International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

March, 1933 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 11 and, often, prolonged headache on the part of moviegoers. Good projection is the right of the people of this State who pay their admissions into motion picture theatres; and good projection can only be had through the constant attention of the projectionist to the projector— an impossibility where only one projectionist is on duty. 2. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS The inflammability of motion picture film has been demonstrated on innumerable occasions, often with horrible results in the form of loss of life and severe damage to property, not only to the theatre in which a fire occurs but often to whole city blocks. Much has been said concerning noninflammable film, but there really is no such thing. That film which is known as non-inflammable is really slowburning film, and is officially described by the National Board of Fire Underwriters as a film which has a higher ignition point and burns only slightly slower than the regular type of motion picture film. I doubt that anyone present would care to be locked in the same room with even 100 feet of socalled non-inflammable film which had been ignited. Motion picture film is in reality nitro-cellulose and is made from guncotton. From gun-cotton there is also made powder, dynamite, T.N.T. and other high-explosives. When film catches fire there is always present the added danger of an explosion, the result of a concentration of nitrogenoxide gases which, when dense enough, are ignited by the film itself. Inflammahility of Film The fact that film is highly inflammable and constitutes an ever-present danger (despite the vigorous poohpoohing of the opposition here today), is borne out by the extraordinary precautions which are taken to insure its safe handling. The film is placed in a metal can and is transported in special film-carrying automobiles. It is highly significant that no common-carrier, as such, will transport film. In the film exchange itself special vaults are utilized for the storage of film, and both its storage and handling are rigidly supervised by the fire authorities. The insurance rate for such storage is extremely high, reflecting the opinion of the insurance companies themselves as to the inflammability of motion picture film. If there be no great danger of a film fire or explosion, why all these extraordinary precautions ? Insurance rates for all motion picture theatres are so high as to constitute ■prima facie evidence of the danger inherent in even a limited supply of motion picture film in one place. Why is this ? Probably one of the exhibitors in this room can answer this query. The presentation of these facts anent the dangers of film-handling are not intended as a scare-all. On the contrary, the record of the motion picture business indicates that when proper precautions are exercised the danger of a film fire or explosion is small. It is only when vigilance is relaxed that film-handling becomes a mighty serious problem. Who shall say that vigilcince is not being sacrificed when only one projectionist, burdened down with diverse duties, is available in a theatre projection room? Modern projection utilizes the carbon arc. I quote here a passage from the most recent Carbon Handbook of the National Carbon Company: "The carbon arc has the greatest brightness per unit area of any artificial light source known, rivalling that of the sun." I submit, gentlemen, that if the carbon arc is capable of producing a light rivalling that of the sun, it must be productive of intense heat, it is. Aperture Temperatures Careful tests made by competent workers disclose the following temperatures within the projector lamphouse and, with the various types of arc, at the aperture : (a) Lamphouse heat — 3,000 degrees, F. (b) High-Intensity Arc (aperture)— 1,500 degrees, F. (c) High-Low Arc (aperture) — 1,100 degrees, F. (d) Low Intensity Arc Taperture) — 800 degrees, F. These are the three types of projectors in use today, and a majority of theatres u^» either the High-Intensity or the High-Low arcs. To save time, we may consider that arc which is productive of the least S. M. P. E. Projection Committee Opinion Supports Two-Men Room Operation TN its investigation of the question of two-men vs. one-man projection ■■■ room operation, the National Research Council, Canadian Government subsidiary, solicited the opinion of the Projection Practice Committee of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. Appended hereto is the reply of the Committee, published by permission of the Council. 7. National Research Council Government Building Ottawa, Canada. Gentlemen : . . . We are unable to state authoritatively what may have been the original reasons for employing more than one man on a projection shift; but it is our opinion that these reasons may have been the following: 1. Threading one projector while the second projector still is in motion; 2. The necessity for constant care in the matter of keeping the picture sharply in focus upon the screen and maintaining a uniformly lighted picture ; 3. Controlling the sound volume and maintaining the proper level so as to insure maximum entertainment value ; 4. Trimming the arcs of projectors and, if used, those of spotlights and effects machines ; 5. Watching for breaks in the film; 6. Constant alertness in guarding against fire, and the necessity for instantaneous action in stopping the projector, closing the projector dowser and, subsequently, the projection room ports; 9. 10. 11. Changing over from one projector to another without any noticeable interruption in the show ; Rewinding of film reels, with its accompanying duties of inspection of film for loose splices, tears, etc. Splicing of the film ; Supervision of the sound and projection equipment and the making of emergency repairs and adjustments ; Responding to telephone calls from the manager. Items 1 through 7 involve the attendance of the projectionist at the operating side of the running projector and simultaneous duties elsewhere. Worthy of special consideration is the fact that personnel are required, for physical reasons, to occasionally leave the projection room, a failure or inability to do which may invite physiological injury; The foregoing information reflects the consensus of opinion among the members of this committee as adduced at a committee meeting to which your communication was presented.