International projectionist (Jan 1959-Dec 1960)

MONTHLY CHAT . . . Continued from Page 3 And that is exactly what is wrong with the motion-picture industry today — bad management resulting from a short-sighted view of things and a lack of confidence which unmistakably reveals timidity and incompetence on the part of too many studio and theatre executives. Let it not be forgotten that the movies were created and nurtured by vitality, vision, and a pioneering, adventurous spirit which scoffed at temporary hardship and sacrifice! After the Christmas season comes the new year — a year of fateful decision and tremendous responsibility. Is the present wave of prosperity to be arrested by exhibitors who mistakenly gauge successful theatre operation by pennies pared from essential booth costs, or by producers who imagine they are "playing it safe" by directing their camera lenses into the deadly gray smog of routine TV production? We sincerely hope not. Theatre motion pictures, born of youth and ever-young, deserve more faith, more effort, greater sacrifice. It needs men of imagination supported by men of backbone. Such men, thank God, are among us, working for us and with us. IP wishes a happy and peaceful Christmas to all, with special good wishes directed to members of the projection fraternity. May your arcs burn brighter for the entertainment of even larger audiences during the new year! iP British Theatre Automation Shown at German Photokina COLOGNE, GERMANY — New development in automation and remote control for the theatre was demonstrated at the Photokina Exposition in Cologne by the G. B-Kalee Division of Rank Precision Industries Ltd. An electric timer device for automatic changeover of projectors and the latest remote control panel were both shown for the first time. The complete exhibit was shown in Hall 9, Stand 9001/9101, which is being shared with Messrs. Cinemeccanica Soc.p.Az. Two Victoria X projectors were shown, fitted with a new electric timer device for automatic changeovers. One machine was equipped for a wide screen aspect ratio, while the other was set up for the standard picture. The "auditorium" was lit with white flood lights in simulation of normal house lighting; coloured spot lights represented the stage lights. A Harkness Perlux screen was mounted in a working model frame, complete with motor driven masking and curtains. The actual changeovers, triggered by a mark on the film, were handled by the electric timer. All the external functions, such as the control of dimmers, masking and curtains were taken care of by the drum model Projectomatic. The new Gaumont-Kalee compact Q: A: When is a mistake a blunder? When a projectionist is not a regular subscriber to IP — MUST reading for the projectionist craft. USE THE HANDY ORDER FORM BELOW INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST Post Office Box 6174 Minneapolis 24, Minnesota Enter my subscription for ( ) 1 year (12) issues— $3.00 ( ) 2 years (24) issues— $5.00 FOREIGN: Add $1.00 per year Name Address City Zone State Remote Control Panel affords complete manual control of the presentation. Normally installed in the auditorium, it was, for exhibition purposes, set up behind the projectors so that the remote control of the equipment could be directly observed by visitors to the stand. With this panel it is possible to start and stop the show and to control all the external functions, at the same time monitoring the sequence of operations of the automatic changeover device by means of the various indicator lamps provided. In a regular installation a telephone handset is provided so that the operator may speak to the projection room by means of a loudspeaker or, alternatively, it may be switched into the theatre's house telephone system. The panel, in fact, incorporates high-reliability miniature components, but for this exhibition it was mounted in a fairly large desk. iP U.S. Exports of Film And Equipment WASHINGTON — United States exports of motion picture film and equipment during the first nine months of 1960 amounted to $34,949,305, a 9.6 % increase over the corresponding exports for 1959 valued at $31,875,389, according to preliminary figures announced by Scientific, Motion Picture and Photographic Products Division, Business and Defense Services Administration, Department of Commerce. Foreign shipments of motion picture film (raw stock) in the first three quarters of 1960 amounted to 513,586,912 linear feet valued at $15,063,690 compared with 527,964,693 linear feet valued at $13,210,463 for the same period of 1959. A 62 percent increase in the value of exports of 35-mm. negative films more than offset lower exports of 16-mm. and 35-mm. positive rawstock film. There was a decided drop in the quantity and value of exposed 16 mm. and 35 mm. motion picture feature film exported during the period under discussion. Total exports of all types of motion picture equipment including cameras, studio, projection and sound equipment during the first nine months of 1960 amounted to $12,102,235, nearly 15% higher than the corresponding shipments for 1959 valued at $10,545,048. The gain was due in part to the 36.7 percent increase in motion picture studio equipment. 18 International Projectionist December 1960