American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

Sixteen AMERICAN CINEMATOQRAPHER August, 1926 PROJECTION + Conducted by Earl J. Denison Progress in Projection •« American Projection Society Great Benefit to Industry. Q| How to Thwart Fire Hazard This writer recently had the pleasure of addressing the members of the American Projection Society at their club rooms in New' York City. The subject was "Proper Splicing, Care and Handling of Film," with some remarks regarding projection in general. The membership of the American Projection Society is made up of the foremost projectionists in New York City and the vicinity and after talking to them for about two hours I learned that they are a progressive and up-to-date body of projectionists who know their business thoroughly. This fact was brought out by the pertinent questions asked after the lecture was over. I was told that mine was the 57th address made before the Society and no doubt they have heard 57 varieties on the subject of projection. Progress This is indeed an age of progress in the motion picture industry. Everything points to this fact; better pictures, better photography, better condition of film, (as served by the exchanges, better equipment, better projection, better working conditions, better satisfled audiences. For Improvement However, there is one thing that I firmly believe could show immediate improvement and that is the care and handling of film by the projectionists in the theatres. Punch marking of film by projectionists has practically been eradicated but there is still considerable unnecessary damage done to the film through careless handling and splicing by the projectionist. Proof The average projectionist will not agree with the writer on this statement, but a trip through the film exchanges, when the inspectors are examining and repairing film, will conclusively prove the above statement to be true. As long as film comes in contact with steel projectors the film will suffer damage. Manufacturers and distributors of motion picture film expect a reasonable amount of wear and tear on the film but a great deal of unnecessary damage could be eliminated at once through more careful handling. When new installations are made in a projection room, or additions to the present equipment, each piece of apparatus should be carefully selected for that particular installation in order that screen results will be of a high standard. Such equipment should include a proper and separate receptacle for scrap film, a separate receptacle for oil rags or waste, a separate receptacle for waste paper, and a separate receptacle for carbon stubs. Each receptacle should be plainly marked so there will be no danger of mixing film with paper, etc. Fire Hazard The above leads us to one of the most important subjects of the entire film industry; that is the ever present fire hazard. Of all the branches of the motion picture industry projection constitutes the greatest fire hazard with the possibility of the greatest loss of life and property. This is true because only in projection does the film come in contact with intense heat and every precautionary method known should be strictly applied at all times to keep the fire hazard to an absolute minimum. Extinguishers Each projection room should be equipped with fire extinguishers and so located that they are in easy reach at all times but the fire extinguisher is of no use unless it is kept charged. Although fire extinguishers may have never been used, they should be inspected and recharged at least every six months. In addition to the fire extinguishers, each projection room should contain at least one bucket of sand and one bucket of water,