Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1925)

Page 54 Exhibitors Trade Review Projection Hints Optics, Practical Ideas and Electricity By WESLEY TROUT I recently received a very interesting letter from a projectionist in a large city in Kansas, who wishes his name withheld from publication. He writes as follows: Dear Mr. Trout : I am a constant reader of your department and always find some very helpful suggestions and information on projection. Here is a little data about my projection equipment and wonder if you can offer any suggestions for the improvement of same. I am always very much interested in improving my projection on the screen. Our equipment consists of two late type Simplex projectors, with very latest arc lamps; the objective lenses are half size Cinephor, 7.2 E. F., 2y2 free diameter, working distance is 4 11/16 inches. The shutter is a Simplex Extra-Lite, same being placed about 12^ inches from the aperture plate of the projector. I am now using plano-convex condenser system, the condenser next to the arc lamp is 6y2 focus and 7^' converging condenser. I have these condensers spaced V% inch apart. The distance from the center of the combination to the aperture plate is 17 inches. Am using direct current at the arc and use V\ x 12" cored carbons, and 11/32 for the bottom carbon, use silvertip for the bottom. We are using about 45 amperes at the arc. As I said before, if you can offer any improvement in this line-up, I will be very pleased to have it as I want the very best in projection that I can get. ANSWER— I would suggest that you use a carbon upper and a 11/32 lower. The VA" carbon is rather large for 45 amperes. The 3y4" distance, crater to face of collector lens is okeh. I would advise you to move the condenser a little closer than % in order to reduce light loss. After I checked over the 17 inch distance, center of condenser combination to the aperture it appears that friend reader is focusing directly on the aperture plate which would tend to show a very uneven illumination on the screen unless a very critical adjustment was used. I believe that you will find that a distance of 16 inches would be much better to use. Now coming to the objective lens, the back focus of 4 11/16 inches, in connection with the 17 inch condenser-aperture distance calls for an objective free opening of not less than the 2y> inches now used. The present lens opening, therefore, is all right tor the decrease in the condenser-aperture of 10 inches. The shutter should not be more than 11 Camera Terminology {Continued from page 53) Take-Up: (Verb) To wind up a film after it passes the picture aperture in the motion picture apparatus. Tilt: To rotate a motion picture camera parallel to the direction of the film motion and in a vertical plane through the optical axis. Tilting: Preparation of headings or explanations for scenes. Trick Picture: A Motion Picture intended to give the effect of action other than that which really took place. * A number of the above are from the transactions of the Society of Motion Picture Engineer*. inches from center of objective lens. The distance ycu are now using your shutter is all wrong and will cause you quite a light loss. The shutter blades should be trimmed down to increase more light on the screen. The condensers and projection lenses should be kept clean and free from finger marks. The Cinephor half-size lens is very, very good. You would find the new Cinephor condenser system to be a great improvement over the s'yle of condensers you are now using. It would have been much better if you had measured the horizontal diameter of your D. C. crater and sent me that measurement as I could have then determined just what magnification was necessary to evenly illuminate the aper'ure. I could have given you a still better line-up of your optical system of your projector with this information. Miller to Build in Los Angeles Los Angeles is to have another beautiful motion picture theatre dedicated to big pictures and long runs. Fred A Miller, former owner and operator of the California, the Miller and other downtown houses, has just signed a long-term lease for a new 2000-seat theatre to be erected immediately by the Hellman bank interest in Carthay Center in the West Wilshire district of the city. The theatre will be known as the Carthay Center Circle theatre because of its location and also because it is to be