British Kinematography (1948)

97 said it is only necessary to have the light on when most things when they give a flash also give a click, the shutter is open. Mr. W. Bland : Such equipment is usually Mr. W. S. Bland : It has been tried in the required by silent cameramen. States with discharge lamps. But one of the Mr. H. Waxman : There are serious drawbacks, troubles is that the discharge is so rapid that they physical and psychological. It is impossible for get a sharply defined image, which gives a very the cameraman to see the set as with an integrated bad flicker. That scheme would be very useful if light. Secondly, there is the effect on the nerves : it could be carried out with a portable vibrator and can one imagine what it would be like to work in a low-voltage accumulator, for news-reel work. a studio where all the lights were flashing? The Author : There are other disadvantages. Mr. W. Bland : Another thing is that tubes One is that the sound engineers would not like it : have so far a life of only 10,000 exposures. TECHNICAL ABSTRACTS Most of the periodicals here abstracted may be seen in the Society's Library BRIGHTNESS AND IKJE OF DYES IN RELATION TO COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY. M. E. Clarkson and T. Yickerstaff, Phot. J. (B), March, April, 1948, p. 26. The authors investigate theoretically the domain of colours which may be met with either hypothetical dyes or with, the best existing dyes, and show that there is still considerable room for improvement. They then analyse the possibilities of colour reproduction with various primaries and various reproducing dyes. They conclude that the most serious error is unwanted absorption by a reproducing dye in a region in which it should transmit. Finally, they analyse the reproduction to be expected with Kodachrome and Technicolor, which was substantiated experimentally. M. V. H. TOXICITY OF CARBON ARC GASES. Leroy W. Latowsky, International Projectionist, Feb., 1948, p. 10. Experiments with inhalation of original carbon arc fumes by test animals and comparison with inhalation of pure nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide show that the real toxic danger lies in the inhalation of the nitrogen-oxygen compounds, created by the action of the arc, especially high intensity arcs. Adequate ventilation removes this danger effectively. The recommendations of the Projection Practice Committee of the S.M.P.E. for proper ventilation are given. H. K. T. A. Filipi, International Projectionist, March, 1948, p. 14. The author reports former experiments in this field and appreciates the findings of Latowsky. He points out, that also apart from the projectionist's profession, carbon arc fumes have given rise to the danger of toxicity, and stresses that, considering the widespread use of carbon arcs in industrial and medical practices, this chapter should be made a subject of Public Health. ' II. K. A MODERN SOUND-REINFORCEMENT SYSTEM FOR THEATRES. C. E. Talley and R. W. Kautzky, /. Soc. Mot. Pic. Eng., Feb., 1948, p. 149. The paper describes a newly installed system at the Roxy Theatre, New York, designed for aiding the presentation of elaborate stage shows. It also permits the output from sound film projectors and the now enclosed kinema organ to be relayed over the speakers. Thirty-two stage microphone pick-up points and four organ microphones are catered for in the installation, and methods of controlling the unusually large number of channels are described. N. L. THEATRE TELEVISION— A GENERAL ANALYSIS. Alfred N. Goldsmith, /. Soc. Mot. Pic. Eng., Feb., 1948, p. 93. The paper is a review of the requirements, present position and future trends of theatre television. Half the paper is concerned with a review of the technical requirements, such as picture size, viewing conditions, brightness and resolution ; the other half deals with cost factors, programme problems, methods of syndication and interconnection between theatres or cities. The final section is trie proposed procedure for exhibitors who wish to enter this field in a successful manner. While the final design of a commercial television equipment is not yet available, nor have the requirements of the programmes been stud;ed in detail, the author suggests that now is the time for all the problems, in particular those associated with programme presentation by television, to be gone into along the lines which he indicates. T. M. C. L.