International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1940)

f/nfer/nofio/no// With Which is Combined PROJECTION ENGINEERING Edited by James J. Finn Volume 15 SEPTEMBER 1940 Number 9 Index and Monthly Chat .... 5 The Caesium Gas-Filled PhotoElectric Cell 7 Paul P. Melroy L. U. 279 Float Sensation of Houston Labor Parade 12 Sound Recording, Television Topics Feature S.M.P.E. Hollywood Program 12 Periodic Inspection Protects the L. U., the Crew, and Sells Service 13 James J. Finn Defects in Motion Picture Projection and Their Correction 15 Irl Gordon Presentation Tips on Technicolor Prints ' 17 Color Television from 16 mm. Prints by C. B. S 17 Transition in the Equipment Field 18 At Your Service 19 News Notes Technical Hints Miscellaneous Items Published Monthly by JAMES J. FINN PUBLISHING CORPORATION 580 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. Circulation Manager, Ruth ENTRACHT Subscription Representatives Australia: McGills, 183 Elizabeth St., Melbourne New Zealand: Te Aro Book Depot, Ltd., 64 Courtenay Place Wellington England and Dominions: Wm. Dawson & Sons, Ltd., Pilgrim St., London, E. C. 4. Yearly Subscription : United States and possessions, $2 (two years, $3) ; Canada and foreign countries, $2.50. Single copies, 25 cents. Changes of address should be submitted two weeks in advance of publication date to insure receipt of current issue. Entered as second-class matter February 8, 1932, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y. under the act of March 3, 1879. Contents copyrighted 1940 by James J. Finn Publishing Corp. International Projectionist is not responsible for personal opinions appearing in signed articles in its columns. Monthly Chat THE rapidly growing use of 16 mm. projection equipment in taverns and outdoor gardens has diverted the attention of the craft from the widespread gains scored by sub-standard units in the small-theatre and itinerant show field. While the organized craft as a whole is cognizant of the importance of these units to the economic welfare of its members, I. P. continues to hear criticism of the results attained with 16 mm. units by projectionists who can handle extremely well any 35 mm. setup. Next time you get close to a 16 mm. equipment spend a few minutes to dig into it and obtain the lowdown. • • • Following the first flurry of excitement attendant upon the introduction of the new coated //2 lenses is a development wherein war orders preclude the possibility of the optical people delivering any great quantity of such optics in the near future. Which is bad news, indeed. • • • National Carbon Co. reports that more than 60 per cent of all theatres in the U. S. still are using low-intensity arc lamps. This is a sad commentary on the amount of drum-beating done by projectionists in behalf of the modern arcs, and a still sadder reflection upon the merchandising ability of the supply field, everybody included. • • • All this gab about three-dimensional sound leave us cold in the face of the fact that hardly a projection room report that we have conned} in various supervisors' offices of late doesn't bear the notations "oily" and dirty.'" "scratched," and "faulty splices". Another illustration of watering the leaves and neglecting the roots. • • • Wonder if the recently negotiated sound-film recording contracts contain the same restrictive clauses anent television use as did the first inkings? If the answer be yes, it would leave the film biz right out on a limb. The insistence of the S.M.P.E. upon two exits from a projection room, which has won the approval of national regulatory bodies, is already being sniped at by the exhibitor papers. Of course, they mask these attacks on adequate personnel protection by stating that their proposals are intended to be "minima". The NRA Code in 1933 taught all projectionists how easily "minima" tend to become "maxima". No; thanks. • • • The Fall Meeting of the S.M.P.E. is scheduled for Hollywood, Oct. 21. All Coast fellows who can make this should. SEPTEMBER 1940