unique in that it is to be constructed in a complete circle. Miller left early in the week for an extended tour of the East, to purchase the finest pipe organs on the market and other equipment. * # * Loew to Build in Alabama Birmingham, Alabama, March 28. — Marcus Loew spent a day in Birmingham as the guest of local Shriners and business men and while here he announced to the citizens that he is going to build in Birmingham a million dollar show house, to house his vaudeville and picture shows. The exact location and plans for the theatre will not be announced, according to Mr. Loew, until afterhis engineers and architects have passed on tentative sites and approved the plans. * * * New Theatre for Bay Ridge N. Y C. Bay Ridge is to have anolher large theatre as a result of the purchase on Saturday of a plot of ground on the east side of 7th ave., including the corners of 81st and 82nd Sts., measuring 214 x 129 feet. The theatre will be built by the Fein Realty Company, as owners, from the plans prepared by Shampan & Shampan, architects. The building will seat 2,000 and is estimated to cost $450,000 * * * Contract has been awarded at $350,000 to F. W. Maurice, 1362 E. 25th St., Oakland, Cal., for the construction of a reinforced concrete theatre building, 101 by 176 feet, Summer Time's the Time To Keep Cool We all seem to be pretty sure of what "a young man's fancy" turns to in the spring, but do you ever give a thought to the thoughts that arise while sitting in a theatre during the sultry days of the summer months ? You ought to, for many an otherwise sterling performance has been ruined because the audience has had to concern itself with the process of keeping cool. The installation of a cooling and ventilating system ought to be as necessary a part of your equipment as your projection room or your box-office. They are a great deal dependent upon each other for the most efficient results. The Typhoon Fan Company has given many years of work and experimental effort in the perfection of a good system, and if the many testimonials from that system's users mean anything, the Typhoon Fan has reached a more or less perfect state. At least it is as good as the present day can make it. It cools the air, and it purifies it at the same time. It has been truthfully reported by manytheatres throughout the country that an almost immediate increase in box-office receipts resulted from the installation of this coo'.in? system. Now that is something that surely is worth while thinking about. seat'ng capacity 1500 (bleacher type) from plans by H. Rafael Lake, Fresno, California. Ackerman & Harris, Phelan Bldg., San Francisco, are the lessees of the theatre. Construction will start immediately. 4: sfe j|c Theatre (approximately 1,000 seats) — 60 x 150, Chicago St., Sturgis, Mich. Archt., Ernest S. Batterson, 406 Henselman Bldg., Kalamazoo, Mich. Owner, C. C. Newman, 506 E. Chicago St., Sturgis, Mich. Drawing plans. * * * Theatre (1,000 seats)— $125,000, 50 x 200, Three Rivers, Mich. Owner, Fitzpatrick, McElroy Co., 202 S. State St. Chicago, and Luther H. Warner, Rex Theatre, Three Rivers, Mich. Contemplated. * * $ Theatre— $100,000, Fallowfield St., Charleroi, Pa. Archt., Victor A. Rigaumont, State Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa. Owner, Michael Rosenbloom, 715 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, Pa. * * * Theatre— $100,000, Mercer St., Greenville, Pa., Archt., V. A. Rigaumont, State Theatre Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa. Owner, W. J. Silverberg, care Mercer Square Theatre, Mercer St., Greenville, Pa. Taking bids. * * * Theatre— $500,000, 170th St. and Jerome Ave., N. Y. C. Archt., Thos. W. Lamb, 644 8th Ave. Owner, University Financing Corp., 1457 Grand Concourse. Plans drawn. * * * . Theatre, Stores— 200 x 180, Mott Ave., bet. Mott pi. and Central Ave., Far Rockaway. Archt., Eugene De Rosa, 110 W. 40th St., N. Y. C. Owner, B. S. Moss Holding Corp., 1564 Broadway, N. Y. C. Prelim, plans. * * * Theatre, Store— 20 x 120, Broadway, Amityville, N. Y. Archt., Louis Inglee, Broadway, Amityville, N. Y. Owner, Star Theatre, Thos. Wardell, Amityville, N. Y. Drawing plans. Theatre— $100,000, 116 x 100, 531-535 Hawthorne Ave., Newark, N. J. Archt, F. Grad, 1023 Broad St., Newark, N. J. Owner, Wolcott Holding Co., Inc., H. Krungold, Pres., 48 Van Reipen Ave., Jersey City, N. J Taking bids. Construction News and Notes