British Kinematography (1951)

BRITISH KINEMATOGRAPHY VOLUME 18, No. 4 APRIL, 1951 CONTENTS Page Planning the Festival of Britain Telekinema 108 WELLS COATES, O.B.E., Ph.D., F.R.I.B.A. Business Radio in Film Production 120 HOWARD M. LAYTON, Assoc. Brit. I.R.E. Technical Abstracts The Council Personal News of Members Page 129 130 131 THE TELEKINEMA KINEMAS are not an uncommon feature in exhibitions. The weary and satiated visitor no doubt looks to the kinema, with its soft lights and padded seat , to provide a temporary haven from the excitements of the exhibition world without. Such an audience is not likely to be over-critical and would probably accept with gratitude a programme based on the conventional pattern of kinema entertainment. The question therefore facing those of us responsible for the Telekinema was whether we should depart from the accepted norm and seek to stimulate and excite our visitors with the unexplored potentialities of the medium. The decision to venture on the experimental was made at an early stage in our planning, and both the programme production and architectural requirements were closely co-ordinated with each other. It was discovered that a considerable amount of research and experimentation with stereoscopy and stereophony had already been done by persons working independently of each other. One of the main tasks was to bring these people together and give a specific direction and form to their independent efforts. The Telekinema, therefore, in addition to entertaining the visitor, should serve the equally important function of providing those interested in the technical and creative aspects of film and television with an opportunity for exploring the techniques that may well influence the kinema of the future. One of the virtues, perhaps, of an exhibition is that one is able to do things that would not in the language of the trade be termed commercial propositions. The experience gained, however, is of great value to the industry and will no doubt help engineers and film makers to find a practical solution to the problems attendant upon the introduction to the kinema of television and a third dimension in picture and sound. Already evidence has been received from commercial concerns in this country and the United States that some of these innovations may soon become commonplace in the commercial kinema. I have no doubt that the original research which has been done by the architect, engineer, scientist, film maker and technician, stimulated by the problems set by the Telekinema, will have contributed not only to the success of the exhibition and the Festival, but also to British prestige at home and abroad. J. D. Ralph, B.F.I. Films Officer, Festival of Britain. BRITISH KINEMATOGRAPHY, the journal of the British Kinematograph Society, is published monthly. Price 3s. per issue (3s. 2d. including postage), annual subscription 37s. 6d. including postage. Editorial and Advertising Offices: 117 Piccadilly, London, W.I. Grosvenor 4396-7. Publication in this journal does not necessarily imply that the Council endorses the views of authors. Reprinting is permitted, subject to due acknowledgment being made to BRITISH KINEMATOGRAPHY and the author. Editor: R. HOWARD CRICKS, F.B.K.S., F.R.P.S. Hon. Consulting Editor : GEOFFREY PARR, M.I. E.E. F.B.K.S