Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

50 Better Theatres Section November 22, 1930 The First Projectionists' Union? Here Are New Orleans' Credentials DOWN in the city of New Orleans, I was told by members of local 293, that it was the oldest motion picture projectionists' organization in these United States of America. I questioned this statement, believeing that while it was made in good faith, the New Orleans men were nevertheless in error, especially when they told me the New Orleans union was organized in 1908. It seemed to me other unions had been organized prior to that, notably the one in Chicago, where I was working as projectionist during that year. My doubts were set at rest, however, when E. M. Snyder went home and dug up the two working cards which are herewith submitted for your consideration so you can judge for yourself whether or not Snyder is supported in his contention. You will take notice that the first card bears the name, "International Brotherhood of Electric Picture and Projection Machine Operators." It is probable that in a cut the seal will be invisible, but it is nevertheless there and reads, "I A T S E Branch Number 1 Moving Picture Operators Union, New Orleans, La. Organized January 1, 1908." The second card bears the same seal, but you will observe the name has been altered. It reads, "New Orleans Mo tion Picture Operators, Branch one, I A T S E." However, on the cover of the card case, the following appears, "MP&PMO, New Orleans Local Number one, Branch of the I A T S E." There, gentlemen, conversation is all right, but it really seems to me that these cards settle the matter, insofar as Orleans Moving Picture Machine Operators Jan. cw (54 INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF Electric Picture and Projecting ...Machine Operators... THIS IS3. 1~0 That JE^^J&gJsfl is a ptcmiber in gootl-st, QccupattQn --fcarStf. * . . . Jjfc. .«. ■gSMKag&>«f»i«'<inr.p -,»v.-. ..... . , ' has to do with what projectionists' union the I A T S E chartered first. Anyway, it will be interesting to see now what you other men have to say about it. Brother Snyder was good enough to loan me these cards for publication, an act of courtesy which your editor and, I am sure, the thousands of our readers will appreciate. Friend Snyder is now stage manager in one of the big New Orleans theatres. or leave any "footprints on the sands of time" that won't be washed away very soon and very completely. As to Brother Plaza's questions: Friend Daughter succeeded in deciphering part of the first one, which reads, "I made a cardboard shutter and cut two squares about 2y2x2 inches each, off the blades, substituting therefor a couple of pieces of perforated sound screen." If Plaza is using 22 amperes of current with a Peerless lamp, and is getting a bad flicker, either he is showing silent pictures and running at a low projection speed, or else there is something radically wrong with his shutter. However, flicker tendency also depends to a considerable extent upon the brilliancy of illumination of the screen. The more brilliant the illumination, the greater the flicker tendency at any given projection speed. I would suggest that Plaza order from the Simplex people, a threewing shutter blade and try it out — that is to say, if the cardboard shutter has the same proportions as the regular two wing shutter that comes with the Simplex. If, however, he has altered the dimensions (width) of the cardboard shutter blades, as compared with the regular shutter blades, then I can offer no advice until I know exactly what has been done. A small alteration in the width of shutter blades may have quite an effect on flicker tendency. If I were going to eliminate the condenser, I would consult the maker of the lamp, asking him to send the proper re COMMUNICATIONS to the editor of this department should be addressed (until further notice) as follows: F. H. Richardson 43-28 Thirty-ninth Place, Long Island City, N. Y. flector, provided he can supply one that will fit the carrier. As a matter of fact, I doubt the advisability of attempting that sort of stunt, I think, though some projectionists have reported excellent results by using one of the reflectors made for a Strong lamp in the smaller type of Peerless. I am under the impression that in doing this the condenser is eliminated, but of that I am not sure. (Will some of the men who have pulled this stunt be good enough to make a report?) As to the last question, the only "cement" used, as far as I know, is a good heavy brown shellac. One should remove the cap, clean it very thoroughly, apply the shellac with a brush, put the cap in place and tighten it down quickly, remembering that shellac sets very rapidly. If oil comes out around the edges of the glass in the oil sight window, I would remove the intermittent movement from the projector, clean the glass and the surrounding metal very thoroughly, wash it off with benzine or