International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1938)

March 1938 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 29 than average height. The number of cities having no requirements (14) is nearly the same as the number having no provisions regarding floor area (13). In other words, localities (Ga. and 111.) that do not regulate on one of these points tend to follow the same procedure on the other. In addition to the advantages of greater ceiling heights in making movement easier for the operator, ventilation is facilitated. Openings. — Regulation of the kind and size of openings in projection rooms is intended to secure convenience and safety to the operators and a measure of protection to the public. Standards have been established for doors, lookout ports for the use of projectionists, and openings for the projection of films. In isolated instances (Syracuse, N. Y., and Cincinnati, 0.) an emergency exit in the room is required in addition to the regular doorway. Table 2 classifies the cities by requirements governing the several types of projection-room openings. Room Entrance Requisites In a large proportion of cities (66) the question of projection room doors has been disposed of by requiring that protection be afforded through one or more of the following measures: Automatic closing, doors opening outward, and fireproof doors (in some cases these must be of a specified approved type). In almost an equally large group of cities (65) it is required that doors be 6' high or over and between 2 and 3 feet wide. The regulations in 15 additional cities require doors to be at least 5' 10" high, while in 2 cities the minimum height is fixed at 5' 6" and in another substantial group (22) at 5'. The cities that reported no requirement on this point total only 16. As will be seen in the table, the standards proposed by interested bodies vary widely as regards door size. The U. B. C. cities, in common with many nonmember cities, do not set a standard in this matter; while the T. I. C. favors an opening 2 by 6 feet, and the underwriters consider adequate a door 2 by 5 feet. Conn, prescribes an opening 2 feet 8 inches by 7 feet; in Mass., N. J., and Ohio statutes, and in some city legislation, the requirement is for a door 2 by 6 feet. Doors 2 by 5 feet are required in Kan., Tenn., and Tex. Mich, and Penn. require automatic closing. Lookout ports for operators, and openings for film projection are subjected to regulation in about 85 per cent of the cities studied. The size required tends to be fairly uniform, with a slightly larger opening for the lookout ports, in order to give the operator easier and greater range of vision. Stress is placed on keeping openings as small as possible by general provisions (in 22 cities for lookouts and in 26 for projection) that they shall not be larger than necessary. The protection of these openings with automatic shutters when not in use and when a mishap occurs is made a special requirement. The U. B. C. allows a 30-square-inch difference in size of the two openings — that is, 150 square inches for the projectionist and 120 square inches for the machine. Mass. law prescribes an opening 6 by 12 inches (72 square inches) for both. In Ind. the figures are 12 by 12 inches (144 square inches) for the projectionist and 6 by 8 inches (48 square inches) for the machine. In Conn, the machine opening may not be larger than necessary and the lookout is limited to 10 inches in its greatest dimension. Sanitary facilities. — Of the 186 cities covered in this survey, almost one-third (58) require the installation of sanitary facilities in connection with the projection room, for the use of the projectionist. The building code of Columbia, S. C, states that such facilities are required unless a relief projectionist is on duty at all times, and the Wise, law, affecting three of the cities here covered, prescribes such equipment where operation is continuous, unless 10-minute intermissions are provided after 2 hours of operation. The matter of sanitary provisions is governed by State laws in Calif., Conn., Penn., and Wise. Projection Room Ventilation Under ideal conditions, ventilation of projection rooms is effected by a system through which air enters slightly above the floor level on all four sides of the room and is carried off by a ceiling opening vented to the outer air, if pos Notes From the Supply and Service Fields BOTH major servicing organizations have been increasingly active of late. Altec announced the closing of service contracts for all the 20th Century-Fox exchanges in the U. S., including parts; with the Golden States Theatres for 75 houses through California ; with the Griffith interests in Texas, and with the 20 Essaness theatres in Chicago. An Altec warehouse has been opened in Los Angeles. RCA closed servicing deals with 21 Wilmer & Vincent houses; with the Fabian Circuit for 23 houses in New Jersey, and with 65 Saenger Circuit houses in Southern states. MOTIOGRAPH'S NEW LIST PRICES, SOUND MODERNIZATION PLAN Motiograph, Inc., made several important announcements during the month. The new list price on a pair of Motiograph K projectors complete with magazines and bases is $1,695, reflecting a downward modification of $775. This new price, Motiograph stated, meant that the same quality of design and manufacture would be maintained, the move being directed at the "elimination of fictitious list prices and vague, elastic discounts." Motiograph is now offering a complete line of modernizations for late-type sound systems of W. E. manufacture, to be sold through the former's national dealer setup. This marks no departure from Motiograph's refusal to sell component parts of its sound system, modernization being available only on four engineering options, depending upon the type, age and condition of a theatre's equipment. H. B. (Tex) Rickards has joined Motiograph as director of advertising and publicity. He has had a long and varied career in the newspaper, motion picture, radio and sales promotion fields. FOREST FILLS NAVY ORDER Forest Mfg. Corp. has just completed delivery of a large group of special power rectifiers to the U. S. Navy. The units passed all tests satisfactorily. SORENSON'S TEXAS SUPPLY CO. Henry Sorenson, formerly of the Texas Theatre Supply Co. in Dallas, has formed the Modern Theatre Equipment Co. at 2009y2 Jackson St., Dallas, to distribute, among other items, Motiograph projectors and sound equipment, Brenkert lamps and Da-Lite screens. BOOTH B. & H. SALES MANAGER J. Harold Booth has been named General Sales Manager for Bell & Howell Co. of Chicago, succeeding J. G. Llewellyn, resigned. Booth moved up from Assistant Sales Manager, and was formerly development engineer in the B. & H. research laboratories, specializing in the design of amplifiers and sound projectors. RADIANT LAMP CATALOGUE A new catalogue of incandescent projection lamps is available from Radiant Lamp Corp., 25 Lexington St., Newark, N. J. The list applies to 8-, 16 and 35mm. projectors. Radiant has just enlarged its plant, and is now appointing additional distributors and jobbers throughout the world. G. T. E. SHOWS MILLION PROFIT Net profit of General Theatres Equipment Corp. and subsidiaries for year ended December 31, 1937, was $1,199,415 after depreciation, federal taxes and other deductions, according to organization's report just issued. In preceding year company reported net profit of $959,509 for period June 1, 1936, beginning of business, to Dec. 31, 1936.