Handbook of projection for theatre managers and motion picture projectionists ([1922])

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MANAGERS AND PROJECTIONISTS 289 partments for each reel, and one compartment below to hold a wet sponge or water. The film should be treated with a little glycerine once in a while, but this is only accomplished by having the film in actual contact with the liquid, as per directions further on. The glycerine is for the purpose of keeping the film soft and pliable, which it does by reason of the fact that it has the property of rapidly absorbing and retaining moisture. Should water, by any accident, be spilled over a reel of film, or it even be dropped in a pail of water, it may be saved from damage if unrolled very quickly, not allowing the emulsion, which will be quickly softened, to touch anything. But the unrolling must be done very quickly or the emulsion will stick to the back of the film and pull off. This does not apply to colored or tinted film, though even these may sometimes be saved by very prompt action. The author once rescued a first-run film from destruction thus : He happened to be in the projection room after the show had closed for the night. In taking the last reel from the magazine it slipped from the projectionist's hands and landed in a pail of water, being practically submerged. He grabbed the reel, ran down stairs, handed the end to an usher, ran to the front end of the theatre, looped the film over a chairback, and ran back and forth until the whole film lay across the back of the seats. The emulsion became very soft in places, but next morning it was found that a total of less than five feet was damaged. The exchange men never knew of the occurrence until more than a month after, when they were told of it. MOISTENING DRY FILM.— Traveling exhibitors often find that a film which has been a long time in use has become very dry and brittle. It may be remoistened and rendered pliable by unwinding into a large metal can, in the bottom of which water has been placed, with a wire screen over it to keep the film from contact therewith. Cover tightly, set in a moderately warm place until the film is soft and pliable. Watch closely, however, since if made too moist the emulsion will stick to the back of the film when it is rewound. It is even possible to give a film a glycerine bath, as follows : In a shallow pan a few inches wide by 6 feet long place a solution of 30 parts of clear water to one part of glycerine. Make a drum of slats about six feet in diameter by about six feet long (for one thousand feet of film), and by revolving the drum draw the film very slowly through