International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

December 1931 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 35 the respiratory tract, to pneumonia, to narcosis, and if the exposure is prolonged, to degeneration of the liver, along with nephritis. Of course, you all know what pneumonia is. Narcosis refers to the condition of being overcome by exposure to the gases generated when carbon tetrachloride is used as a fire extinguisher. The word "narcosis" is applied to any condition in which there is a loss of consciousness because of the toxic effects of various gases and liquids; we speak, for instance, of "chloroform or ether narcosis" for an example. Nephritis is Bright's Disease or a definite inflammatory process in the kidneys. Other very definite vocational diseases of commoner occurrence but less direct in the production of physical impairment are: 1. Damage to the eyes from the intense glare of light reflected from the surface of the motion picture film, at times direct exposure to intense light. 2. Excessive temperatures. 3. Frequently, but not always, continuous poor ventilation, even in theatres in which ventillating systems are installed. 4. Lead-poisoning, which has already been referred to. 5. Tuberculosis, caused by the inhalation of the fumes from burning carbons, which transmit free silica in large quantities to the projection room unless piped from the room by forced draft. I have a copy of an industrial award from the state of Wisconsin in which it is definitely shown that these conditions are occupational diseases of moving picture machine operators. Safety Measures Motion picture film, as it is commonly called, is in reality nitro cellulose and is made from gun cotton. From gun cotton there is also made powder, dynamite, T.N.T., and other high-explosives. Yet film when burned in the open air will not explode, and should anyone tell you that it will, they are misinforming you. What causes an explosion when there is a film fire is the concentration of nitrogen-oxide gases which the film itself ignites when they have become dense enough. That is another reason why proper ventilation should be provided in all projection rooms. You are all familiar with Kodak film and probably some of you have experimented with it and know how inflammable this material is; yet you were only dealing with a very small piece; whereas in the modern projection room a reel of film is a ribbon 1 inch wide and approximately 1,000 feet long. The picture program of a modern theatre may run to as high as 12 or 16 reels which, as you will perceive, makes available in the room to be eaten by flames from 12,000 to 16,000 feet of film. Should you ever be in a theatre when International Photographer Is a finely printed and beautifully illustrated monthly magazine owned by the West Coast Cameramen's Union In all matters concerning the professional motion picture photographers of the country it is the official organ It is designed to appeal to amateur followers of 16mm. cameras as well as to the most advanced technicians The columns of the magazine recognize the close relationship between the photographer and sound recorder If your news or kodak dealer does not carry the magazine on its counters write for a sample copy to INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE BLAISDELL, Editor 1605 North Cahuenga Avenue, Hollywood, Calif. 25 cents a copy $3 the year a film fire breaks out, do not attempt to leave your seat until requested to do so by the management, and then proceed in a slow and orderly manner. A modern theatre is so constructed that there is no danger to the audience from a film fire itself; however, a great many people are injured in the stampede which goes along hand in hand with the panic occasioned by some foolish person in the audience yelling "Fire!" Prior to the introduction of sound pictures there was only one motion picture operator on duty in the operating room at a time; but with the introduction of sound pictures two men were placed in projection rooms. There are numerous duties around a projection room which take a man from the side of his projector, if he is alone in the room. That is the reason why the members of our Union insist that two men be on shift at all times, so that not only the operator himself is properly protected from the fire, but the entire audience as well. The fire hazard has increased since the introduction of sound for several reasons. Among these are a more intense and therefore hotter light concentrated upon the film so that a picture of the same brilliancy could be obtained on a screen which is about 30 per cent transparent