The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

0 f % c i e n c e 333 depressions in comparison with the wave length of the light beams are such that the hght is scattered at a very wide angle, so that instead of reflecting the light toward the viewing space, over 60 per cent, of it is thrown at a wide angle up and down and to the sides, so that this light never reaches the eye of the patron of the theatre and only those light rays returning at an angle reflecting toward the viewing space are visible. The principal virtue of the "Mirror Screen," however, is in producing a picture that has perfect perspective. The image of the picture is caught in front of a mirror, and the effect is the same as if you are standing in front of a mirror you see yourself reflected just as you are, with perfect roundness and a stereoscopic appearance. Cinematographic writers have split hairs on all other points of projection, but seem to pass the screen over without even comment. At the same time, the screen is to the public the most important part of the theatre. They know nothing of the film or the machine, but the result of the reflected light upon the screen is very important to them. In fact, the screen is one of the most profound problems in the science of projection. It is to be deplored that exhibitors generally know very little about the finer arts of projection. There is as much to know in the science of moving-picture projection as there is in the science of medicine, and it is possible to improve moving pictures 100 per cent, over the present practice, and it is obvious that 100 per cent, improvement would mean 100 per cent, more interest and greater patronage. The elimination of flicker, and of interfering light; better and clearer photography by the manufacturers of films ; the use of direct current entirely and then the installation