The Film Daily (1938)

THE FILM DAILY Friday, December 2, 19: THEATERS • ILLUMINATION • AIR CONDITIONING • NEGATIVE FILM EOUI ACADEMY OFFERING "BALANCING FILMS" Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that, to help present a better show to the public, "Balancing Films," recorded in Hollywood studios especially for this purpose, are now available for all theaters desiring them. These films, the Council states, make it possible to balance machines so that one will not reproduce louder or softer than the other, and present an entire show without unwarranted changes in the loudness or softness of the dialogue or music. Production of the films is under direction of the Research Council Theater Standardization Committee, chairmaned by John K. Hilliard. A folder containing complete directions and photographs illustrating the use of the films has been prepared by the committee and a copy will be sent out with each set. Studios co-operating in this project include: Columbia, M-G-M, Paramount, Republic, RKO Radio, Hal Roach, 20th-Fox, UA, Universal and Warner Bros. 'Typewriter' Sign Chicago — Irving Naxon, whose laboratory is located at 2101 W. Walnut St., has invented a device, which he says, will revolutionize the sign industry. He has obtained 40 patents on the device, which uses large neon tubing and is capable of forming, many new word combinations, transmitted to it through control keys conforming to the standard typewriter keyboard. The keyboard can be operated by a radio hookup from remote points, and can flash the same message to other signs anywhere in the country. Messages can be changed constantly. Sudbury, 27,000 Pop., Will Add 2 to Its 3 Pix Houses Eberson to Design Three Theaters for Met. Life Designation of John Eberson as architect for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.'s three theater units contemplated for its new $65,000,000 housing project in the Bronx, and that plans for the first unit, seating 1,700, are now under way, was announced yesterday. Coincidentally, it was learned that Eberson has also been awarded the architectural trust in connection with a 32-story office building to be erected in Houston, Tex., costing approximately $3,500,000. While this project contemplates no theater, selection of Eberson as architect is said to be predicated upon his having designed a number of Ottawa — Two new theaters are under way in Sudbury, which already has three cinemas for a population of 27,000. One is being built by J. Cohen in association with Henry Falk, while a second, to cost $100,000, has been started by Robert Stevens, independent, who operates the Regent in Sudbury. There are two circuit theaters in the town, the Capitol and Grand. i HURLEY EVEN-LITE j Gradationally Perforated (R SCREENS* HURLEY SCREEN CO. 4 Exclusive Sales Agents Q HURLEY SCREEN DIVISIONS 145 Valley St., Belleville, N. J. S outstanding film houses in the Southwest and Middlewest. Among other current activities involving Eberson are (a) the scheduled opening on Dec. 22 of Warners' Beverly in Washington, D. C, which house he designed; (b) his selection to supply the design and functional decorative features of a restaurant of extraordinary appearance in Warners' Earle office building in Washington; (c) and the breaking of ground on Monday, last, for the new 1,000-seat film theater being built in Hayattsville, a Washington suburb, by the Globe Amusement Co. for Sidney Lust. The Mohler Construction Co. of Washington has been awarded the contract for the erection of the new Kennedy Theater in the nation's capital. Harris Shapero is owner; Warners' Circuit, lessees; and John Eberson, architect. John McNeill, general contractor of Floral Park, L. I., has been awarded the contract for Prudential Playhouses' new theater in Greenport. This is also Eberson designed. VICTOR INTRODUCES PORTABLE PROJECTOR FOREST MAGNESIUM-COPPER SULPHIDE RECTIFIERS A new 16 mm. portable Continuous Projector, which is being placed on the market in both silent and sound models by Victor Animatograph, Davenport, Iowa, embodies a patented "advance-feed" principle which insures trouble-free performance, and protection against film destruction, it is announced by the company. Retarding factor of continuous projection up to now, it is pointed out by Victor engineers, has always been the eventual tightening up of, and the loss of freedom in the film windings in the film magazine or around the film driving rollers, but the new "advance-feed" principle eliminates this former liability. In the Victor continuous, film is wound loosely around two large wheels which are driven synchronously by an endless belt, which also acts as a conveyor for the film. Latter literally hangs from the upper wheel, which actually carries the film instead of drawing it along, it is asserted. Filmack Circular Lists Christmas B. O. Boosters A new "Christmas Quiz Night," suggesting Santa on the stage in person asking the audience 25 timely questions about Christmas, its origin, its history and its legends, with cash or merchandise awards for the correct answers from members of the audience, is one of 50 December box-office booster-ideas in the new 24-page circular covering Christmas trailers suggested by Pilmack Trailer Co., Chicago. The circular, adequately illustrated and featuring many new December ideas, has been mailed 15,000 theater men. It was produced under the direction of Kroger Babb, new advertising department head at Filmack. Charles Ross, Inc. Formerly Motion Picture Lighting and Equipment Corp. We Furnish Electrical Lighting and Lighting Equipment of Any Kind 244-250 West 49th Street New York City Tel. Circle 6-5470-1 ■ AUDItOi By FRANCIS Nela Park Engineering BECAUSE of the almost toriums, with influences modern, and from the botli every conceivable lighting n questionably, architectural played a far more importa fortable and safe seeing. The purposes of auditori investigation we are chiefly vision and how to provide fc well. IN ORDER to visualize th< torium lighting, they are 1 . Comfortable Visiot to darkened interiors and standards; 2. Convenience: Peopl seats withput annoyance to which is expensive; 3. Safety. Light disc darkened theaters. Accidei 4. Program Appri "plus" value that secures aid in counteracting seasons grams or holiday celebration! preciation. It makes people! 5. Cleanliness: Light r As previously stated, it is factors in lighting an auditoi the one factor of ocular ci * IN THE past we were def priate brightness meter J alysis of brightness conditio! any given seat. Few peopli titative terms. A great del Lighting Committee of SM ment. This need has been mittee reports from time to venient instrument, the Lt sible to focus the instrume termine the brightness of t to 50,000 footlamberts. Tl per square inch, or in the r The footlambert may be i diffuser emitting one lumei fusion, the footlambert is 1 footcandles illuminating a s mission factor of the surfac candle on white. (In a succeeding issue the aut of the Lighting Institute at Nela \ comfort in the film theater.) Complete Decorating arid Draperie Murals— Draperies — Stage. Curtains ' Specialists in Creation pj Smart Interiors NOVELTY SCENIC STUDIOS, lm 320 W. 48th St.,New York City A. I. Kessler, Mg