The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

THE BIOSCOPE MODERN CINEMA TECHNIQUE August 26, 1931 xii Projection room of the Gaumont Palace, Barnstaple, described in this issue. The two Gaumont projectors are built on to British Acoustic sound bases ; beyond them is a limelight, which, however, is hidden by the second of the machines “Finest Cinema in Lanarkshire” A.B.C.’s Regal at Hamilton The Regal, Hamilton, the newest A.B.C. hall in Scotland, which opened last week, is a 2,000-seater, and was designed by Charles J. McNair, the Glasgow architect. Many of the features of the Regal, London, and the Regal, Glasgow, have been introduced into the Hamilton hall, and its spaciousness, colour and comfort do much to justify its claim to be the finest cinema in the county of Lanark. George Urie Scott, who supervised the construction of the Regal, Glasgow, again lent his aid and experience to make A.B.C.’s latest hall one worthy of the company, and deserves full credit for the results achieved. The interior has a tasteful colour scheme in light golden tones. The balcony takes the form of a wide curve, divided into two portions — front and upper circle — and the seats are upholstered in soft mohair of a warm flame colour. Above, there is a roof cupola, providing a sky effect, in which are concealed a hundred lights which can be dimmed to give the impression of daylight fading into darkness, while in the centre of the ceiling there is beautiful fitting giving a " sun burst ” effect. The lighting throughout can be alternated in three different colours, the screen also being provided with this feature, while sunk ceiling lights indicate clearly the passageways and exits, floor lights also facilitating the progress of patrons to their seats. The impression of colour and brightness is further heightened by two large panels on opposite walls on which an artist has depicted an Italian lake and terrace scene, the whole being illuminated from false balconies below. Seating Uniform Throughout The seats give the maximum amount of leg room, and are provided with that boon to the male picturegoer — a hat-rack below— while rich carpets, specially designed by the architect, give a luxurious feeling underfoot. The management have made no distinctions with regard to the seating in any part of the house. Patrons in the cheapest portion will enjoy the novelty of upholstered tip-up seats and carpets identical with those in every other section of the house. The seating and carpeting scheme in the Regal has given the proprietors such satisfaction that they are to introduce it in the reconstructed Coliseum, Glasgow. A handsome waiting room adjoins the balcony, and tiled toilet rooms are placed at various parts of the house. The stairs are of white terrazzo and a marble floor covers the vestibule, while the exterior of the building has a handsome facade in white carraware with inset windows. The frontage will be illuminated above the first storey by golden flood-lighting, and at the entrance to the vestibule there is fitted a Neon light with the Regal sign in gold and red. Three shop fronts form part of the facade. The mechanical equipment of the house includes the latest sound film installation, for which the house has been acoustically designed. The most modern type of Hewittic transformers (the first in Scotland) have been introduced, ensuring absolute freedom from the sound of generators, while the “ talkie ” apparatus is the latest Western Electric system. Precautions Against Fire The well-equipped operating, generating and winding rooms, which are concealed in the uppermost part of the building, embody the most up-to-date improvements in present day film projection. Provision, in the shape of a battery store, has been made for an automatic supply of electricity should the town’s current at any time fail. Ample precautions have been taken in case of fire — there are no less than 12 exits in the building, including five in the balcony — and three of the new Norsen fire-nozzles, which give a throw of 60 ft. of water, have been fitted in addition to the ordinary hand extinguishers. Staff telephones link up every part of the house. Special attention has been given to the heating and ventilation of the cinema to ensure an atmosphere of comfort with coolness, and the cleaning throughout will be done bv a special vacuum process. Work on the building has occupied one year, the builders being the Scottish Construction Company, Glasgow. The manager is R. B. Stewart. “Best in West Wales Coalfield Part of Miners Welfare Scheme Designed by David Morgan, F.I.A.A., a local architect, a new cinema, “to be the best in the West Wales coalfield,” is being built at Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, a township in the heart of the Welsh anthracite coalfield. A preliminary announcement of the scheme appeared in The Bioscope on August 12th. The cinema, which forms part of a big miners’ welfare scheme, will have seating accommodation for 1,000 — 650 on the ground floor and 350 in the balcony. The building will cost approximately £\ 5,000, and the roof and sides are being specially treated to obtain perfect acoustics. The main entrance of the house will have Gloucester stone dressings, and facing the entrance will be the box office. On each side of the box office folding doors will give access to a large foyer and lounge, access to all parts of the building being possible from both foyer and lounge. Ceilings are to be arched, and, with the interior side walls, are to be decorated in panel, formed with mouldings. The proscenium will be faced with heavy moulding and will be decorated to match the walls and ceilings. The gallery is to be built of reinforced concrete, without supporting columns or pillars. There will be eight emergency exits from the building — five on the ground floor and three in the balcony. Another safety measure is that entrance to the operating box will be direct from outside. It is hoped to have the cinema ready for opening before the end of November. J. D. Howell & Son, of Brynamman, are the builders. Carlton , Boscomhe The Chinese treatment of the decorative scheme at the new Carlton, Boscombe, described in The Bioscope on August 5th, has, it is reported, been the subject of much comment among cinemagoers, since the house opened at the end of last month. The whole of this decorative scheme, including the fibrous plaster work, lighting and construction of the lanterns was the work of Val Prince Decorations, Ltd., and was designed by Val Prince. An A.B.C. project, the Carlton was planned by Reynolds & Tomlin, architects, of Bournemouth. Tudor , West Bndgford West Bridgford’s first cinema, the Tudor, is now nearing completion, and will, it is understood, be ready for opening next month. The Tudor, which stands on a site at the junction of Central Avenue and Rectory Road, was designed for a local syndicate by A. J. Thraves, F.R.I.B.A., the Nottingham architect, and will have a capacity of 1,500 seats, 500 of which will be in a balcony. Cost of the enterprise is placed at about £25,000. W. F. Chell, a local contractor, is the builder. Humherstone Opening Fixed October 5th is the date fixed for the opening of the palatial new cinema at Humberstone, the construction of which has been undertaken by Bert W. Cole, a local builder. The theatre is to have a seating capacity of around 2,000, and the scheme also includes a magnificent ballroom and cafe. The plans were prepared by Herbert Langham, F.R.I.B.A., of Manchester.