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

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of^cience 339 thousands of theatres in the United States and Canada, and they are generally recognized as being an essential part of the equipment of a first-class theatre. Owners and managers of moving picture theatres have their share of tribulation, and the obtaining of suitable electric current at reasonable prices is not the least of their troubles. Alternating current is not well suited for moving picture work, and under many conditions is almost intolerable, especially in the lower cycles, with its ceaseless flicker, as well as in the large number of instances in which the regulation is poor. Direct current with good regulation, at the proper voltage, and at a reasonable price, is ideal, but almost never obtainable. In most of the smaller cities, and many of the large ones as well, the station equipment is inferior or poorly looked after, resulting in a variation of from 5 to 15 per cent, in the voltage. This is particularly true of those stations which furnish electrical energy for street car and power service. So much for regulation. As to proper voltage, a moving picture lamp requires only 40 to 50 volts at the arc. Allowing for resistance, an input of 60 volts is ample, but the current supplied by lighting companies is never under 110, and from that up to 220 volts, so that from one-half to three-quarters of the current paid for is wasted in the rheostat. As to price, this is a serious question. One of the principal items of expense of a picture theatre is the electric current. The attitude of lighting companies in most towns, both small and large, towards the mov