Cinema News and Property Gazette Technical Supplement (1924-1925, 1943, 1946)

May 28, 1925. Supplement to THE CINEMA NEWS AND PROPERTY GAZETTE. LET THERE BE AIR. HOW THE EXHIBITOR MAY BEAT THE SUN. The foretaste of hot weather has played havoc with our pay-hoxes ; there is no getting away from that fact. But inquiries show that the drop in business has been far less sharp in the case of cinemas having' a reputation for g'ood ventilation. Modern cinemas, like the Dalston, equipped with an elaborate plenum-vacuum system, which not only maintains perfect freshness' of atmosphere, but actually washes and cools the air continuously throughout every performance, do good business even in the hottest weather, because patrons go to the pictures to get cool. A great number of the older cinemas, however, have no system of mechanical ventilation, an extractor fan or so being the only means of keeping the atmosphere sufficiently mobile to permit of some degree of evaporation of body emanation. To exhibitors working under such unfavourable conditions one would point out the great improvement to be brought about by the installation of a number of good electric fans in well thought-out positions, not only in the auditorium, but in the vestibule and corridors. Little is gained by just dumping a fan or two on ledges over entrance-door or in positions where they merely tend to irritate patrons by causing a draughr to blow down their necks. If there is a centrally-placed extractor fan in the roof have it thoroughly cleaned and working at maximum efficiency, and then watch for an occasion— or make one — when the auditorium is full of smoke. It will be noticed that while the track of air direct to the suction fan clears with a certain degree of rapidity, the dull, heavy humid atmosphere hangs around under balconies and similar "pockets " ; this is indicated by the slugged movement of the smoke. Get several good fans of the type marketed by the G.E.C. under the name of " Freezor," and place them so that they "gee-up" the air in those pockets and drive out the smoke-laden air into the suction-path of the extractor fan. A little experimenting will not only show you how to vastly improve the atmospheric condition of your auditorium, but will give you a really useful insight into' one of the reasons why people stay awav from the pictures in the summer. There are some fans specially designed to deliver air charged with disinfectant, deodorant or aromatic preparations in atomised form, and these may sometimes be employed with great advantage, but care should be taken not to " overdo " the aromatic quality to the point of sickliness — for many people object to this as much as they object to spraying with a too powerful mixture of the spraying essences. But, in buying fans, be very careful to get only those of good, reliable make — from firms of repute. The market is simply flooded with cheap but unsatisfactory fans, mostly of foreign manufacture. They look all right, but they are made for sale rather than for service, and one trouble-laden season is about the life one can expect for them. A really well-constructed fan, if kept properly clean, the bearings greased, and the brushes and commutator attended to occasionally, will last years and years. As in every other emergency, the Technical Department of the Cinema Technical Supplement is at the service of readers in advising them individually upon any problem they may (be confronted with, either in the installation and upkeep of fans, as here suggested, or the larger subject of ventilation generally. EMERGENCY SLIDES. QUICK AND EASY METHOD. We recently had occasion 1o throw upon the screen a number of hand-written slides giving news paragraphs concerning local activities, and we adopted the following method with success, We cut a sheet or two of very thin — almost transparent— tissue paper into pieces the size of a lantern slide, and having obtained some of the new " Unique '* pencils in various colours, we wrote the messages on those pieces of paper and projected them between two plain cover glasses. These " Unique " pencils are made of a special material permitting of a thin, strong point suitable for minute writing, and we were surprised at the length of message it was found possible to get on each piece of paper. The colours available at present are red, blue, green, and yellow. In outlying districts the local cinema would find it a sound policy to feature notes of important news items projected in this manner; it should prove an inexpensive means of attracting regular patrons. THE HAHN-GOERZ PROJECTOR. DISTRIBUTING AGENTS APPOINTED. J FRANK BROCKLISS, LIMITED, GET EXTENSIVE TERRITORY. In our last issue we gave some details of the new and fine projector known as the Hahn-Goerz Theatre machine, which is being introduced into this country by Peeling and Van Neck, Limited, of 4-6, Holborn Circus, E.C. 1. And at the same time we ventured to suggest that exhibitors would do well indeed in getting into touch with this most excellent proposition. We now learn that inquiries have been so numerous that Peeling and Van Neck have decided to appoint agents in various territories to distribute the machine. The appointments are as follows : — For Northern Counties and Middlesbrough, Crowe and Co., Newcastle-onTyne ; for Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Imperial Accessory Co. ; and for the other territory in Great Britain and Northern Ireland not covered by the above two firms, T. Frank Brockliss, Limited. In view of the growing realisation on the part of exhibitors that perfect projection is essentia! to success in cinema direction, there should be a brisk demand for the newmachine.