The Film Daily (1930)

-. &w DAILV Sunday, October 26, 1930 'THEATER ByM. P. Careful Planning of Booth Highly Important to Theater The following article is one of a series of three prepared by Irwin D. Rathstone, Motion Picture Exhibitors' Engineering Service, in which he discusses the importance in design of the projection booth as most essential in planning or rebuilding any theater. Rathstone says: The projection booth has oft-times been referred to as the heart of the theater. Without its pulsating beats, the theater, no matter how magnificently designed and accoutred, is cold, inanimate, albeit a monument of beauty. Apply projection, and instantly the stage (moving picture screen) is alive with breathing living beings, acting, talking, dancing — holding the attention of the audience. Why is it, that although vast sums are spent in the endeavor to design and build beautiful motion picture theaters, such comparative little attention is vouchsafed that stepchild, the projection booth? Until about two years ago, the writer has found projection booths in newly designed theaters, of insufficient area to properly house the equipment, steel columns raising their bulk through the center of the booth, no lavatory facilities for the projectionists (who may not leave the booth during projection) means of ingress and egress up a straight iron ladder — climbing with both hands and feet. The projection booth, therefore, being the heart of the motion picture theater is entitled to the same care and consideration that the same organ in the body of a human being warrants. The projectionists are the nerves of the system. Coordination i-. the watchword. 1. In planning the booth, let us (onsider the number of projection machines, spotlights and steropticons that will be installed according to anticipated requirements. Expert planning will then provide for the future. What type of sound equipment is acceptable to the owners? Talking pictures were in the experimental stage until about two years ago. Whereas previously arc installation STAGE EQUIPMENT Console Orchestra Elevators Magnescopic-Grandeur Screen BRUCKNER-MITCHELL, INC. 532 West 22nd Street New York only was required, we must now install sound wiring for talkies. The standard screen was then in vogue. Now we must provide for Magnascope and Grandeur which were also in the experimental stage until recently. Wider stages must be designed for this new wide screen. There are now a large number of such screens being installed. 2. Now that we have the pieces of equipment, and we know the sound system that will be installed, a graph is then prepared, plotting in the equipment, and the three dimensions of the booth are ascertained. The motor generator sets (where A.C. is the source of power supply) are then plotted in. We anticipate the power requirements from the type and number of arcs. Having this data we now plot in our generator room. If a non-sync apparatus is purchased with the sound equipment (most, of the installations now being sound track on film only) then a proper housing is required, bearing in mind accessibility to the projectionists. The films must be stored in fireproof approved containers or film cabinet. They must be properly ventilated and housed. New Strong Changeover Put Out by Essanay A super strong changeover device, manufactured by the Essanay Electric Manufacturing Co. of Chicago. is the latest addition to the Strong family of changeovers. Developed for use on the new rear-shutter p-ojectors. Simplex Motiograph, RCA and others, it is said to respond with great ease on the part of the operator by a mere step on the treadle type foot-switch, which will result n an instantaneous noiseless fadeout and fade-in from one projector to the other. Neumade Exhibit One of the outstanding displays at the S.M.P.E. convention the past week was exhibited by Neumade Products Co. of New York, manufacturers of projection booth and studio laboratory equipment. The display, consisting of several new devices, was introduced for the first time with trained engineers in charge from the company's Buffalo factory. Panelboard and Cabinet Discussed in Pamphlet Frank Adam Electric Co. of St. Louis has made the new Leader Type of panelboard and cabinet the subject of a pamphlet recently issued by the company. Aside from comprehensively describing the design and construction of the panelboard-cabinet, with illustrations, it also presents added driti as to the various types available, their arrangement, size and price. In the new Frank Adam panelboardbinct none of the parts are removable from the front, an arrangement which 'lie pamphlet declares to be feasible because all the parts arc built for long life. Another feature of this model is a new wire terminal connector for branch circuit connections. Tin connector is of the clamp contact type and is made from a single piece of copper, without joints. I HIS Stamp of Approval in advertisements of equipment and supplies means: That the NATIONAL GUARANTEE of highest quality is coupled with that of a manufacturer. NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY Branches in all Principal Cities Redecorating Completed Minneapolis — The Shelton Decorating Co. of this city has completed the redecorating of the LaSalle in \ modernistic design. Wnen Modernizing Your Theatre CALL IRWIN D. RATHSTONE IVojection Booth Specialist 152 W. 42nd St. New York City Tel. Wisconsin 7274-0842 RCA PH0T0PH0NE PERFECTS RCA Photophone's engineering department has succeeded in perfecting refinements in two distinct parts of the reproducing mechanism that have enhanced the fuctioning of the equipment as a whole to a high degree, the company announces. For several months the engineers have been endeavoring to increase the sound frequency range of the directional baffle and loud speaker, and it is said that they have now succeeded in producing a speaker that will deliver a clear, rich and mellow sound from the extremely low frequency range of 50 cycles to the heretofore uncaptured high frequency range above 7,000 cycles, thereby making the "s," "f," and "th" sounds clearly distinguishable. Another improvement is reported to have been made by the addition of an impedance roller in the sound head. This roller has a flywheel effect which gives the film an absolutely steady and uniform motion as it passes through the sound gate, thus eliminating the flutter that heretofore has produced distorted sound. If It is ASBESTOS we have it BLUE SEAL ASBESTOS CORP. 264 Wyckoff St., near Nevins Brooklyn, New York Triangle 0290 Distributors for Johos-ManviUe Corp. Draperies Decoration! Magnascope Screens 340 W. 4 1. 1 St. IiPII5M*iiMui4i Settings Acoustical Treatments Acoustical Banners New York City C-^i 'STAGE LAMPS HIGH intensity lighting units, properly designed, give excellent service — spotlights, floodlights, strip lights, sciopticons, or any other form of lighting apparatus used on the stage — also color frames, connectors, and miscellaneous stage lighting supplies. KLIECL BROS Universal Electric Stage Lighting Co., Inc. 321 West 50th Street New York. N.Y.