and are they properly fused? O How long since the fire extinguishers were refilled? They should be refilled annually, at least. □ Are there tags on the extinguishers showing the dates when the}^ were refilled? □ Equipment should include a two-gallon soda extinguisher and two Pyrenes. (Use of Pyrenes in event of small blaze is preferable since less damage will be done machinery.) O Separate fireproof containers should be provided for film, waste film and waste materials and for cleaning equipment □ Is the EXHAUST FAN IN THE BOOTH working? •□ Can noise from booth be heard in the house? ,□ Playing stage shows, how about cues? □ Are cues understood and properlv executed for smooth continuity? ]□ Is the booth kept clean? THINK OF WINTER — Get Heating Plant In Shape THE heating season is over. Spring is here and summer isn't far behind. The fact that >ou're no longer using your heating plant is no indication that you should permit it to stand idle until >'Ou're ready to use it again next fall. In fact, you can't ignore it and expect it to function smoothly. Granted that it has come through the winter with flying colors, you must remember that unless it is well inspected and maintained every season there will be a breakdown just when you are least expecting it. Even though you still may be using the plant occasionally right now, this is still the best time to look it over and make necessary repairs. Heating systems, all parts considered, may vary, but, generally speaking, they are all pretty much the same with few exceptions, so that whatever suggestions we make here as to their care may well apply to all. All flues, boiler heating surfaces, ash pits, grates, breeching and smokestacks should be thoroughly cleaned. If your boiler happens to be very small, remove the pipe and keep it in a dry place. In the case of cast iron boilers, fill them up with water until the water level is well up into the steam header so that air may be excluded from the boiler. Clean Out Steel Boilers As for steel boilers, they should be filled, with kerosene poured on the water, and then the water drawn off. With the draining of the water, the kerosene will adhere to the surfaces of the boiler, thus providing a protecting coat over the inner surfaces which does awa}' with any possibility of rust forming. On the fire side of the heating surfaces, the boiler should be given a coat of lubricating oil. Be sure to grease all machine surfaces. Regardless of the kind of boiler you have, whether it be cast iron or steel, it should be drained as directed in tlie preceding paragrapli on the care of steel boilers if the room in which it is situated is damp. Throughout the winter season scale has accumulated which should be removed. Your best method of doing this is through the use of the blow-off or blow-down, which is the blowing out of the accumulated scale formation by steam pressure. This should be done by a competent heating plant engineer, who will see that it is neither excessive or inadequate. In the former case, it would be an expensive process, while in the latter it would mean the accumulation of solids, the possibility of foaming, and a reduction of evaporating efficiency. Therefore, better steaming will result and the concentration of solid matter will be kept to the lowest possible amount with the proper blow-down. Only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the heating plant should be assigned the job. Boiler washouts are also advised. With a definite schedule in mind, arranged according to operating conditions, regular washouts along with inspections will help you to detect any possible trouble that might otherwise escape you. You may feel that because scale is not an important problem washouts are not necessary. In making such an assumption you only tend to disregard your boiler altogether, and no boiler, no matter how perfectly it operates, can continue to operate that way unless periodic washouts and inspections are made. Naturally, insurance inspectors will be on hand at regular intervals to see that the boiler is being well maintained and in perfect operating condition. IE you don't conduct your own inspections, it will be harder for you when the insurance men come around. Of course, regular maintenance isn't simply to make the inspectors' report favorable, but to make your heating plant a smooth-functioning apparatus — far removed from the possibility of breakdowns. Projection Equipment It's amazing how some exhibitors will bu}' new equipment for other sections of their theatres, but still persist in making their projectionists use the same old equipment year after year. It has been said, and It still holds true, that the heart of the theatre is the projection room. Therefore, have a heart not only for the eyesight of your patrons but for the men to whom you delegate the task of providing good projection at all times. A projector is only as tr-^od as its weakest sprocket wheel, or soniething like that. Make Them Comfortable Few of us can escape the bumpy road of life, but you can see to it that your patrons are made comfortable while they're your guests by providing them with deep-cushioned, up-to-date theatre chairs. Rotary Stabilizer PLUS NEW SHOCK PROOF DRIVE Lead parade of features in Ma/ RCA PHOTOPHONE MAGIC VOICE of the SCREEN Ask your representative for details. Designed for any theatre — regardless of size.