International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1935)

16 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST April 1935 is in progress, there must be carried on a campaign of such force that not only Erpi but all others will have unmistakable evidence of the craft's power to defend its hard-earned rights in this field. Explicit instructions as to what form such a campaign should take are, we think, wholly unnecessary. This much being done, we are certain that Erpi will have changed its opinion that it can come into this field and operate as it pleases. This is not 1927. 'Expert' Projection Turn Men ^le n101'011 picture trade press has the lowest standing of any group in the entire publishing field, what with the existence of "guaranteed otlljt JLuVlce yearly minimum advertising" contracts and constant pandering to producer-distributor personages of much unimportance. But the trade press is funniest when, in a desperate attempt to placate such projectionist circulation as it has, it must straddle the issue of two men projection shifts. Of course, this topic is now only of academic interest, as a result of carelessness and stupidity on the part of the craft at large. Yet, the subject still retains its old-time power to terrify the trade press writers. We offer to those "expert" technical writers the following gratuitous advice: 1. Projection room manpower is wholly unrelated to theatre seating capacity. A picture show in the Radio City Music Hall in N. Y. City employs the same kind and amount of equipment (one projector at a time, with two projectors in the room) as that used for the same purpose in a 400seat "shooting gallery" on Sheridan Road in Chicago; and 2. Admission price has no relation to projection room manpower requisites, speaking from the strictly technical angle, of course. This much having been said, the "experts" can figure out their duties to their projectionist subscribers, if any, in any fashion they choose. Corrective Action on Print Footage by S. M. P. E. and M. P. P. D. A. ESTIMATING the running time of a given film program is a task which occasions not a little trouble, particularly in subsequent-run theatres. Of interest to projectionists who weekly, or more often, are forced to engage in this "guessing contest" is the following communication: Editor, International Projectionist. Sir: Many projectionists — especially those in the subsequent-run theatres — are often called upon to estimate the running time of a show. Sometimes the guess is close enough to avoid difficulty, and sometimes — well, the show is maladjusted in one way or another. This guesswork results in no little confusion, the projectionist has to work late, do unnecessary cutting, rearranging and a lot of other juggling. Although the projectionist is not held directly responsible for these errors, it seems to me to in some way hurt his prestige, even though he may guess right more often than wrong. I would suggest, therefore, that every projectionist, after running the show and when ready to ship, mark on the bands of the reels the correct running time of features, news, shorts, etc. If a majority of the fellows adhere to this practice it should be only a short time before shows come through with correct running time marked thereon. Maybe the proper procedure would be to appeal to the exchanges; but our experience with exchanges to date on similar matters arouses small hope that any action would result. Max Bentzman Springfield, Mass. S. M. P. E. Action Requested Several letters citing the need for such action having been received by I. P., the matter was brought to the attention of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, which in turn promised every cooperation and enclosed a copy of a letter to the chairman of the Exchange Practice Committee of the S. M. P. E., excerpts from which follow: ... It is realized that most press sheets give the running time of features, and there are some magazines which give this information in their reviews; but it is seldom that press sheets or such magazines reach the projection room. Also, there may have been eliminations in the film either because of censorship or damaged parts, which would change the footage . . . The suggestion has been made that after inspection of each print in the exchange, the footage be marked on the reel band for both features and shorts. The projectionist can then, by a simple To the Benefit of the Art and the Craft DEPARTING from a heretofore inviolate rule that its editorial columns shall contain no direct reference to products advertised in its pages, International Projectionist specifically directs the attention of its readers to the advertisement of the International Projector Corp. on the fourth cover of this issue. Here is an advertisement which, crowning a series of similar splendid gestures by this company, is concerned entirely with selling the idea of better craftsmanship, better equipment and, as a result thereof, better projection — to the exclusion of even a mere mention of the company's products. Intelligent and far-seeing promotional work of this character, which can not fail to reflect credit upon the art and craft of projection, to the ultimate benefit of both, certainly is deserving of evoking a tradition-shattering editorial mention of this character. We salute the International Projector Corp. as a fine influence upon better craftsmanship. The Editor. mathematical process, figure the exact running time of the show. This would be most helpful to the subsequent-run theatres or those . . . situated in small communities. Will you give this your consideration ... at your next Committee meeting? A. S. Dickinson While censorship might affect materially the footage figures as published in various exhibitor trade papers, this would not be a problem once a state board passed a given picture, because in a great majority of cases all prints thereof would circulate within the borders of one state. Excessive projection room cuts are not so noticeable since the advent of sound pictures, even though careless handling apparently has failed to reduce other abuses. Several readers of I. P. have suggested publication in these columns of film footages; and failing such action by the exchanges as would satisfactorily solve the problem, I. P. is prepared to do just this. Comments from readers anent the desirability of such a service is invited. NEW PORTABLE P. A. SYSTEM FROM RCA VICTOR A new portable public address and sound reenforcement system for moderate sized public places, compactly selfcontained in a carrying-case and weighing only 28 Vz pounds has been introduced by RCA Victor. This unusually adaptable unit, which anyone can put into operation in less than a minute, is particularly suited to the steadily growing market for an inexpensive, though efficient, portable sound system for such applications as window demonstrations in dealers' stores, counter-to-kitchen restaurant call systems, and for local fairs and carnivals. Exceptional tone quality and simplicity of operation distinguish this low-cost system. It is only necessary to connect the power plug to the 110-volt, 50-60 cycle house current supply, and plug in the microphone and speaker cables to set the system in operation.