Transactions of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1929)

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS Spring Meeting of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, New York, N. Y., May, 1929 L. C. Porter* LADIES and Gentlemen, both members and guests : i IT gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Spring Convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. Last Spring we met in Hollywood, the center of the producing end of the industry. It is, therefore, particularly fitting that this meeting is held in New York City where a great deal of the technical design and manufacture of motion pictures is centered and where there is the greatest consumption of the Hollywood films. Thru these two meetings the Society will get a well balanced picture of the present status of the entire motion picture industry, and the industry will have had opportunities to become familiar with the Society and its possibilities. We have not held a meeting in New York City since 1917. Since then, there has been a steadily growing call for a meeting here, culminating in a recent letter ballot sent to the entire membership, both Active and Associate, which resulted in a two to one vote for New York City over the next choice, Asbury Park. It has been the policy of the Society for several years to hold alternate meetings in a large city and a more or less secluded place. The advantage of the former being an opportunity to see things, and for the latter, the keeping of those in attendance at the convention, together with an opportunity^ for fuller papers sessions and closer personal contacts. In line with the above policy our Papers Committee has arranged that this New York meeting will be largely a tour of inspection. In order to conserve time, most of our papers will be presented at the various places which we are to visit rather than at the hotel. The papers Committee has prepared a wonderful program. This was done under considerable handicap as the Chairman was on * Edison Lamp Works, Hnrrison, N. J. . 21