The Film Daily (1927)

THE 10 DAILY Sunday, July 10, 1927 Theater Equipment and Management By MICHAEL L. SIMMONS PROJECTOR FIREGUARD DESCRIBED BY S.M.P.E. This is the sixth installment of the report of the Society of M.P. Engineers, outlining technical progress made during the first half of 1927. Previous installments appeared in the issues of May 1, 8, 22, 29 and June 19. Another installment will appear in an early issue. A new safety device which renders impossible a fire in the projector is said to be perfected. (108). It has nine control stations at the various sprocket wheels and belts, and an electrical system whereby a break in the film, buckling, blowing of the fuse, etc., will instantly throw a lamp house dowser. Should the system fail to work, the mechanical features of the invention function and the failure of the fihn to properly pursue its course instantly shuts off the power and throws the dowser. In projection it is often important to get as much light as possible through the film aperture, but it is also necessary to consider the temperature of the film surface at this point. With the introduction of the mirror optical systems, in which the heat at the aperture is very much more than in the case of lens systems, this necessity has come more into prominence, and the relation be tween the temperature at the film and the useful light flux has been given new study. (109). It was found that the temperature in the case of a metal mirror was almost twice as great for a screen illumination of fixed value as that produced by a system employing a glass mirror and condenser. This ratio was somewhat less for a screen Sources of Material (106) "M. P. News", February 25, 1927, p. 698. (109) "Zeitschrift fur Technische Physik," Beipzig, No. 12, 1925, p. 661. (110) Goldberg, Science et Industries Photographique, Paris, 6A, June 1, 1926, p. 60. (111) "Kinematograph. ic Weekly," London, 114, August 19, 1926, p. 87. (112) Loyd A. Jones, Clifton Tuttle, Trans. S.M.P.E. Volume X, No. 26, p. 183. (113) C. N. Bennett, Bioscope Supplement, London, 3, June 3, 1926, p. v. (114) H. E. Jodoin, United States Patent 1593767. (115) J. F. R. Troeger, United States Patent 1597300. (116) P. A. Congy, French Patent 610040. (117) L. Kepruska, British Patent 256571. ■$ An instance of ventilating towers erected by the Cooling Towers Co., Inc., atop the Paramount, in which the design of the structure is modified to blend writh the design of the theater. illumination of double this value. A theoretical loss of 28.6 per cent of available flux was measured in a condenser system composed of a glass parabolic mirror and a condenser of 50 cm. focus and 20 cm. in diameter, which was due to absorption and dispersion. The effect of the brightness of the light source and of the cooling mechanism was also included in this study. Comparative temperature measurements in the aperture of motion picture projector gates have been made from measurements of the resistance of a blackened wire in the gate, (110) and Odencrant's experiments on the temperature in film gates have been summarized. (111). An opaque black body placed in the gate is the standard receptor. Film during normal travel through this region should not reach a temperature of 90 degrees Centrigrade though its inflamation point is about 155 degrees Centigrade. Screens A very complete analysis of the eflection characteristics of many commercial projection screens was presented (112) at the last meeting of the society. Tables were included which may be applied to particular problems in selecting the proper types of screens for auditoriums and theaters. A semi-specular screen has beer made from paint, aluminum and gilt spangles and used in some large London theaters. (113). This screen is found to give a strong axial reflection Fessenden with Carpenter-Goldman G. R. Fessenden has resigned as publicity director of the North East Electric Co., Rochester, N. Y., to become general manager for the Carpenter-Goldman Laboratories, Inc., 161 Harris Ave., Long Island City, New York. The Carpenter-Goldman Laboratories are known as experts in the educational and industrial motion picture field, and are producers of scientific and technical pictures. They have specialized particularly in animated drawings and in motion photo-microscopy. Anger Tells How U. A. Houses Will Be Equipped Los Angeles — "In all of our theaters a special type of seat, recently designed, will be installed. The first of these seats which has a cushion back, will arrive soon in Los Angeles for the new United Artists' theater, now nearing completion on Broadway, between Ninth and Tenth Sts.," declared Lou Anger, operating head of the firm's rapidly forming circuit. "Also, the big American audiences have become 'sold' on good organ music. For the new theater here in Los Angeles we are now having constructed by the Wurlitzer Company the world's greatest and costliest organ, and this will arrive for installation for the opening on Thanksgiving Day." without rendering the picture dull to patrons in the front and side seats. A paint has been devised for motion picture screens (114) which contains small amounts of color. These, it is claimed, do not visibly alter the whiteness of the screen coating but are "responsive" to color in the projected beam. More perfect reproduction is said to result through the use of a projection screen including a transpar ent plate having fine sinusoidal corrugations formed in its display side and covered with a semi-opaque varnish layer. (115) A translucent screen has been devised for daylight projection (116) which has one face polished and the other, which faces the spectators, matte and dark. Dark coverings have been arranged both behind and in front of a translucent screen to permit the passage of projected light and to obstruct dispersed light. (117). Capitol Offers Reductions on Equipment Material Washington, D. C. • — As a special inducement to exhibitors to purchase such modern equipment as their theaters may need, the Capitol Theater Supply Co. is offering a special inducement of IS per cent reduction from list price on all purchases up to July 15. The company in making announcement to exhibitors says: "Please keep in mind that our thought is that whatever losses we may sustain on this thirty day sale will be more than offset by an increased volume of business, additional good will of exhibitors, and advertising of which you will reap the benefit." Portland Changing Building Code Portland, Ore. — Amendment of the building code relating to theaters is under discussion by city commissioners, fire marshal and local owners. 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