International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

36 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST November 1931 length are easily detected. As every projectionist inspects all film on its arrival from the exchange, a very simple check for length may he made at that time. With the film reversed on the rewind, strip off as far as the change-over cue (or the end of the action). Then count the number of turns of the rewind handle from the cue to the end of the film. If the variation is 1 turn, or a fraction thereof, the performance of the 3-Alarm will be accurate. If variations of greater than Y2 turn either way are found, cutting or patching the tail end will equalize them. When the 3-Alarm method of changeover preparation has become general, it is likely that producers and exchanges will provide all prints with standard terminal lengths. It is to be expected that such action will not be delayed, as the GoldE 3-Alarm appears to supply the answer to a positive, complete and inexpensive change-over signal. NEW G.E. THYRATRON THEATRE LIGHTING CONTROL THYRATRON tubes are the basis of the new G.E. lighting control scheme. By shifting the phase relationship between the elements in the tube, the average amount of rectified current passed by the tubes is varied, governing the intensity of the lights. By splitting the lights into various circuits, various groups can be controlled individually, and related groups of circuits can be controlled collectively through master circuits. This lighting control scheme eliminates the bulky back-stage switchboard and makes the manipulation of the control a matter of extreme simplicity. A modified form was installed in the new Earl Carroll Theatre in New York, just opened; and RKO, in addition to a new Schenectady theatre, will install the system in new theatres in Albany, N. Y., and Denver, Col. The new Schenectady theatre, being designed for the production of motion pictures only, has but 10 major lighting circuits, 6 on the stage and 4 in the auditorium. The stage lights are divided into three colors: white, red and blue, with one control for each color in the footlights and borders. In the auditorium but one color is used, with a circuit control for the fixtures, two for the ceiling and another for the niches and receptacles. A novel addition to the lighting scheme is a "panic" control by means of which the full brilliance of all the lights in the theatre can be turned on instantly by the flick of a single switch, no matter what complex lighting . effects might be in progress at the time. SPECIAL W.E. EQUIPMENT FOR STAGE PLAY ANOTHER innovation for legitimate stage productions has been contributed by Electrical Research Products, Inc., with the opening in New York of "Hamlet." Shakespeare's century-old lines will be enhanced by modern science in the form of music and sound effects coming from the loud speakers of a W. E. music reproduction system. Discs Lose Favor The rapid decline of discs as accessories of sound reproduction in the theatre is emphasized by a recent survey of Western Electric domestic installations. Of a total of 5,300 such installations there are only 5 equipments which hande discs only. These equipments which are capable of handling only sound-on-firm number 1,500; with the balance of 3,795 equipments able to handle either disc or sound-on-film transcriptions. These figures provide an interesting sidelight on the progress made in the art since the first sound picture was exhibited in 1926. Economic considerations are reported to have played the leading role in the displacement of disc recordings by sound-on-film, inasmuch as many experts in sound recording maintain that discs afford a better quality of recording and reproduction. Special recordings have been made of a type similar to those used for electrical transcription programs broadcast over the radio. Twin turntables, operating at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute, are so arranged that there is no pause in switching from one record to the next, and also provide for superimposing one sound effect upon another. This superimposing facility is used to particularly marked advantage in the ghost scene, during which the weird sound of the wind at midnight continues through a brief musical selection which heralds the appearance of the ghost. The sound from the "phonograph records" is reproduced through five loud speakers located at various positions back-stage and controlled by a switching system which permits selective or simul taneous operation. Thus, in the mob scene, by switching from one speaker to another in sequence the sound gives the illusion of a crowd surrounding and approaching the citadel, and the weak, faroff murmurs and cries develop to a great climax and loud cheers when the gate is finally broken down. The prelude, overture, and entire musical accompaniment to the show is reproduced over the system — there being no orchestra or other conventional music used in connection with the play. OPERADIO PORTABLE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM THE Operadio Mfg. Co. has added to their line of large public address equipment a portable public address system. The complete unit is carried in a single carrying case and complete with tubes, microphone and all accessories, the weight is only forty pounds. The input from the two-buttom microphone that is supplied, or from any 200ohm phonograph pick-up, is raised by the three-stage amplifier to a volume level sufficient for addressing a group of people that may be assembled in a room 1,000 feet square. The amplifier operates from 110 volts, 60 cycle, A. C, and supplies power for all accessories including the dynamic speaker and twobuttom microphone. A control panel is provided with separate volume controls for microphone and phonograph input, and a changeover switch for shifting the amplifier to either input. The cover provides stowage for a 50-foot rubber covered microphone lead and a 25-foot A. C. line cord. A jack is provided that allows from one to four additional A. C. dynamic or magnetic speakers to be operated without affecting the output of the main speaker. Operadio Portable Reproducer BRITISH 16 MM. SOUND FILM REPRODUCER The British Thomson-Houston Co. will turn out a reproducing set for 16 mm. film, which was demonstrated at the recent London Radio Show. A machine has been designed and is in use for reducing full-sized film to 16 mm., and it also reduces the sound track in the process. Printing is done from a 35 mm. negative straight on to the miniature positives. The reproducer set weighs only 60 pounds, with dimensions of 24 in. by 18 in. by 8 in. The price, not yet fixed is expected to be under $1,500. NEW ERPI DIVISION HEADS The appointment of E. S. Gregg as General Manager of the Eastern Division, and of H. W. Dodge as General Manager of the Central Division, has been announced by Electrical Research Products, effective immediately. Gregg recently returned from England, where he served as Managing Director of Western Electric Co., Ltd. Dodge has been Sales Manager of the Central Divisioii for several months, and before that was Merchandising Manager in New York. mmna ***'***'^HTHH