Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

SOCIETY ALERT ON APPEARANCE OF TELEVISION THAT the motion picture industry will not be caught off guard by the advent of television, as it was with the revolutionary appearance of the talkies, was indicated in the report of the television committee of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, presented in convention at Hollywood last month. Outlining the scope and organization of the committee’s activities, Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith, its chairman and past presi Weatherwood* Blendtex has made walls and ceilings “feature attractions” for owners of new and existing theatres! This smart, modern 4-way product is utility itself. It does these four big jobs at an amazing low cost, quickly and easily dent of the Society, said that “the committee will endeavor to collect, formulate, clarify and disseminate useful information to the motion picture industry as to television film and pictorial requirements; and to the radio television groups as to motion picture capabilities and availability. “It is hoped to avoid conflicting standards or practices in the two arts. The membership of the committee includes in one operation. It is available in several sizes of tiles, planks and boards in a variety of soft, pastel blended colors. Let your USG Dealer give you Blendtex ideas. Or mail the coupon for a photo book that illustrates this material. prominent members of both industries so that an automatic liaison will exist. The first aim will be to collect existing information. The second, to guard against misunderstanding, mis-statements, unnecessary conflicts of aims or opinions, and to obviate or reconcile these whenever possible. The third purpose is to act as one guiding agency in directing technical activities common to the two industries, and furthering interchange of mutually helpful data.” Two sub-committees have also been established. One, on Production and Technique, is under the chairmanship of O. B. Hanson, chief engineer of the National Broadcasting Company. The other, on Film Properties and Laboratory Practice, is headed by O. Sandvik, of Eastman Kodak Company. The sub-committees will devote themselves to establishing a glossary of terms and nomenclature; to prepare a list of articles and books dealing with television and its relationships to motion pictures; to provide data on equipment, methods and use of films, with respect to their present status and probable trends; to establish standards, and to handle special problems such as inter-industry coordination, future equipment needs and specifications, and the like. “It is impracticable at the present time to report specifically on a number of items falling within the scope of the committee,” the report states, “because the technique of television is in a state of flux, and many phases of the art are really in the experimental stage. As a basis of a temporarily acceptable policy for the motion picture industry, the opinion appears to be that the present motion picture standards are acceptable for television, and that television will try to work toward those standards. “There are, however, differences between the requirements of the television art and those of the motion picture art. For that reason, much of the early work of the committee is to be of an educational nature. There are differences as to set construction, scenery, and limits as to detail, size, and coloring. There are also limitations of systems in relation to the sensitivity of the television camera, types of light sources, floor and overhead lighting, long shots and close-ups, moulding and air conditioning. “The subject of lenses is closely connected with those of film and lighting. Very little is now known, in a final sense, with regard to mobile equipment, and further developments must be awaited. Problems of background projection are similar to those for the motion picture, except with regard to the light required. The television pick-up screen size is not yet definitely standardized, and although television projectors use standard sizes of film, they are modified to accommodate the different rates and methods of projection.” "MAGIC-WEATHER" FANS— AIR-WASHERS— COMBINATION UNITS Amazing results at a cost within reason — The low cost cooling equipment that quickly pays for itself. THE BALLANTYNE COMPANY 222 No. 16th Omaha, Nebr. WEATHERWOOD BLENDTEX Product of UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY Registered trade-mark United States Gypsum Company, 300 W. Adams St., Chicago, 111. Send me the free book on Blendtex ideas for my theatre, please. Name Address -City _ State Theatre planned for Blendtex by Vogelgesang, Cone operation . . . build insulate . . . decorate . . . quiet noise 34 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION