The Film Daily (1931)

THE Sunday, February 8, 1931 -%?a DAILY EQUIPMENTS BOOTH Suggestions for Determining Sound Defects in Small Houses For the testing of small theaters it is necessary to go into the auditorium during closing hours, and it is advisable to take an assistant with acute hearing. Stand near the loud speaker opening and utter a sharp, crisp incisive note in as high a key as possible and note carefully the direction from which any distinct echo or over-reverberation comes. It may happen that the whole volume of sound seems to come back in a ringing blast. Try, in that case, different frequencies by raising and lowering the voice on the same note, repeating in sharp succession. By repeating this process while your assistant tries out the effect in various blocks of seats over the auditorium, some idea of the area of reflection and the modification necessary to provide more even distribution of sound will be gained. It will most likely be seen that the back wall of the auditorium is too sound-reflective, particularly in a case where there is no balcony and the floor of the projection booth provides the ceiling to the back seating. The need for treatment of the wall expanse comprising the front of the projection booth with some material of high sound absorption characteristic will be indicated, and the thickness of this will very much depend upon the thickness o{ the wall in question, for it must be borne in mind that it is acting as facing to a hollow and more or less enclosed air space, the projection booth itself. A very distinct improvement in clarity of sound should be noticed, particularly in the main block of seating up to the front of the projection booth, but it may be found that the wall in the back of the seating also needs treatment. As this wall will be found to be either more solid or less sound-reflecting because it is not marking a hollow enclosure, it is probable that a lighter treatment will suffice. In some single seating area theaters it will be found necessary to include a part of the side walls,, and even a section of the ceiling at the back part of the auditoriuml in the elimination of sound-reflection. In other types the under-side of balconies and even the floor, the latter of course, by carpet or other soundabsorbing floor covering, may need attention. The ceiling formed by the under-side of the balconies should not be treated unless found to be really necessary. Experience has shown, that such surfaces are more often useful in reflecting sound to seats where volume and clarity is lacking. It is already noted that floor treatment may be necessary where there are large expanses of highly reflective flooring such as hardwood over hollow air space. This should be left till other "damping" has been carried out. because it may then be found necessary only to deal with the gangways and the bare space in front of the proscenium. Where the majority of the seats are covered with leatherette of similar highly sound-reflective material, the natural absorption of sound due to the presence of clothed people is often materially lessened, and compensation for this loss has to be allowed. Where the horns are mounted on a wooden stage or platform care should be taken to see that both the floor of the stage and the whole space behind the horns are sound insulated by the liberal use of duly fireproofed under-felt of good substance. The foregoing methods are not intended as a substitute for thorough test and professional treatment when ALTERATIONS LohrvUle, la. — A new building has been leased here by the Gem theater, which is being remodeled for opening the latter part of February. ASBESTOS w«* have i* BLUE SEAL ASBESTOS C^RP. ?64 Wyckoff St.. near Novins "•w>lrlvn New York Trianple 0290 Distributor* for 'nlms-M.nville Coro PROJECTION BOOTHS IRWIN D. RATHSTONE Designer and Builder Sound Installed 152 West 42nd St. N.Y.C. Tel. Wisconsin 7-0842-7274 "Thide" Automatic Shutter Control with 3-wire circuit foot Switch Standard equipment in over 1500 theatres. Fits Monograph Model B, Simplex and Super-Simplex and Sure-Fit. With or without Rear Shutter Mounts. Rear Shutter Mounts require Mode! D type. Convert your Mode' A to Model D type Bracken and parts on rder. DOWSER MFG. CO. 691 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, New York Waukon, la. — The Cota is to be remodeled starting March 1. P. D. Cota is the manager. Fortuna, Cal. — Redwood Theaters, Inc., plan to enlarge the Forluna, installing new seats and a new heating system. Tekamah, Neb. — Weekes and Wickman owners of the Lyric, which was partly de6troyed by fire recently, have announced plans for immediate repairs. Ackley, la. — Fred Bredow is the new manager of the Plaza here. The house has teen closed for remodeling. Erie, Pa. — Talking pictures wili replace burlesque shows. at the Park. Harry Schwartz is the new owner ui tne house, wjiich will be remodeled and sound equipment installed. Chicago — The Bell is to be remodeled and sound equipment installed. Menasha, Wis. — Complete new sound equipment and a new sound screen has been installed in the Brin here. Made Eastern Representative David |F. Tobias has been appointed Eastern sales representative with headquarters in New York for Wright-Decoster, Inc., of St. Paul, manufacturers of dynamic and magnetic reproducers. called for, but there are many owners of small theaters who are desirous of bettering their sound reproduction as cheaply as possible, and it is to them that these hints are offered. BRING BACK THE KIDDIES Our Special Surprise Gift Bag will attract attendance and insure repeat business for your Saturday kiddie matinees. Biggest producers and theatre chains are using our seat selling stunts. Write for details. Universal Toy & Novelty Mfg. Co. 2329 Third Ave. N. Y. C. BRITISH MADE LENSES WIDELY USED IN U. S. London — The majority of film cameras, including projector apparatus, in the United States as weH as in other countries are fitted with lenses made in Britain and of British design, it is claimed in a memorandum recently issued by the British Optical Instrument Manufacturers' Ass'n. The statement is substantiated by facts that show the great strides made by the British optical industry. This progress has been aided by the Government, which officially cooperates with the association. College Board Will Study Sound Films in Education Cedar Falls, la. — RCA Photophone engineers are installing sound apparatus, in the auditorium of the State Teachers' College. This is the first institution in the ^tate to adopt the "talkies" and it is said the college board will make an intensive study of the value of sound pictures in education. Z PROFIT SAVERS FOR YOUR THEATRE M. The new GoldE Carbon Saver will cut your carbon costs 30%. No drilling. No inconvenience. Just insert burned stub and use. For 9 m.'ra Hi-Intensity only. X GoldE Long Life Carbon Jaws can't burn out! They're made of special heat impervious metal. Guaranteed 1,000 hours. Will give years of service. For Hi-Lo Lamps. • ORDER FROM SUPPLY DEALERS • Gold-E Manufacturing Co. 2015 LeMoyne Street, Chicago End Your Back Stage Worries by Installing the Nationwide Endorsed Stage Equipment Automatic Screen Adjuster Stage Rigging and Hardware Counterweight Systems Asbestos Curtains Steel Curtains Soundproof Curtains Hand and Electric Curtain Hoist Draw Curtain Tracks Electric Draw Curtain Control Orchestra Pit Lifts Organ Console Lifts Stage Lifts Movable Stage Band Cars Talkie Horn Towers Contour Curtains Mechanical Stage Effects Revolving Stages Information on any of these products will be gladly furnished upon request. "Stuge Equipment with a Reputation" PETER CLARK, INC. Stage Equipment Specialists for Over 2S Years 544 West 30th St. New York City