Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

XIV BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF January 3, 1925 Left: A view of the auditorium of the Newton theatre showing balcony and loge arrangement. At right: Sidney E. Samuelson, president and managing director of the Newton theatre, in his office in the Newton theatre. Mr. Samuelson has evidently just received his copy of the HERALD. the boiler running six months. Steam can be raised from an absolutely cold boiler with this equipment in twenty minutes. There is an automatic electric sump pump in the boiler room which drains off all water by means of its automatic controls. There is also storage provision for fifty tons of coal. * * * Directly from the orchestra floor a few steps bring one to the stadium which, in this theatre, takes the place of a balcony. The stadium will seat more than three hundred persons and everj seat is on a direct line with the stage, there being no intervening posts. From the stadium, by going up a short, straight ladder, the operator reaches the projection booth, containing the last word in this type of machinery, including Brenkert stereopticons. The operating booth is also equipped with fire-proof doors and automatic fire-proof shutters which isolate it from the remainder of the building. From the projection room, by going up another short ladder, the operator enters the attic. Over the ceiling is a plank walk. From this plank walk the two main auditorium lighting features are controlled and one reaches the ventilating chamber. The ventilating chamber is a revelation to everyone who has seen it. On a con crete platform directly connected with the steel framework of the building, there are four gigantic disc fans. There is a penthouse in the roof. When the windows of this cupola are opened and the fans are working at full capacity, the air in the theatre will be changed every fifty seconds. There is also provision for this system to be operated at a reduced speed so that in the winter the stuffy atmosphere that usually exists in an ordinary theatre, will never be present because the ventilators will be drawing in pure fresh air from the outside and continually substituting it for the impure air of the theatre. * ♦ * Over every exit door and on every main fixture there are provided separate emergency lights independent of the main house system. The draperies and stage settings, by Novelty Scenic Studios, are of gray velour, matching the color of the house. By pressing one button in the operating room, the curtains open, the lights go out, and the picture machine starts. The operator in his booth also controls the lights on the stage and can light them, dim them and project a spotlight at pleasure. All these and many more details go to make up the Newton theatre, the theatre of Sussex County. The Newton theatre, erected by the Newton Amusement Corporation, is composed of the following stockholders : William A. Dolan, Newman E. Drake, E. Merriam Dutcher, Claude E. Mazuy, Doroth A. Samuelson, Sidney E. Samuelson, Bert A. Stewart, and J. S. Wods. The first seven comprise the board of directors and Sidney E. Samuelson is the managing director. The architects of the Newton are Reilly and Hall, of New York. Ben H. Krey, of New York City, was consulting engineer. Electrical Highlights HILE the necessity for the services of * * a competent electrical engineer in large building projects is recognized in the building industry, the importance of this service is given but scant consideration in the smaller buildings. Whether a building be large or small, it cannot be properly or economically electrically equipped without the services of a competent engineer. This statement is not (Continued on page XXVI) The Newton Theatre, Newton, New Jersey, keeps every part of the house in immed i a t e touch with every other part thru a Couch System of 7 Intercommunicating Telephones. DO YOU KNOW or DO YOU GUESS ? The new Newton Theatre guarded against guess-work. Every phase in the operation of this beautiful new picture palace — from the faultless ushering of the inflow of patrons to the perfectly co-ordinated presentation — is in absolute control through the Couch System of Intcrcommumcating Telephones. This installation funushes an interesting story and there are many others. Let us tell you about them. S. H. COUCH COMPANY, Inc. Established 1894 TELEPHONE MANUFACTURERS Office and Factory, Norfolk Downs, Mass. Branch Offices: Boston, 170 Purchase St.; Chicago, 337 W. Madison St. SALES REPRESENTATIVES Seattle. Wash. 222 Hinckley Bldg. SIERRA ELECTRIC CO. New York, N. Y., 428 Broadway. S. H. COUCH CO., INC. Montreal, P. Q., Canada, 3 St. Nicholas Street. MACGILLIVRAY & COMPANY. LTD. San Francisco. 515 Market St., SIERRA ELECTRIC CO.. INC. Los Angelea. 301 Roberts Bldg., SIERRA EI^ECTRIC CO.. INC. INC. Philadelphia. Pa. 1723 Sansom St.. JOHN R. HOLLINGSWORTH Pittsburgh, Pa., 305 Seventh Ave., J. A. JACQUES G. L.