The Film Daily (1931)

THE ■c&Ok DAILV Sunday, June 21, 1931 'THEATER By M. P. NEW SPLICE PROCESS MARKETED BY EASTMAN Rochester, X. Y. — An improved tem of treating the sound track at splices, a system that is said to eliminate the messy methods of painting, at the same time successfully silencing splice noise, has been brought out by the Eastman Kodak Research Laboratories. The new method was described to the industry more than a year ago, but production of the necessary "blooper patches*' and the simple block for applying them has only recently made it applicable in processing laboratories and projection rooms, the company declares. A material consisting of a very thin clear film base, coated with emulsion and exposed to produce opacity, is used. The patches are five perforations long and are cut in a shape designed to cover the track completely lur a distance equal to the width of a standard splice, but tapering toward each extremity until the sound track i completely exposed. The patching system, the company claims, obviates a condition in which imperfect painting of the sound track at splices frequently caused noises as objectionable as the extraneous sounds made by the reproducing tem when an untreated patch went through. The older method caused more dissatisfaction in projection rooms than in laboratories, where skilled workers painting the sound track at hundreds of splices a day attained proficiency in the process. It is believed that greater speed, together with assured accuracy, even in the laboratories, can be gained by use of the new patching process. Invents Shutterless Camera West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A device that is likely to revolutionize the photographic end of the motion picture industry has been invented by Gabriel Garcia Moreno, a young Mexican optical engineer. It is claimed to be the first motion picture camera with a continuous movement of film. This continuous movement requires no shutter, is silent and free from vibration. Other advantages that Moreno claims for his camera include its possibilities for photography in natural colors, due to the increased exposure time. Inspection Vital Regular inspection of theater roofs so that the drain pipes are not clogged with debris should be insisted upon by managers. Stoppage of pipes will cause more expense than the little effort required for the regular clearance of rubbish on the roofs. Pointers and Suggestions A/fAXV theater operators are deadening their houses in an effort to obtain better sound reproduction. The use of too much absorbent material means that the talking apparatus must be pushed up to its limit oi \olumc in order to carry the sound to all parts of the house. When once this is done all the bad unwanted noises are amplified, scratches, A.C. hum and a certain amount of distortion appear, with the result that speech is garbled and a proportion of both high and low frequencies are lost in the reproduction. In many houses where too much absorbent material has been used the bass notes been almost eliminated. * * * By floodlighting the facade of yowt theater you can make it stand out from every other building within night. Floodlights, when property arranged, are the most effective and beautiful kind of advertising one can have. * * * Is jour projection booth properly equipped for good sound reproduction? The projection room is the very heart of the theater — and is worth the price of standard equipment, of adequate maintenance, of the best known safety standards, and of a personnel capable of keeping it at the high peak of efficiency which is an essential part of good workmanship. Any theater manager who is unwilling to face these facts — who will try to get by with obsolete equipment and inexperienced help — is restricting his own progress and turning people from the box-office to other forms of amusement. Mohawk Carpeting Used In 4 New Warner Houses Four new Warner theaters, the Cinema in Cleveland, the Palace in Orange, X. J., the Maryland in Hagerstown, Md., and the Earle in Washington, D. C., have lately been equipped with Mohawk's Scotia Velvet carpet, using a total of 4,820 yards in all. Mohawk hard service axminster was selected for the redecoration of the Warner Riverside in Bristol, Pa., which required 135 yards. All of these installations were made through the Continental Theater Accessories, Inc.. of Xew York. Adds Program and Slide Service Kansas City — The Midwest Advertising Service of this city, in addition to making signs, banners and lobby displays for theaters, has increased its activities to include the making of merchants' slides and has installed printing equipment to handle theatrical p.ograjn printing. LATEST RCA PHOTOPrlONE FITS SMALLEST THEATER An all-AC-operated sound reproducing equipment especially designed for theaters of small capacity up to 500 seats has been placed on the market by the RCA Photophone Corporation of Xew York. The new special size equipment sound head is of the new belt driven design with AC operated exciter lamp. This design, the company claims, provides extreme simplicity and satisfactory performance. The amplifier is 24 inches wide, 11 inches high, and 8 inches deep. It is capable of producing ample volume in an auditorium containing up to 500 seats and having a cubical content up to 75,000 cubic feet. It occupies so small a space, it is said, that it can be placed on the wall of the projection booth between the projectors. The apparatus is operated with 110volt, 60 cycle and 50 cycle A.C. and 115-volt D.C. power supply, with slightly increased cost for Powers projectors or D.C. power supply. Xo batteries or motor generators are required and because of the compactness of the entire unit, it can be installed in exceptionally small projection booths, the company declares. The new loud-speaker and directional baffle manufactured by the company are supplied with special size equipment. The special equipment, priced at $1,600, may be acquired byr the exhibitors for a down payment of $100 and $25 weekly for two years. This weekly remittance includes rental, insurance, finance charges and service at the rate of one call monthly. Final Check If you have not completed your preparations for warm weather the following list may help serve as a reminder in your final check: Interior lighting should be changed to cool green or other appropriate colors. Have your heating plant put in condition for warm weather. Decorate your lobbies and foyers with flowers and greens. See that your doormen and ushers have been supplied with summer-looking uniforms. Clean and re-lamp your theater front and signs. Check up on your seats and see that they are clean and comfortable. Create some "cool and comfortable" gags for your lobby. Check up on your screen and see that it is not dirty, loose or bulgy. Arrange for ice water conveniently located for your patrons. Mitchell Takes Over Fulton Branch Atlanta — J. Mitchell, long with the E. E. Fulton Co., and recently in charge of the Philadelphia branch, has assumed management of the local branch of that theatrical supply concern. He succeeds P. C. Parrish, who recently resigned. Hall & Connolly Busy With Projection Orders Among recent installations of its products made by Hall & Connolly, projection and spot lamp manufacturerof Xew York, were six H.C. FRIO projection lamps, two HC-4 projection lamps and one high intensity spotlight. Two each of the FR-10's went to the Clinton and Stadium theaters, and to the Harlem Grand, all of Xew York City. The pair of HC4's were installed in Loew's Yendome, Nashville, while the high intensity spotlight went to Proctor's Palace. Newark, X. J. The Clinton, Stadium and Vendome installations were supplied through Sam Kaplan, while the outfits for the Harlem Grand and Proctor's Palace were distributed by Xational Theater Supply Co. The particular advantage embodied in the FR-10 model, which was developed late in 1929, is its capacity of from 120 to 225 amperes. This, the company declares, provides economical illumination for the projection of standard size film and can be used by the exhibitor should he later desire to utilize wide film, without purchasing a new lamp outfit. L — _v LITTLE THINGS that mean so much to good lighting THE many important little things required for proper illumination of the stage are here in abundance — parts and supplies of every description ; carbons for arc lamps, cable and connectors, gelatine and glass color mediums, color wheels and color frames, resistances, enclosed pedestal switches, terminal lugs. etc. — also spot-lights and other stage lamps of various kinds. KLIEGL BROS Universal Electric Stage Lighting Co inc 321 West 50tm Street NewYork.NY.