International projectionist (Jan 1963-June 1965)

Inflight Motion Pictures Marks Third Anniversary On Sunday, August 16, some 4,000 persons took in a movie— a big screen, full color production. The remarkable point about this otherwise unremarkable event is that these movie-viewers were passengers in flight aboard 50 Trans World Airlines jetliners on air routes over four continents and one ocean. tional routes after a brief schedule of showings on domestic flights. The movie-equipped aircraft were transferred back to the international fleet. For the first two years, Inflight movies were shown only in first-class on trans-Atlantic routes between New York and London, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt and Rome; later on flights direct to Europ e from the Wesc Coast and flights originating at Chicago. And although most passengers probably didn't think of it as they saw the OscarWinning "Tom Jones" "The Chalk Garden" and other top films, they helped mark the third anniversary of the introduction of Inflight Motion Pictures, the internationally known feature of TWA's passenger services. Three years ago, when TWA became the first airline to offer inflight entertainment to its passenger?, a total of eight flights were equipped to show one film to a total of about 100 first-class passengers. Today, all passengers, economy as well as first-class, on all TWA transAtlantic and international flights, and on all trans-continental nonstop StarStream flights in the United States, have the opportunity to attend a movie in flight. Last month TWA lanunched the first of its movie flights from Chicago to the West Coast. In all, more than 21.000 film showings have been seen by TWA passengers in the three-year period — a little more than 3,000 the first year, 5,000 the second, and 13,000 in the past year. Currently, movies are being shown 1,500 times each month over the entire TWA system which covers Europe, North Africa and the Near and Middle East as far as Bombay, as well as the United States. Inflight movies can be shown with the cabin fully lit without interfering with any other airborne service. The earsets can be worn comfortably during dining. Anniversary film fare on August 16 for the TWA's domestic passengers include such other full-color films as Alfred Hitchcock's "Marnie" the wide screen comedies "What a Way to Go" and "Move Over Darling" and the widely-heralded Tennessee Williams "Night of the Iguana." Trans-Atlantic passengers saw the Jack Lemmon-Romy Schneider comedy "Good Neighbor Sam" and "The Chalk Garden," both in color. TWA launched regular showings of Inflight movies on its interna In May 1963, TWA extended the movie service to the economy class cabins of international flights. In August 1963, with more new Boeing StarStream equipment added to its fleet, TWA began showing Inflight movies in first class cabins on nonstop transcontinental flights, extending the feature to the coach cabins last April ( 1964) . During the 36 months of its operations. Inflight has presented 156 top motion picture attractions, at the rate of one new film a week, on the TWA system. Of thes^, 101 or 65 per cent were in full color. Sixty-four were shown in the full wide-screen aspect ratios of Cinemascope and Panavision. Inflight Motion Pictures, Inc., is the culmination of five years of ex perimentation by its president, David Flexer, a theatreman from Memphis. Tennessee, who poured over a million dollars into developing the fully automatic, unattended and totally safe-guarded projection system. It became airborne with the cooperation of TWA, who provided the first facilities for experimentation and testing in the sky. The projection system is comparable to the best deluxe theatre presentations, maintaining full values of color, screen size and sound. Feather weight earsets deliver the dialogue, music and sound effects to the individual passengers, so that others are not disturbed. Without sound, the screen, placed far forward in the cabin, is not distracting to anyone, reading, sleeping, or otherwise occupied. iP Film Mulitarors Continued from page 5 profession to remove his trademark before he foists it on the next Brother. Splicing can be a source of trouble and if poorly done is a form of mutilation. Improper splices can cause the picture to jump; weaksplices may hold through the maker's run, but part at the next showing. In the early days, it was regular procedure to run the end of the film over the tongue to moisten the emulsion, give it a swipe or two with a razor blade or pocket knife, then holding the two ends between thumb and fingers flow cement thru the joint for a very acceptable splice. Today's film is quite another thing. A good splice is pretty much a work of art. A firm, smooth, lasting splice combines these elements: a good film cement that will not wrinkle film, a piece of 80 grit production sand paper cut l/2 to %" wide and about W2 l°ng, and a good film splicer. Do not wet the emulsion. With the film in place in the splicer, fold the sand paper once, and using the edge against the clamping finger, remove the emulsion. Then reverse the hands and remove the gloss from the other end film back. Apply cement generously, close the splicer for about three seconds, open splicer and firmly rub off surplus cement with a cloth or paper. Remove the film from the splicer and again rub off any surplus cement. This entire process will require about ten seconds, but must be developed in accordance with conditions and speed of the cement. A splice properly made following the above procedure will outlast the film. iP West Coast Mourns Cappy DuVal, IATSE Business Representative Funeral services for B. C. "Cappy" DuVal, International Representative of the IATSE, were held September 26 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, Calif. DuVal died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Inglewood, Calif. A member of Hollywood Property Craftsmen's Local 44 since 1923, he served it as Business Representative for many years prior to joining the staff of the International union several years ago. At the time of his death, he was connected with the lATSE's West Coast office. He served also as a delegate to the Los Angeles Central Labor Council. Since 1926, he had been a member also of Chicago Stage Employes Local No. 2. iP International Projectionist October, 1964