Year book of motion pictures (1951)

CARPETING Alexander Smith Produces Blended Line for Theaters pAUL GARST, national contract manager for Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company and C. H. Masland & Sons, considers 1950 as outstanding in theater carpet installations and predicts that 1951 will be of even greater importance. Early in 1951 Alexander Smith introduced its New Crestwood carpeting, which is a blend of man-made fibers and wool. The addition of Avisco "15," the new carpet fiber developed by American Viscose, has increased the wear and enhanced the beauty and style of carpets especially designed for public places. The New Crestwood line was developed after years of research, and, according to A. G. Ashcroft, director of research for Alexander Smith, the carpet is superior in every essential use, service characteristics and quality per dollar to the firm's former theater carpets. A variety of patterns, designs and colors have been created for the New Crestwood line by Felix Staedeli, stylist for the company. They include a traditional type design in red and gold, two tracery leaf patterns in green or red, and an Empire period scroll in golden tan on red damask ground. Among the prominent theaters carpeted by Alexander Smith and C. H. Masland in 1950 were the Nubel, Belleflower, Calif.; Sutton, New York City; Gateway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Carib, Miami Beach; United Artists, Detroit. Distribution of Leedom Theater Carpet by RCA NEW LINE of Wilton carpets, especially selected for their suitability for theaters and custom-loomed for the firm under a merchandising arrangement with the Thomas L. Leedom Co. of Bristol, Pa., was added last year to the list of products distributed by RCA. The new line is known as RCA theater carpet and is offered in three grades, designed as "Headliner," "Top Performer" and "The Showman." Cognizance of Newest Trends Taken by Bigelow giGELOW-SANFORD CARPET CO. announces that its 1951 line of carpets will again be most comprehensive. Styled to take care of everyday traffic conditions and decorative schemes of both small and large theaters, the line covers the newest decorating trends as well as traditional types of design and coloring. Bigelow maintains a staff of consultants to aid theater owners in the selection of special design and color effect. The Bigelow line for 1951 ranges from the durable and luxurious Kensington carpet in the moderate-price range to the Hartford-Saxony grades known the world over for their beauty and indestructabilitv. Planned production schedules for 1951 are only slightly below last year, despite shortages of raw materials. Lees Begins Manufacture Of 100% Rayon Carpets 'J'O MEET THE PROBLEM of runaway prices of raw wool, for its supply of which the carpet industry is dependent upon foreign sources, James Lees and Sons Co. in 19 50 began the manufacture of carpets of 100 per cent cellulose acetate rayon, which is said to possess all the characteristics of wool besides being resistant to moths. Leedom Developing Blended Carpets for Theater Field J^WIGHT L. LAWTON, president of the Thomas L. Leedom Co., carpet manufacturer, reports that his company's experience in the theater field was "very good" last year, with the trend running to "large effects and more colorful than ever before." Leedom is developing one or two numbers of wool and rayon fo the theater field. Lawton says that the rayonwool blends "are here to stay and will gradually cut in very badly into the wool business." As far as style is concerned, the firm is going after gayer and more colorful patterns and larger effects. To Lawton 1951 "looks like a good year if we can produce the carpets." He asserts that "there will certainly be a lot of wool-rayon blends used" and thinks that "the trade as a whole will still stick to good quality merchandise." Mohawk lipping Production Of Wool-Rayon Mixtures T AST YEAR saw the large-scale introduction by Mohawk Carpet Mills of a blend of wooland-carpet rayon yarn in the majority of running line and contract fabrics. As expected, there was some initial suspicion directed at these blended carpets by both dealers and consumers, but subsequent tests and information, plus the great desirability of the new carpets, virtually eliminated any remaining doubts. Mohawk announced plans to expand its production of blended carpets even further in 1951. New color and design effects, wearing qualitiessuperior to all-wool carpets of similar construction, a modern, attractive luster, and the many general, all-round attributes of these carpets have convinced buyers that blended carpets are here to stay, according to the company. More Conservative Trend Is Found by Karagheusian T EADING THEATER OWNERS continued to purchase Gulistan contract carpeting in the large scale designs and bright, rich colors made by A. & M. Karagheusian, Inc. Bold motifs using large flowers, leaves and birds remained popular, and indications are that these distinctive patterns will continue in heavy demand in 1951, according to the company. It has become apparent in recent months, however, that a new trend is 636