International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1957)

duplication work as well as upon the individual resolutions of the films employed. Image definition is lost with each printing; and when this work is done carelessly, resolution 071 the print may be equivalent to as little as 15 lines/mm for black-and-white or 10 lines/mm for imbibition color. Images as fuzzy as this are fortunately very rare, but the highest possible resolutions are nevertheless infrequent. A degree of photographic resolution approaching 60 — -70 lines/mm for black-and-white second-generation contact prints, and 35 — 45 lines/mm for final color prints, is not only possible, but actually quite feasible, thus making standard 35-mm projection sufficiently sharp to be indistinguishable from wide-film projection on screens up to about 40 feet in width. It has IT'S AM! in Frisco BUT... will it be a hit in your house? It went over big in the Golden Gate . . . but before any show can be a success in your house, your equipment must be in condition to roll it perfectly. Any show can be a better show when equipment performs properly. That's where RCA Theatre Service comes in. Protect your equipment and picture investment with RCA Theatre Service. It will pay you to write now for complete information ! Technical Products Department RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC ^■k\ A Radio Corporation of America (fjTtTV) Subsidiary, Camden 8, New Jersey Tmk(s) ® been determined that a resolution of 30 lines/mm on 35-mm film gives a picture that appears sharp even when viewed from the front row of seats in the average theatre. But suppose we aim at a minimum of 40 lines/mm in the interest of excessively wide screens, such as those in drive-in theatres? This goal is not impractical. It is advantageous to the industry from every sane point of view. It can be tested — checked and doublechecked on every reel of film, if necessary. Biggest Problem The biggest problem in 35-mm projection when the screen exceeds 40 feet in width would then be solely an illumination and heat problem; but there is a simple remedy for that, too. Prints intended for the larger drive-ins should be "repeat-frame" printed (that is, each frame should be printed twice in succession) and the film played at 180 feet per second, which is double the regular speed. Sound reproduction would also benefit, for a level output from optical tracks up to 16,000 cycles would automatically obtain. There is no point whatever in employing a large-frame negative only to lose its advantages by sloppy processing or an inherently blurry colorprinting process for making the reduction prints. Nor is it reasonable to employ large^frame photography when the final result on the theatre screen is a mere doubtful improvement. A method of photography such as VistaVision or Technirama has a smaller field depth than standard movie photography, hence gives blurrier backgrounds in closeups and medium shots. These processes require more careful handling on the 35-mm printing end to make all their advantages visible on screen and the price of their disadvantages worth paying. Having examined the tremendous and practically untapped possibilities of normal motion-picture photography, optical sound recording, film duplication, and positive printing, this writer is completely convinced that the standard 35-mm release print may justifiably remain the standard medium for theatre motion pictures. There should be no more tampering with the dimensions of the perforations and image frames. Instead, effort should be applied to increasing the quality of optical soundtracks and improving image definition, both in color and black-and-white. And technical innovations, such as new methods of 3-D and stereophonic sound, should be tailored to conform to the specifications of the standard release print. It will be with us for a long, long time. [THE END] GPE's Net Sales Up for 1957 General Precision Equipment Corporation's net sales for the first quarter of 1957 were about 33 per cent higher than for the first quarter of 1956, according to President Hermann G. Place. However, theatre equipment sales now account for less than 10 per cent of the company's total business, whereas in 1936 theatre equipment sales were its only business. National Theatre Supply and International Projector are among the GPE's subsidiaries. Loew's Nets $2,729,248 Loew's Inc. has announced a net profit of $2,729,248 for the 28 weeks ended March 14. This works out to 51 cents a share, as compared to the $1,889,843 net profit/36 cents a share take last year. guaranf I of Consistent Quality For Every Theatre Need! NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY BRANCHES COAST -TO -COAST For DRIVE-INS & THEATRES with HUGE, WIDE -AREA SCREENS • CARBONS, BOONTON, N.J. 32 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST JULY 1957