Year book of motion pictures (1950)

BOOTH EQUIPMENT CONTINUED MOTIOGRAPH expansion now enables this company to offer a complete line of major booth equipmentmodern projectors, sound system models for indoor and outdoor motion picture theaters of every size, high-intensity arc lamps and generators with unexcelled performance characteristics. New projector developments include modifications for use of the new type four-inch diameter fast lenses. Motiograph is also introducing more efficient high-intensity THEATER TV HIGHLIGHT of the RCA Service Co.’s activity in the theater field during 1949 was the inauguration of installation and serwce operations in the new field of largescreen theater television. The company installed or actively assisted in the installation of RCA instantaneous TV projection equipment on seven occasions in locations from coast to coast. Specially trained RCA Service Co. technicians also performed standby service at all shows and demonstrations in which the equipments were used. Installations included the following: In April, at the Hotel Statler, New York, for the convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. In June, at the Fabian-Fox Theater, Brooklyn, for the Walcott-Charles fight. In September, at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, for the Theater Owners of America convention, and at the Hotel Stevens, Chicago, for the convention of the Theater Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association. In October, at the Pilgrim Theater, Boston: the Fabian-Fox Theater, Brooklyn, and the West Side Theater, Scranton (Pa.), for the World Series and subsequent events. The corps of theater television service specialists drawn upon for these pioneer installations, product of an intensive training program begun in 1948 to anticipate requirements of the new entertainment medium, will play an important role in the expected growth of commercial theater \ ideo during 1950. This organization of specially trained personnel will be substantially increased during the year by extending the TV training reflector arc lamps to operate at 100 amperes with the use of 10mm. positive carbons. The new Motiograph Hi-l’ower generators promised last year are now being built in two models, one covering the range up to 70/140 amperes, the other for operation up to 125/250 amperes. This line of generators oilers the industry something new in the way of quality performance with a low initial investment. EQUIPMENT program to include many engineers in the nationwide RCA field force now engaged in theater service and installation work. In 1949 the RCA Service Co. added to its theater-service program two features which help to assure exhibitors of maximum operating efficiency of projection and sound equipment at a flat rate for a fixed contract period. The comprehensive parts and repair plan for conventional theaters provides for service and replacement of parts covering projection as well as sound equipment. The in-car speaker parts and repair plan, announced early in 1949, applies to RCA-equipped driveins and provides service and replacement of parts covering both speakers and junction boxes at low weekly or monthly payment rates. TWO NEW YORK firms, the Century Projector Corp. and the Reeves Soundcraft Corp., joined hands this year for the production of large-screen television projection equipment to be distributed by Century dealers. The equipment, dubbed Reeves Videon Projection Television, is intended for use in small theaters and in lobbies and TV lounges. It comes in two screen sizes, three feet by four and six by eight. As the demand grows, larger screen sizes will be announced. Complete flexibility without large cabinets to consume valuable floor space is claimed for the system. There is a choice of front or rear projection. A remote master control unit that may be installed at a distance of as much as 300 feet from the screen houses all controls. PRODUCTION LIGHTING EQUIPMENT CHARLES ROSS, INC., reputed to be the world’s third largest handler and distributor of motion picture and television studio lighting equipment on a sales and rental basis, in the past year increased its stock of equipment available for production work in New York. The step was taken to meet the rising trend of film making in the East. Now at the disposal of producers is an array of equipment running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Included are lighting and grip equipment and generators. The added equipment places Ross in a better position to meet the complete requirements of producers planning to shoot pictures in the East. Gasoline-driven generator sets acquired by the firm are capable of taking care of the current requirements for productions of whatever size regardless of where the shooting is to be done. Like that already on hand, the new equipment, some of which 703