Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

PROJECTION AND SOUND ASHCRAFT PROJfCTIOn UMIPS and fifCTIflfRS World's Standard of Projection Excellence * * ★ ★ *1 I Qoin until tyamouA LIBERTY FIREWORKS For Record-Breaking Drive-In Crowds You are assured Greater Value, Safety, Brilliance, Color, Flash and Noise. Spectacular LIBERTY FIREWORKS ora the great* est boxofflca attraction became they are the world'! fineitl They pay for thamialvas In Increated attendance. i i READ THIS UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL “We hart i h»«ied around for firework! to uu in our drirt-ins and after comparison! hare found we lit the heit deal from LIBERTY. Your display! are brl|hter.” GET FREE CATALOG NOW! 48 pace cataloi, fully illustrated ihowi the |orItous beauty and magnificent splendor of LIBERTY FIREWORKS. Reasonably priced front $35 to $1,000 and up. NOTICE: NEW HOME ADDRESS LIBERTY DISPLAY FIREWORKS CO. Hegeler Lane Site formerly Hegeler Zinc Plant P. O. Box 683, Danville, Illinois Phone HI 2-253*. If no anmr cell HI 4-674S STOP I SPEAKER THEFT ■ Eliminate costly loss of stolen speakers with Speaker Security Installation. Easy to install! Inexpensive! Less than 75? per speaker unit! Now in use by leading Drive-In Chains and Exhibitors in U. S. and Canada. For full details write: SPEAKER SECURITY COMPANY 1650 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ. — —— CONCRETE IDEAS ON SELECTION OF SCREEN GIVEN EXHIBITOR Cost and Quality Considerations in Screen Selection By WESLEY TROUT A S STATED before in this department, from time to time, we pick out a letter that contains some problems to which our answers should prove helpful to our readers. Here is one that should prove interesting: “I have been a constant and ardent reader, writes Harold Ramage, Gem Theatre, Villa Grove, 111., of your most interesting articles in Modern Theatre for a long, long time. Recently I read your article from Father Pates of the St. Francis Mission, St. Francis, S. D. It was most interesting, and would certainly appreciate your expert advice. “I am planning on installing a larger screen in my theatre and wondered if you would give me some advice and suggestions. Perhaps the following information would help you in answering some of my questions. Since taking over the operation of this theatre five years ago we have made many improvements, of which this is to be our next venture. PRESENT SCREEN 11x22 FEET Our auditorium inside is 37 feet wide. At present we are using a screen 11x22 feet. We would like to enlarge our screen to approximately 13x26 feet. In order to enlarge the screen, we would need to knock out the proscenium walls and approximately nine inches of the plaster on the exit frame, still leaving the existing exits. As far as height is concerned, all that is necessary is to remove the old-fashioned valance at the top which will give me the extra height needed. Our present projection throw is 80 feet from lens to screen. “Now here are some of the questions which I would appreciate your answering: “1. What make of screen and type of surface would you recommend for our width theatre? We now have a Walker reflective-type surface. “2. Would you recommend a curved screen for our small auditorium? “3. What kind of screen frame would you recommend and the best type of masking that should be used? Do you recommend a metal or wood frame? “4. What size, make and speed of projection lenses would give us the best sharp image? We now have back-up lenses, 5%" and the scope lens is Hilux .264. Our widescreen lens are 3y2" E.F. All lenses are Super Lite made by Projection Optics Co. Inasmuch as we have always obtained a very clear and sharp picture, would not these same makes be satisfactory, only change in sizes? “5. We use the Peerless Magnarc lamps with Strong rectifiers, burning 50 amperes, which give us a well-illuminated picture. We have adjusted our lamps so that we have a good overall illuminated picture. Do I need to increase the amperage when we increase our screen area? “Now for a little more information on our setup here. Last year we had our Super-Simplexes completely overhauled and they project a very nice picture — a rock-steady projected image. For some time I don’t think we need to have any more done to these, only occasional replacement when needed to keep them in good running condition. SOUND IS OLD BUT GOOD “Our sound reproduction seems to be satisfactory to our patrons. However, our soundheads are rather old; and the amplifier, model MI-1040, is, I know, fairly old but gives us very good sound. Perhaps, in the not too distant future, it may be necessary for us to replace the amplifier and the two-way speaker system, and maybe the soundheads? What do you suggest for this size theatre; our seating capacity is 400? We want to give our patrons the best in sound and projection, with replacements as fast as our budget will permit. “We are now using footlights at the stage and I wonder if this is still the trend or would conversion to overhead flood or spotlights be more suitable and attractive. “To finish up our modernization plan and to add color to the stage area and exits, it is our intention to have full-length draperies around the exits and stage. All these draperies would match and give more color to our stage and screen areas. We have noticed in your magazine that this is a very popular idea with modern theatres and it is our desire, and plans, to bring our theatre up, near as possible, to date and make it a place our patrons will appreciate and want to be in. We, too, want to make our patrons comfortable and really enjoy programs presented in an attractive and comfortable theatre. “I sincerely hope I have given you enough information and will most certainly appreciate your suggestions and recommendations.” LETTERS ARE WELCOMED Reply: We like to receive, from time to time, such nice letters as the above, very intelligently written and details very carefully given. It is very good to hear from exhibitors wanting to improve their projection and sound reproduction, giving their patrons something for their money and providing a comfortable theatre for presentation of their programs. We find Wesley Trout 18 Tha MODERN THEATRE SECTION