International projectionist (Nov-Dec 1933)

26 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST November 1933 stances. At least, if not the same parts, substitutes for them that will be sufficiently satisfactory in time of trouble. No theatre, within the experience of this writer, is fully equipped with all the test meters, etc., it could profitably use both for emergency and routine inspections. Meters are moderately expensive. But the radio man has most of them — for his own use, and as part of the stock he sells. A comparatively small investment will buy the theatre those the local radio man does not have. In return for its kindness in buying "B" batteries, etc., through him, or upon some similarly inexpensive arrangement, it should be possible for the projectionist to arrange for the use of all those meters when and as he needs them, at no cost to his office. It is true that the radio man seldom has an output meter, or gain indicator, but he often possesses a rectifier-type a. c. voltmeter, and this makes a very satisfactory substitute, especially if it is of the multi-range type. Every radio man owns that very useful instrument, the ohm-meter, and nearly always d. c. volt and ammeters as well. He commonly has useful tube testers, and nearly always a pair of high-resistance headphones. The projectionist may compile a list of all the testing apparatus he would like to have in his projection room (if he had any hope of persuading the office to pay for it), and then visit the nextdoor radio shop. If repairs are made there, he can check the radio-man's equipment against his list, and will find nearly everything he wants, or at least something that will constitute a satisfactory substitute for everything he wants. All that remains is to conclude a satisfactory "deal" with the radio gentleman. The radio man in most instances will KLANGFILM AND ZEISS IKON SETTLE PATENT TANGLE An agreement between Klangfilm, G. m.b.H., and the Zeiss Ikon A.G., has been made whereby in future Zeiss Ikon must equip its projectors and sound reproducers for the German market exclusively with Klangfilm amplifiers and loud speakers, according to a report received from the U. S. Trade Commissioner at Berlin. This agreement is considered as a most important factor in connection with the sound film apparatus market as well as with the sound film patent question in general. Before the agreement in question, cinema owners buying installations from Zeiss had to risk the creation of patent difficulties with Klangfilm. Therefore, these many disturbances and uncertainties stultified the atmaratus market. The theatre owner suffered mostly but the entire film trade felt the effects of the situation also. Code for Colds Keep your mouth shut; breathe through your nose. Keep far away from persons who have colds. Keep good hours; sleep eight of 'em every night. Keep clean; take a bath every day. Keep comfortable; dress according to the weather. Keep fit through the balanced diet ; include leafy vegetables, fruits and a salad; drink a quart of milk every day. Keep the house well aired; windows in every room should be opened for a time each day, and all night in sleeping chambers. Keep the body exercised; walking in the open is the best form of exercise. Walk briskly, your head erect, swing arms and breathe through your nose. Keep away from patent medicines and nostrums; if you have a cold get to bed promptly and call the family doctor at once. Keep the house and, if possible, your working place at a temperature of between 68 and 70 degrees. not be familiar with theatre equipment. If he is to have anything to do with maintaining or repairing it, he will need the advice of the projectionist. But he is familiar with, and thoroughly accustomed to, running down trouble in vacuum tube amplifying circuits fundamentally no different from those in the projection room. He does that all day long; it's his work. The radio man and the projectionist working together on a FREE FREE Knowledge is Power FREE BOOK ON TELEVISION With Order for 1 Quart of 2-in-l Cement at $1.75 a Qt. The Kind That Welds Any Film First Come — First Served HEWES-GOTHAM CO. 520 West 47th Street New York, N. Y. Makers of 50 Movie Products broken theatre amplifier will find and fix the trouble, in most cases, before either of them alone could well get started. If suitable arrangements are made in advance of trouble, and the radio man is given an advance opportunity to familiarize himself with the theatre equipment, the average emergency might well be repaired before the distant regular service engineer can get his car started. If there is no regular service engineer, the radio man's assistance, of course, is just so much more helpful. The radio man can offer technical assistance of another kind. Out of his experience with different but very kindred apparatus, he should be able to offer valuable advice on any steps of improvement or modernization that may be under consideration, and to suggest still others that perhaps had not been thought of. Moreover, radio men are of necessity accustomed to doing things in the least expensive way, and suggestions from them will often be found not only quite practical but seldom to involve any great expense, such as theatres have long been accustomed to in the case of sound apparatus. The radio man will in most cases be able to arrange temporary or permanent microphone set-ups for a stage show, amplifier set-ups for lobby ballyhoo, Canadian Theatre Conditions Show Improvement The motion picture business has shown an increase of 15% in theatre attendance in the Toronto district in September and October, 1933, compared with the same months of 1932. For Toronto, Quebec and the Maritime provinces, the increase is said to have averaged 12%, due to greater trade and industrial activity, augmented payrolls and lessened unemployment, together with the more confident feeling of the public regarding the immediate future. It is accompanied by a 10% reduction in wages and salaries effected earlier in the year. As a result, the theatres are again showing profits, despite decreases in maximum admission prices. The first seven months' receipts, however, were lower than those of the same period of 1932. A small concession in taxation was secured this year in Ontario, through elimination of the tax on admissions at 25 cents or below. The initial tax, of 2 cents, now applies to admissions between 25 and 35 cents. It then increases as admissions rise, with an average of 10% tax. There are in Canada about 1,100 motion picture theatres, of which about 700 are equipped with sound reproducing apparatus. Ontario has 379 theatres, of which 205 are said to be in operation. Of these 150 are wired for sound. The reopenings in Ontario this fall do not exceed five theatres, and 20 will probably cover the total in the Dominion.