International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

48 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST November 1931 t^or i^MMMi t CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 1931 25""ANNUAL SEAL wwvv Ti^renty-five Years —the money from the sale of Christmas Seals has promoted: —the establishment of sanatoriums for treating tuberculosis — the finding of tuberculosis in time to effea a cure — health inspeaion of school children — the teaching of habits that help to insure good health — the bringing of rest, good food, sunshine, fresh air, medical attention to sick children (S'Celp Cyigki {tuberculosis Buy Christmas Seals THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES This not only blurs the picture but later, when the oil dries, gives the film an appearance of buckling. However, it seems that after two or three showings the difSculty disappears and the print runs through the projector without pulling sprocket holes or causing any other damage. This pulling of sprocket holes appears to be one of the most serious reproduction problems today. "For the benefit of those who might be interested in how we expect to eliminate this grave print trouble, we can state that we are cooperating with the company which does our processing work in developing an apparatus to be added to each processing unit. This apparatus will burnish that part of the print that comes in contact with the projector. "After a print runs over the apparatus to be provided we shall have accomplished that which is tantamount to two or three exhibitions of film in the theatre, the difference being, however, that this operation of ours will have been done by an expert who knows his business and understands thoroughly the requirements of the theatre with regard to efficient processing. "Heretofore projectionists have been powerless to help the situation because they did not know that sprocket holes were being pulled until the film was removed from the projector." Some Common Causes of Reproducer Noise Sprocket Noise — Caused when the film pulls over to the left in the projector, allowing the exciter lamp of the light-ray reproducing system to play through the sprocket holes of the film as well as the sound track. The noise is a rather highpitched buzz, somewhat like a busy doorbell. Flutter — This is a pulsation in the recorded tones. It sounds as if the speaker is gagging a bit over a mouthful of mush. It is caused by too long or too short loops in the projector, or loose pads on the track guiding the film. These things cause both picture and sound track to move in-and-out of focus. Frame Noise — The opposite of sprocket trouble. Caused when the film is pulled in the projector too far to the right, running off the sound track onto the picture itself, playing, so to speak, the picture and the dark spaces between the frames. Sounds like a motorboat at high speed. Motorboating — Same as Frame Noise. Overspeed — When the speed is suddenly increased beyond the normal of 90 ft. per min. (33 1-3 r.p.m. for discs), the high frequency sounds are emphasized at the expense of the lower ranges. In other words a basso would sound like a soprano under excessive overspeeding. Underspeed — ^When the projector is suddenly slowed down the reverse of the above occurs. The lower frequencies are emphasized, and a soprano would sound like a basso. Dirt Noise — Film should always be carefully cleaned after each running, but sometimes this is not done. When this happens, specks of dirt form on the sound track. These specks cause variations of sound which are manifested in many ways — squeaks, whistles, firecracker noises, etc. Loose Exciter Lamp — ^When the exciting lamp of the light-ray sound reproducing system becomes loose there is a distortion of sound. Gear Noise — Noise recurring at regular intervals, dum-de-dum, etc., can usually be traced to loosened gears in the projector. Blooping — This is a sudden "plop," usually caused by a bad splice between sections of the film. This can always be avoided by correct splicing, and properly blocking out the spliced patch in the sound track. Insulation Noise — Some theatres have not yet installed the heavier tripods and insulation pads required for sound reproduction. The amplifying tubes and the photo-electric cell are very sensitive to jar. Sudden "whack" noises from the screen are generally traceable to trouble caused by vibrations when the projectionist walks across a room in which the insulation has been badly done. There are other noises which can be caused by accidents and by faulty handling of the equipment, but the foregoing are the major extraneous sounds which annoy theatregoers. Mm t^Kummtmimmmmtrtmsa