The Film Daily (1941)

Building Remodeling Equipment Maintenance VOL. 80, NO. 23— Second Section NEW YORK. FRIDAY. AUGUST 1. 1941 TEN CENTS EQUIP. MANUFACTURING AND SALES STEAD Y Realism Of Films Enhanced By New RCA Mike PLAIN TALK . . . about equipment By GEORGE H. MORRIS Equipment Editor, THE FILM DAILY JUST a few days ago, the lead story in the July 21 issue of M-G-M's promotional newspaper, "To Whom It May Concern," came to our attention. The story was titled, "What's Wrong With the Audience?" On the surface, the yarn appeared to have no bearing on the theater equipment field. But yet it did. We quote in part: " A LMOST every day we are faced with a **new questionnaire or a new battery of experts polling the public, the press, and the exhibitors to determine 'what's wrong with the movies?' It's just occurred to us that maybe they're on the wrong track. We've observed that people are much more annoyed by the audience than anything they see on a theater screen. You never heard patrons come out of a theater swearing at Gable or Hedy Lamarr. But you couldn't print what they say about the lady with the big hat who sat in front of them; or the peanut brittle cruncher; or the man who took the overland route on their toes getting to his seat. Maybe what we really need is a good survey on 'what's wrong with the audience'?" THE story then suggests that those who ' read the promotional newspaper send in their findings, listing briefly, without animus if possible, the five kinds of people most annoying in a typical movie audience. We like surveys. Too, we believe that filmland is only just really awakening to the value they can be in bringing to light valuable information, through which all branches of the industry can be more effectively and efficiently operated. But we cannot help but feel that a survey probing (.Continued on Page 2) Ticket Biz Brisk Chicago — Ticket companies are being rushed with business, according to the Arcus Ticket Co. executives. Company is working full speed to fill ticket orders from theaters and other amusement outfits. The new boxoffice scale establishment for enlisted men, is also bringing in business for special tickets for the service theaters, it is declared. Company Field-Testing Development Currently On Hollywood's Lots Heralding a much higher standard of realism in sound reproduction in motion pictures, a new, strange-looking device known as the "lie microphone" is being field-tested on the movie lots of Hollywood by engineers of RCA Laboratories. Because it is highly directional and capable of efficient operation at substantial distances, the line "mike" functions in a manner akin to the human ear. Instead of being placed (.Continued on Page 4) Navy Honors B & L Rochester — For their contribution to national defense, Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., and its 7,500 employes have been awarded the Navy "E" pennant, symbol of merit, and permission to fly the Navy's official ordinance flag. Under terms of award, each employe will receive a special badge, displaying the official insignia of the Ordnance Bureau. NTS Lists New Orders In Chicago Sector Chicago — R. W. Dassow, manager of National Theater Supply's branch here, reports that Simplex projectors have been installed in the Grove, Beverly, Highland and Parkway, all local nouses, and in the Parthenon in nearby Hammond. Peerless Magnarc lamp sales include the local Sheridan and Garrick, and to the Paramount, Kankakee. Simplex High lamps were furnished, together with rectifiers, to the Indi (Continucd on Page 6) New Exhib. Firm May Build Stadium Theaters Moliograph Equip. Features New Clover Caruthersville, Mo. — The Stadium Theaters Corp. has been incorporated here with $15,000 authorized capital to exhibit motion pictures and to present theatrical and musi (Continued on Page 6) Montgomery, Ala. — A four-leaf clover, eternal symbol of good luck, blazed from the marquee center as the Clover, first nabe house in this city of 80,000, held its formal opening at 717 Fairview Ave., with much local fanfare followed by a dance, sponsored by the Paramount Club of theater employes. Owned by J. E. Britt and operated by Alabama Theaters, Inc. (Richard Kennedy, president), the Clover is of modernistic brick and stucco design, equipped with Mirrophonic sound; hearing aid devices; Bausch & Lomb (Continued on Page 5) Chi. Trade Delegation To Attend NSA Conclave Chicago — A large delegation from the local trade is planning to attend the Fifth Annual Convention and Exposition of the National Sign Association which will be held in Cleveland Aug. 12-14, inclusive. One of the features of the conclave will be theater sign displays. Dedicate Will Sogers Theat. Film Industry Is Widely Represented Knoop Is Designated DuMont Sales Engineer Walter A. Knoop has joined Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., Passaic, N. J., pioneer manufacturers of cathode-ray tubes, oscillographs, television equipment and allied products, in the capacity of Sales En (Continued on Page 3) Tulsa, Okla.— The new Will Rogers Theater, 900-seat suburban house located ZV2. miles from downtown Tulsa on Highway 66, was formally opened with dedication ceremonies beginning at 7:30 p.m., July 21. About 75 members of the film fraternity were present in the capacity filled house for the ceremonies which were presided over by Lou Chatham, (Continued on Page 5) Number of Orders Held Cause of Some Delays, Not Material Shortage Survey aimed at determining the current status of film theater equipment from the standpoint of supply as well as demand discloses that (a) manufacturers are getting a reasonable flow of materials, and (b) exhibition outlets are, in general, placing orders to an extent where dealers assert that the national trade "picture" is very good. Naturally, some territories are finding business better than others, but local conditions, frequently complex, are held accountable for this. For example, shifts in population, as it follows the opportunities afforded by the national opening of (Continued on Page 4) Demand Continues For Kroehler Chairs Chicago — Tide of orders for Kroehler Push Back chairs continues at flood stage, it is asserted by B. B. Buchanan, director of sales for the company. Among the latest orders which have come in are those from Main Amusement Co.'s Main Theater, (Continued on Page 6) Loew's Appoints Altec To Service N. Y. Chain Marking one of the most farreaching realignments in the sound servicing field in recent picture business history, Loew's, Inc., has appointed the Altec Service Corp. to (Continued on Page 3) It'll Be Monopoly Ankeny, la. — Wild scramble is on to be the only theater operator here. Government is constructing $85,000,000 munition plant near this community, with 633 population. Community has been without a movie, and the town fathers have agreed that only one will be permitted. Hence the headlong battle to be the sole exhibitor hereabouts.