International projectionist (Nov-Dec 1933)

14 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST December 1933 PROJECTIONIST APATHY BARS CRAFT PROGRESS M. D. O'Brien ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PROJECTION, LOEW THEATRES SECRETARY, PROJECTION ADVISORY COUNCIL Foreword : This article originally was a personal letter from Mr. O'Brien to Stanley T. Perry, President of the Guild of British Kinema Projectionists & Technicians, and was not intended for publication. So accurately does the letter mirror prevailing conditions within the craft, however, that Mr. O' Brien was prevailed upon to release it for publication, which he graciously assented to do. — Editor. YOUR current Projectionists' Journal containing a report of the annual meeting of the Guild, includes the remarks of several members relative to the very apparent growing apathy of some members toward their work and their craft. Obviously, you are suffering from the same disease with which American projectionists have been afflicted for several years now. I date the introduction of this apathetic attitude to the advent of sound pictures. Up to that time projectionists generally were hard-working, ambitious craftsmen. Educational organizations were making fine progress, with the business meetings being given over largely to the induction of new members. Lecture and demonstration sessions were well attended by men who seemed hungry for information. One organization in particular became very strongly intrenched throughout America, with some 26 chapters being organized in key points. Members of this organization soon gained recognition as thoroughly dependable craftsmen, always well-informed regarding the latest projection developments. Many of the projection devices which are today considered indispensable projection room necessities were developed by this organization's members. L need mention only a few such developments: even-tension take-up, rear shutters, lens turrets, and the magnascope screen, in addition to many "tricks of the trade" which today are commonplaces of projection rooms. Nothing of a political or secular nature was permitted to intrude upon this society's business. Education held full sway. And then came sound pictures. After Sound — What? One would immediately conclude that sound pictures intensified, rather than diminished, the need for educational activities. But something happened to produce just the opposite effect. The flurry of new installations operated to bring to a complete halt the educational sessions then in progress. Of course, it was thought that once the projection room returned to a more or less even keel, these sessions would be resumed with increased vigor. But they never were. Education anent the intricacies of sound equipment and its operation was NRA Codes to Revivify Unions (Continued from preceding page) tion of the autonomy of constituent unions to prevent them from being bossed and overwhelmed by outside organizations." Professor Slichter saw two opportunities in the future for trade unionism to develop, saying: Codes Offer Opportunities "First, if there is pronounced inflation I believe it will strengthen the A. F. of L. and employee representation plans. When there are wage increases in the picture the employes' representatives come into their own and get credit for the increases which would have come as a matter of course. "The other opportunity is presented by the codes. Some way or other the codes have to be enforced. If the unit representation is to be the plan, it will make for an industrial form of organization which does not fit the A. F. of L. If the A. F. of L. fails to organize the large industries under the codes I suspect that independent organizations will develop because of the code and become increasinely independent. I think the real unionism is coming in American industry through one group or the other." Professor Slichter said that with two years of operation under the NRA industry would find the codes indispensable, although it would take a generation to learn how to operate under them. seriously handicapped by the so-called "electrics" themselves. We were assured that there was no need for our learning "too much" about sound equipments, because the "electrics" themselves would inspect, service, maintain and repair all essential equipment. Waiting Without Watching So we projectionists just sat back and let matters run their course. After a spell of this sitting back we found it impossible to rouse ourselves from our lethargy. We entered upon a period which saw the vogue of the service man — not only for sound equipment but for changing mechanisms, replacing working gears, and oiling and greasing our projectors. No attempt was made to properly educate the new men who swarmed into the craft, as a result of the sudden demand for manpower, and their lax attitude quickly communicated itself to the older men. In fact, we soon found ourselves doing practically nothing but threading the film into the mechanism. If a tube burned out, the service man appeared like some grim spectre at our elbow and replaced it. If a fuse blew, most of us pulled up a campstool and waited for Service Man No. 8,762, who, you must know, looked after fuses exclusively. Did the batteries require a little water? Presto! someone appeared with water. In fact we were practically wet-nursed from the inception of sound. We were petted and pampered, and we quickly developed a tendency to stand around and helplessly suck our thumbs. By now we have grown to like the taste of our thumbs, and we are almost beyond the point where we can be broken of the habit. Mental or physical effort of any kind is a thing of horror to most of us. "Call the service man." Everything being done for us, the educational societies soon gathered generous coatings of dust through idleness. Having nothing but plenty of time on their hands, most of these societies proceeded rapidly to demonstrate how easy it is to get into mischief. This they did with a startling show of efficiency. Trouble Looms Ahead The past five years have witnessed the almost complete disintegration of craft organization. The aims and ideals of the pioneers of the projection craft were swept aside like so much chaff before the wind. That licking which we have had coming to us for five years now — that licking which we invited and then did nothing to prepare ourselves to take — is now just around one of those famous corners. Of course, we won't take this licking like good soldiers. We'll yell and we'll beef ' and we'll holler to high Heaven — but this won't forestall the beating that is heading our