Loudspeaker (Jan-Aug 1931)

FIRST MEETING FOR JANUARY CHAPTER TWELVE, OAKLAND, The year 1931 brings many new problems, the program just completed by the Board of Governors is entirely of an advance nature compared to last year’s series of lectures and talks. It is gratifying to note the progressiveness of the membership and the co-operation of the ERPI and R. C. A. engineers who rendered their services to enlighten our minds of troublesome occurrences that came in our daily routine. A good start has been made, the installation of officers, who are the same as last year with the exception of Vice President, Recording Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms. The capabilities and initiative of our President, Llovd C. Litton, and his line staff of officers each suited to the office they successfully carried last year, prompted the membership to unanimously re-elect them as their leaders. To these men the guidance of the chapter has in the past been undaunted, trying and successful. They are to be congratulated. The series of lectures given before Local 169, I. A. T. S. E., by Prof. L. E. Reukema, University of California Extension Division, are of the highest caliber in sound projection and engineering. The problems encountered in this series provide excellent material for discussion at our meetings. The third semester now in progress covers many advance subjects in sound projection — The Nature of Sound, Kinds of Sound, Nature of Speech, Nature of Music, Nature of Hearing, Transformation of Sound Waves into Electrical Waves, Electrical Recording of Sound Waves on “Wax” Discs, Recording on Film, The Reproduction of Electrical Waves from the Disc and from the Film, and the Transformation of Electric Waves Back into Sound Waves. A glance at this resume of the third semester should prove beyond a doubt the value of this course in the future sound projection work. The local and chapter feels that to OPENED IN GALA ARRAY CALIFORNIA be successful and intelligent in the line of our chosen profession it is necessary to have knowledge of this branch of the industry not only in the graceful manner of projection, or the inner workings and maintenance of the sound equipment that we may be working on, but also of the cadenzas outside of the projection room and in the studios where the recording is placed on the film for the boys way up in the shelf, little thought of by the customers, to send out both in sight and sound. Has it ever occurred to any of us up in nigger heaven, which IS part of the theatre, putting over the entertainment that we to rate the applause the musicians and actors generally get for the merits of their endeavors? If we did the manager would probably fall all over himself to see what the trouble may be. The only time we get the big hand is when something goes wrong with the system and that kind of a hand is not from joy of an act well done. It is meant as a raspberry and what in the hell is the matter with that guy up there? That is what we don’t want and to keep our public from thinking about us in this manner is to put over a one hundred per cent show. It is gratifying to know that some of our burdens have been lightened by the Standard Release Print. It is steadily gaining praise and recognition throughout the country. Letters received by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences show that the make-up has been given considerable thought and discussion. We are glad the practice has been adopted here whenever the theatres get them, which will in time hurt the manufacturers of various devices for punching film purchased by the operator of the silent days. It is a real pleasure to attend our chapter meetings, which are put over with an air of confidence, fidelity and friendliness. T <iv e n ty -five