The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

VI THE BIOSCOPE MODERN CINEMA TECHNIQUE August 19, 1931 Building News In Brief This is not the latest form of switchboard, it is the rear of the console of the four manual Christie unit organ which is being installed in the Gaumont Palace, Paris. We often hear about the thousands of contacts and miles of wire needed for an organ ; here indeed is proof that the claims are not exaggerated ! Three Cheers for the L.C.C. By D. ROBSON Projectionists working in the County of London have the L.C.C. to thank for much. They have to thank it for the very fresh air that fills every projection room, for the beams of sunlight that steal through the fanlight, for the protection against personal injury through inadvertent contact with electricity, for the precautions against fire, and for the myriads of other things laid down in the book of regulations governing projection rooms. Those who cannot appreciate the reason for these strictly enforced rules have not to go far out of London to realise their necessity. Just to save that journey I will mention some hard facts. Before I go further, let me state that I am not suggesting that other Councils neglect the needs of the projectionist, nor that some of our provincial cities are lacking in this direction ; but not one comes up to the standard of the L.C.C. Rapid Exit Means — Jump ! My first case is a " projection room ” within thirty miles of Charing Cross in which entry and exit are only possible by a single builder’s ladder, leaned against, but not in any way tied or fixed to, a rear wall of the theatre [rear or external. — Ed.]. At night this ladder is removed, but there is nothing to prevent an unauthorised person from removing it while the show is on ! If that happened, the projection staff would be faced with a nice long jump, should a hasty exit be necessary. The projection room itself is small enough, but within one yard of the nearest lamp house stands the rewind bench, for there is no rewind or anteroom of any description. In another cinema I visited on the NorthEast coast a little while ago, entry was made to the box through the pay-box and through a hole in the floor. This brought me directly under the lamp house, and I had to bend down in order to miss bumping into it. I found the room just big enough to house two machines and the rewind bench, but there was a complete lack of ventilation : there was not even a window. Once again the rewind bench was close to the rear of the lamp house, and I am not exaggerating when I say it was within 18 in. of it. Why Not Standard Rulings? I have every reason to believe that there are worse examples, though that may seem hardly credible ; anyway, it remains a fact that lives are in constant danger in such places. I am well aware of the burdens laid upon exhibitors in the form of endless regulations. Equally I appreciate the risks that many of your brother projectionists must face in accommodations such as those I have mentioned. In my opinion, if an exhibitor is so busy that he cannot bring his projection room to a reasonably satisfactory condition, he ought by law to pass out of business. I am aware that the L.C.C. is not perfect and that some of the rules do not bear criticism, but their code is, by comparison, a very fair and sound one. I am speaking, of course, from the projectionist’s point of view and am not commenting upon the architectural, structural or electrical side of theatre inspection. Perhaps now that you have waded through my remarks you will become a convert to my own views and to the notion that the extension of London regulations on a national basis would be by no means a bad thing for the industry. Plans have been prepared by Ernest Dawson, L.R.I.B.A., Deansgate, Manchester, for the erection of a picture house and lock-up shops at Briggate, Shipley, for Shiplev Picture House Co., Ltd. Building operations, it is understood, will be commenced immediately. * * * Isle of Ely County Licensing Committee has now passed plans for the erection of the new cinema in Hill Street, Wisbech, for Wisbech Hippodromes, Ltd. The new cinema, to be known as the Empire Theatre, will provide accommodation for about I, 200 persons. Plans are by Ward & Woolnough, South Brink, Wisbech. * * * Arrangements are to be considered in the near future for rebuilding the Duke of York’s Cinema in High Street, Shorehamby-Sea, recently destroyed by fire. In order to permit of road widening works, the new building line will be set back from the road. The proprietor is A. B. Chipper, 143, High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea. * * * Plans have been prepared for large alterations to the cinema at Milford Haven, for H. Scard. The architect is J. A. Lawrence, Castle Street, Cardiff. * * * Contracts have been placed as follows for the erection of a new cinema at Stranraer : — J. Green 6 Co., Glasgow, builders ; P. McLellan, Glasgow, steelwork; J. Philp, Stranraer, joiner ; A. C. White, Glasgow, slating ; and W. Hendry, plumbing. The architects are James McKissack & Son, West Regent Street, Glasgow. * * * T. O. Boyle, Victoria Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, proposes to erect a new cinema to be known as the Victoria, on the junction of Victoria Avenue and Rochdale Road, Blackley. Mr. Boyle has prepared his own plans and will supervise the erection of the building, which he proposes to carry out by direct labour. The new building will accommodate 1,600 persons. Steelwork is being supplied by A. R. Taylor, Manchester, but no other sub-trades are let. * * * The Grand Cinema, Aberaman, Glam., is to undergo extensive alterations. The house, states The Bioscope South Wales correspondent, is to be practically rebuilt to the plans of James A. Laurence, the Cardiff architect. Capacity is to be greatly increased, and the decorations and general " fittingout ” are to be on the lines of the most modem " luxury cinemas.” * * * Plans have been passed for a house of between 500 and 600 seating capacity at Attleborough, Nuneaton. The site is in Lister Road and the promoters of the scheme are F. Roberts & Sons, furnishers, of Coventry and Nuneaton. The house, it is stated, although of only apparently small seating capacity, will have everything most up-todate in equipment and furnishing, which will include one of the foremost talking picture equipments. H. Mayo & Sons prepared the plans, and Wykes & Trusswell, of Nuneaton, have secured the building contract. It is hoped to have the house ready for opening early in the New Year.