The film daily year book of motion pictures (1950)

SCREENS LAST YEAR Nu-Screen Corp. of New York was hard put to it to meet the demand for Glascreen, which is made entirely of seamless woven Fiberglas created by the Owens-Corning Glass Co. to give greater brilliance to the picture and improve acoustical qualities. During 1919 the re-screening of the Loew’s circuit with Glascreen and the beginning of the re-screening of the Metro theaters throughout the world became an accomplished fact. The year also marked the installation of the screen by other major circuits, including Interstate, Fabian, Essaness and Fox West Coast, as well as by leading independent exhibitors. The installations, covering every type of house, were reported to have effected great improvement in light, color and sound. With the acceptance of Glascreen by showmen throughout the world, production has been increased and worldwide distribution rights have been on an exclusive basis to National Theater Supply. It was not until the start of 1950 that sufficient screens could be produced to make large-scale distribution possible. The success which has been gained for Glascreen in regular theaters has captured the imagination of the lGmm. users because it fills their need for a highly reflective, non-directional screen that at the same time improves picture beauty. Orders are being regularly filled for both large and small size Glascreens for nontheatrical use. ANEW SCREEN, the Starke “Cycloramic” developed by Herbert Starke, the RKO Radio studios’ chief projection engineer, was offered last year by the 15. F. Shearer Co., long-established Coast equipment house. It does away completely with perforations as well as plasticizers, pigments and all metallic surfaces. The screen maintains its brilliance at wider viewing angles, permits more uniform distribution of sound, eliminates any backstage reverberations, provides perfect vision in front rows without eye strain, gives better vision from sides and balcony without distortion. Other advantages cited are in\isible seams, immunity to fire, fungus or mildew, unusually long life and ease of cleaning and installation. THE THEATER equipment section of the RCA engineering products department this year announced six new specialized screens to supplement RCA’s standard line of Snowhite and Snowhite Vinyl plastic screens. The new line provides a selection of screens for every purpose, many having specialized applications with regard to theater size, lighting and type of equipment. For narrow theaters and those employing low-intensity lamps there is the “Seamless Silver.” The Reflectoramic” is offered for use with highintensity lamps. Available to theaters requiring seamless screens is the “Seamless White,” which also is designed for use with highintensity lamps. A fourth screen is a beaded type for use with low-intensity lamps and for theater and “life-size” television. Designed for either hanging from a ceiling or mounting on a wall is an auditorium stage screen. Scenic roller screens for non-theatrical purposes complete the list. The safety factor has been taken into consideration in all instances. DA-LITE SCREEN CO. of Chicago is introducing four new types of materials for professional screens. The V-l is a folding matwhite and is fire resistant, fungus resistant and washable. One of its best features is that it can be folded and shipped in a very small package to save shipping charges. It requires very little stretching and is easily installed. The V-3 fabric has the same characteristics as the V-l with the exception that it is a roll-type screen. The V-4 is also a fungus and fire resistant fabric. It is a glassbeaded material and is especially fine where low-intensity arc or Mazda lamps are being used. This screen cannot be washed or folded. The last of these new fabrics is the silver. This is a Vinyl plastic fabric, is fire and fungus resistant but is not washable. All four of these screens are seamed screens, and with the exception of the V-4 glass-beaded, the screens are assembled before perforating. This makes the seam practically invisible unless viewed at a very close distance. Radiant manufacturing corp., maker of projection screens, after many years of research and actual tests, has developed a screen fabric that will withstand all weather conditions. The material, known as Vyna-Flect, is mildew-proof, and is in no way affected by fungus. Vyna-Flect is also flame proof in accordance with fire regulations now effective in many cities in the United States and Canada. It has been approved by fire departments for use in showing movies in schools, churches, theaters, or wherever public gatherings are held. This new fabric is also washable, a fact which contributes to its exceptionally long screen life. Picture quality and brilliance of projection are also improved greatly. Considerable experimenting is now in process for a projection screen for use in three-dimension photography. A SEAMLESS, tear-proof plastic screen is a new development of the Williams Screen Co., Akron, O. Practically ruptureproof, this new screen recovers automatically from dents and depressions, remaining flexible indefinitely. Improved reflection is claimed by virtue of the super-smooth surface. This new screen is not subject to contraction or expansion by moisture conditions. The plastic construction permits even, clean-cut perfora 709