International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1950)

16-mm projectors. The working hours mentioned for the sapphire reinforced parts are hardly comparable to requirements in 35-mm film practice. Side guiding means employed now in professional projectors have practically unlimited life. Two thousand hours, as claimed for sapphire, represents just about 300 days of operation in average theaters. Furthermore, 35-mm film has a linear speed two and one-half times above 16-mm film, which factor will again reduce the life of the stationary side guides. A high-speed movement of the claw type for 16-mm film may show too much wear on its film contacting surfaces. The substitution of hard steel by sapphire will, undoubtedly, reduce the wear on the pull-down finger. However, the film surfaces still will be subject to the same pressure and the wear may now be transferred from the finger to the film perforation. The useful life of 1200 hours is still short when compared with the service life of a pull-down device using a sprocket-type film drive. Several years are not uncommon; whereas 1200 hours represents but 200 days. Television' Added to Official Title of the SMPE Effective January 1, the name of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers was officially changed to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Endorsed originally by the Board of Governors of the Society in June, 1949, and discussed at the business meeting during the SMPE Fall convention in Hollywood, the change of name was then submitted as a proposal to the entire voting membership by letter ballot in November. The count of ballots approved the change of name by an overwhelming majority. Outstanding among the reasons for the change are the increasing mutual interests of technical people in both motion pictures and television, as well as the Society's active participation in the development of new television techniques. In addition, the Society has filed a brief with the Federal Communications Commission proposing specifications for a nationwide theater television system. It feels, therefore, that the change of name coming at this time is simply a logical step forward. Presenting: Morris J. Rotker Electronic Torch Cuts Fire Brick Still in the laboratory stage is an electronic torch hot enough to cut holes in fire brick and to melt tungsten. Molecules of certain gases fed through a high-frequency arc are broken up into atoms, arid' the rejoining of these atoms on ^surfaces placed in the jet generates heat. 22 BECAUSE of the nature of their work, projectionists usually find it difficult to engage in extensive community activities; yet there are those hardy and irrepressible craftsman scattered throughout the country who not only do fine work at their trade but somehow manage to find time for off-the-job civic chores which in sum comprise an amazing expenditure of time and energy. Outstanding in this respect is Morris J. Rotker, projectionist since 1907, a member of Local 306 for 35 years, and one of the better known citizens of the Bronx, N. Y. City, where he resides. Perhaps there was a portent of things to come in the fact that Morris was born in Warsaw, Poland, on July 4, 1892. Morris' first job in the "movies" ensued as a result of fast talking that he was 18 years old, three more than his actual age. This was on the Bowery, in the heart of New York's Chinatown, and the job entailed not only "grinding" out film by hand but also operating a phonograph connected to a horn outside the store. A Show on One's Back In those days the exhibitor hired all elements of the show from the exchange, including the "operator." The latter, when reporting on the job, carried along with him the film, the projector, rheostats, posters and whatnot. It wasn't really such a bad job — only Multi-Functional Control This installation of Simplex sound and visual projection equipment in the Ben Bolt Theater, Chillicothe, Ohio, shows that the volume control amplifier of the sound system is mounted on the side of the projector instead of the wall, as usual. The speaker control panel at the right, in addition to controlling all the usual functions — projector motors, house lights, curtain controls, etc. — also operates an illuminated display on each side of the proscenium opening. MORRIS J. ROTKER from 10 a. m. to midnight seven days a week, without a break for lunch or dinner, for $12 weekly. Morris was glad to have the job — and the $12. Displaying even this early a penchant for advancing himself, Morris applied himself diligently, and at this writing he has been a licensed electrical contractor for more than 25 years, with several terms as President of the Bronx Electrical Contractors Association. Many humorous stories anent the craft crowd the Rotker memory, of which the following is typical. A noted presentattion house impresario of some 20 years ago commissioned an architect to build him the finest movie theater on Broadway— money no object. Plans were drawn (the theater was then a dream house — "a modern Eden") and construction went smothly — until three days before the scheduled opening. It was then discovered that no provision had been made for a projection room! The three nightmarish days following are well-remembered by the old-timers in the craft; but it will suffice to say that to this day this projection room still sits atop the roof, a section of which had to be ripped away in order to anchor the compartment. Also, in order to premiere, an ingenious periscope system had to be devised in order to even project the image on the screen. Extensive Union Activities Morris early took an active interest in the progress of Local 306, and the list of his Union activities is long and varied. He has been Chairman of the Examining Board, Secretary of the Local for many years, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, and as Chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee he pioneered in obtaining many of the benefits the craft now enjoys nationwide. Perhaps the nost notable achievement by Rotker for his Union was when as Chairman of the Wage Scale Committee he succeeded in obtaining the first double-shift contract in New York, along INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST January 1950