International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

— 1078 — Uninflamable film does exist. The only question is whether the cost ot its production can be reduced sufficiently to make it worth while to dispense with those precautions rendered superfluous by its use. This should not prove difficult. As regards the darkness of the auditoriums during projections; in my opinion it is a bad thing for children and young people, not only from a physical point of view but also and more especially from a psychological point of view. I believe that if the projections could be made in daylight, and I know this to be possible, it would represent a great advance. I sincerely hope that this method of showing films may be adopted and made obligatory by law in those cinemas where children are admitted. As for the seats, those Used by children should be in an elevated position at the back of the theatre not in front as is the present practice. They are often so near the screen that the sudden changes of light intensity prove Very fatiguing to the eyes of children and the latter are obliged to sit with their heads thrown back for hours at a time. Other delegates have communicated the following notes: Australia. — In the town of Perth there are six cinemas, which for hygienic reasons are throughly cleaned out after each show. Firemen are present throughout the projections, but owing to the fact that the walls of the projection rooms are made of asbestos, the risks of fire are very slight. An ample number of emergency exits are provided. Italy. — In Italy the auditoriums are generally provided with sliding roofs. They are heated in winter and cooling systems for summer are beginning to be installed. It would be useful if there were regulations to prevent the cinemas from being overcrowded and to limit the number of complimentary tickets according to the seats available. When inflamable films are used, for economic or other reasons, the projectors should be furnished with cooling systems. As regards visibility and the bad effect of films on sight: films in a poor condition should be prohibited; this control should be made by qualified technicians who should also see that the house lights are not put up too suddenly. Switzerland. — There are twenty five different laws and many minor regulations concerning cinemas. Fire risks are universally considered and precautions against them are taken in all Cantons. The question of visibility is however only slightty touched by these laws. Most of the films made in Switzerland are shot out-of-doors and therefore there has been no serious study of the employment conditions of child and other actors. Greece. — The regulations dealing with the hygiene of auditoriums and their upkeep and also the safety of the spectators, are contained in Law No. 4767. According to this law, no cinema may be opened without previous permission having been obtained from the police. This permission is only given upon the reicept of a favorable report from the Technical Commission and the medical authorities etc. The regulations vary according to the nature of the auditorium. Thanks to these regulations, fire risks have been reduced to a minimum. In the last ten years, only one case of film ignition has been recorded and that was after the audience had left the auditorium. In one popular cinema, however, during the projection of a film showing fire scenes a child cried out " Fire " and a panic ensued in which four children were killed and ten hurt.