The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

MODERN CINEMA TECHNIQUE July 15, 1931 PICTURETONE’S LATEST OUTFIT First-Class Results at Moderate Cost THE BIOSCOPE North Wales Opening Rhyl Entertainments’ Venture Claimed to be the finest cinema in Wales, the Plaza — -the new enterprise of Rhyl Entertainments, Ltd. — was officially opened a few days ago by Councillor Albert Barnes, chairman of the Rhyl Council. Erected i'n Sussex Street, the Plaza has an imposing frontage of creamy-pink facing bricks with stone dressings. It has seating accommodation for 1,600 persons and is equipped with Western Electric talking picture equipment. The architect was S. Colwyn Foulkes, A.R.I.B.A. Before the opening film, “ Mother’s Millions,” was screened, Councillor Barnes congratulated Rhyl Entertainments, Ltd., on the enterprise, and said it spoke well for the optimism of the company that at this time of depression throughout the country they had decided to erect such a fine building. In the evening a celebration dinner was held in the Queen’s Hotel, and was attended by the directors of Rhyl Entertainments, Ltd., councillors and Corporation officials. Responding to the toast to the company, Councillor Edward Hughes, who presided, said the architect (Mr. Foulkes) had had the scheme under consideration since 1925, and many proposals were considered before they were satisfied they had the right one. When the Plaza was properly finished there would not be a building of its type for many miles around and he was certain there was not a lighting scheme outside London that could excel that at the new cinema. In the course of the speechmaking it was mentioned that the Liverpool University was to confer upon the architect, Mr. Foulkes, the degree of Master of Architecture. Transformed in Twelve Days The Grand, Crewe, at present in the hands of Mihaly, has been entirely redecorated and reconditioned. The interior scheme is in the atmospheric style, having an Italian garden scene on the one side of the house and a lake and castle impression on the other. The ceiling is in cloud effect, whilst the entrance is continued on the same lines with the addition of a dado of flowers in silhouette effect. The whole scheme was carried out by Allied Arts and Crafts, of Birmingham, in the short space of 12 days. Projection at the Playhouse , Ayr As we intimated last week, the projection equipment at the Playhouse, Ayr, represents the very last word in up-to-date plant. Ememann III projectors are in use on Western Electric standard bases. The arcs are the new Artisol 75 super intensity mirror type, which, as we have previously indicated, is one of the most efficient projection lamps yet marketed. The lenses are the special Kinostar fl.9's, which it is only possible to use in conjunction with Ememann III machines. Christie at Poole The Regent, Poole, reopened on July 4th after extensive redecoration and improvement. A Christie organ has been installed. At the opening ceremony the organ was played by Jack Taylor, whose work is well known both in Canada and the U.S.A. Mr. Taylor devised a special opening programme, for which he prepared slides. Needless to say, the organ received an enthusiastic welcome. Mr. Taylor considers this Christie one of the most delightful cinema organs he has ever played. Since its formation in the early months of 1930, the Picturetone sound system has created a splendid record for both reproduction and reliability. Advancing with the times, the new sound on film and sound on film and disc equipments have had many improvements added. It may not be amiss to give a short description of both equipments, so that owners contemplating the installation of a talking equipment may give this excellent set careful consideration. Picturetone is a sound mechanical job manufactured by skilled precision toolmakers and is actually built in to the projector pedestals. It should not be confused with other types of apparatus that are merely attachments. A Compact Sound Head This equipment is of new and original design, enabling it to be fitted into small operating boxes. The sound head is separately driven by rigid drive direct from the gear-box, obviating vibration through slightly worn mechanisms interfering with steady running. The Picturetone Sound Head The pull-through sprocket of the sound head is indirectly driven, having no mechanical contact with the main drive and being so arranged that any slight speed variation through fluctuating mains does not alter the running speed of the sound head, this being taken up by the momentum of the flywheel. Below the pull-through sprocket a further sprocket is arranged to feed the film into the bottom spool box. This serves a double purpose, viz., the steady feed to the spool box, and preventing any take-up snatch being transmitted to the pull-through sprocket and causing flutter. The optical lamps are arranged in duplicate and preset. The gate is arranged with an adjustable aperture, so should the sound track of a film be out of line or marked by worn sprocket holes, the gates may be adjusted to suit. The optical system is specially manufactured by Messrs. Ross, Ltd. The photo-electric cell is the C.M.G.16 type — a type specially developed by the G.E.C. with a very even frequency response. The main driving unit consists of a J h.p. motor housed in a heavy casting with a double-spindle gear-box mounted on top giving two separate drives — one for the mechanism and one for the sound head. This fits directly below the sound head,, taking up no more space than the existing pedestal stand. The fader and first-stage amplifiers are arranged as a combined unit giving dual amplification on the cell amplifiers. This has the advantage of a spare amplifier at the most sensitive point of the whole equipment. A single switch controls the changeover from one to the other, so should a valve burn out during operation no delay is caused. The fader is of special construction and wire-wound. In conjunction a theatre control is used, this being placed in the auditorium in any position to enable an increase or decrease of sound to be made from the hall should a film be of uneven recording. The L.T. and H.T. supply for first-stage amplifiers is derived from the A.C. mains. The H.T. is supplied fiom a unit of special design giving absolutely smooth and humless output for cell and valves. G.E.C. or Philips Amplifier The L.T. is obtained from 12-volt accumulators supplying the optical lamps and filaments of the first-stage valves. Two accumulators are installed, and a special switch pane! and A.C. charger fitted ; while one accumulator is being used, the other is automatically on charge. The amplification unit is of the standard A.C. mains, 50 cycle, 50-watt type, being supplied either by Messrs. Philips Lamps, Ltd., or the G.E.C., at choice. The Philips amplifier comprises two stages of low-frequency amplification followed by a third incorporating a special power valve, type MCI /50, working at approximately 1,000 volts and giving an undistorted output of 15 watts. The G.E.C. amplifier consists of an intermediate stage of low-frequency amplification feeding into two L.S.6A. valves in parallel, giving an undistorted output of 9 watts. Both amplifiers are suitable for halls with seating capacity up to 800. Dual amplification can be supplied in both types. Special Base for Film and Disc ’Where possible a horn and unit type of loud-speaker is fitted, giving a large and undistorted volume over the whole frequency range. Sound on film and disc equipment is similar to the sound on film equipment, except that the motor base has been altered to carry the synchroniser. The base is of cast-iron, starting under the sound head and finishing under the arc box. The gear-box is mounted on it directly below the sound head — one end of the motor being directly coupled to it and the other end being connected to the synchroniser through a small flexible drive. The synchroniser itself is rubber-slung as is the pickup arm, added precautions to prevent any floor vibration being transmitted to the disc and causing unsteady reproduction. In its careful attention to detail and the excellence of the results it achieves. Picturetone is in every way an equipment worthy of earnest consideration.