Kinematograph year book (1935)

222 The Kinematograph Year Book. AUDITORIUM LIGHTING. In bringing a house up to date perhaps no factor is more important than relighting, both as regards the auditorium and the stage. As a matter of fact modern illumination principles are largely a question of the application of stage technique, which in conjunction with modern materials employ and bring out structural lines and emphasise a focal point. Originally the lighting of the auditorium was purely utilitarian and of low intensity. To-day it also takes its place as an integral part of the decorative scheme. In modern auditoriums the prevailing trend is towards the employment of architectural lighting which imparts a homogeneous effect which is the aim of the architect and interior decorator. Special attention is being paid to the requirements in this direction of architects and consulting engineers by such specialist firms as G.E.C.,Holophane, Major, Strand Electric, etc. The use of architectural " Striplite," which has been introduced by G.E.C., enables continuous runs or bands of light to be installed without black patches between the various light sources. A new development in kinema lighting is the introduction of gas discharge tubing, which has a gaseous content and which can be made in continuous lengths of from 6 to 180 feet, and can be used for proscenium, cornice, dome, etc., lighting. Owing to the facility with which it can be worked into various shapes it is adapted to a wide variety of illumination purposes, and also as a decorative motif in itself. A further new G.E.C. development is the employment of electric discharge lamps for interior lighting in addition to their suitability for frontal illumination. Holophane equipment has been specially evolved for use with fibrous plaster enrichments designed for use with different lighting combinations. By this system the changes of the appearance of the decorations are produced by skilful use of light and shade and are thus independent of the colour of the lighting. The new Selector Controller provides an automatic rendition of the exact lighting combinations required to make these many different changes in decoration. Many new types of three-colour trough equipment have been evolved during the year by Holophane, together with some novel sign units, including the duo-chrome sign which enables very effective colour contrast to be provided for directional and advertising purposes. Other firms which specialise in the design and provision of all types of fittings for kinema illumination both in the auditorium and lounges are Falk, Stadelmann & Co., F. H. Pride, Troughton & Young, whose designers are at the service of consulting engineers. In exterior illumination the popularity of neon has become universal. A recent introduction by Major equipment is the Major Interchangeable Neon Sign. Various forms of interchangeable signs have been employed, but the majority require separate connections each time, or else each letter required a separate transformer. By the Major system, no complicated connections are necessary when a sign is changed and it is as simple a matter to alter the sign as to plug in an ordinary electric bulb. BOX-OFFICE EQUIPMENT. The handling of patrons at the box office demands the highest efficiency in pay-box equipment. Speed and accuracy are vital in the issuing of tickets to waiting crowds. New models of ticket-issuing machines have been introduced by the Accurate Check Taker Co. and Automaticket, Ltd. The new Accurate fourway machine is silent and foolproof in operation, and can easily issue two thousand tickets in 22 minutes, each ticket being accurately registered and the serial number counter checked. The model is elegant in appearance and easy to operate, requiring no wiring. Another