Motion picture studio directory and trade annual (Apr 1917)

zo MOTION PICTURE Vol. II. No. 1 Evans Inspects All Film Developed at His Plant THE Evans Film Manufacturing Company, with offices and laboratory at 416 West 216th street, just off Broadway, New York, is one of the pioneer film companies of the motion picture industry. The success attained by this company is due to the high standard of work put out by them. THE building is a brick, concrete and steel structure, absolutely fireproof. In entering the plant the perforating room is first. This is equipped with two Bell and Howell perforators used in conjunction with a specially designed electrical suction pump, which carries off all particles of film as fast as it is punched out. NEXT comes the printing room, which contains fourteen machines of different make ; among those used are the W. B. Hausman, Williamson and Nestor Automatic. The developing and washing rooms are equipped with an up-to-date line of A. J. Corcoran Company's tanks. ALL water used throughout the process of developing is thoroughly cleaned and filtered by a machine installed at a great expense. After leaving the developing and washing room the film is sent to the drying room, where a set of drums capable of drying 16,000 feet of film in twenty-five minutes, have been installed. THE assembling rooms, where the cutting and piecing of film is carried on, is completely equipped with steel furniture, furnished by the Columbia Metal Box Company. Two Powers 6-B Cameragraphs are used in the projection room where every foot of film that passes through the plant is inspected. IN a courtyard, a good distance from any other part of the building, is a specially constructed vault for the storing of film. This vault has neither electric light or heat, but by its special construction the interior remains at even temperature throughout the year. A watchman is always about the plant and reports every fifteen minutes by wire to the Western Union Telegraph Company. This extra precaution has been added for the safety of the buildings and their contents. THE laboratory is working constantly, day and night, and is capable of turning out over 500,000 feet of film a week. However, the plant is adequately equipped to take care of a larger amount of film, but it has always been the policy of Mr. Evans to consider quality and therefore all the work at the laboratory receives his personal attention. IN' speaking of the plant Mr. Evans said : " Quality and organization have always been my hobby. Over three-quarters of my time is spent in the projection room examining our developed film. It is absolutely necessary to have someone that is personally interested in this work to keep up the standard of quality which has made this business a success. Every employee connected with this company has been with us for over seven years, except four people, who have been with us for three years. It is important to have all employees work in harmony and conscientiously for the high standards set by the company." Many Improvements at Crystal Studio ONE of the best and most modern equipped motion picture studios in New York is the Crystal Film Company studio, located at 430 Claremont Parkway, New York. Its builders had the advantage of the many improvements which have so rapidly come into play within the past year or more, and have so cleverly united these new ideas into one that, as the result of their work, they have constructed a studio which is the last word in economy, time and efficiency. THE Crystal studio is 75 by 55 feet, well equipped with spacious dressing rooms, with two specially constructed rooms for stars, and other rooms designed with a thought for the particular needs of the directors. A complete telephone service has been installed, with a private line system facilitating to the nth power the degree of efficiency which predominates the whole structure. Adjoining the studio proper is a carpenter's shop, 50 by 50 feet, fully equipped with a diversified supply of scenery and props and other essentials to the structural phase of the film business. THE lighting equipment consists of 29 Cooper-Hewitt lights, 29 head banks, 8 side banks, 5 whole, 8 Majesties and 2 Kleigels. The most modern cameras are in service, and what is considered a valuable asset is that dark rooms and all the other essentials to modern film development are on the grounds. This adjunct is an important feature and gives the producers the opportunity of developing after a few hundred feet have been taken, so that a convincing idea of just what the picture will present is obtained without a change of sets or an appreciable delay in the taking of the scene. THE owners will rent the Crystal studio by the day, week or month, and can offer the very best in modern studio equipment. The Triumph and Ivan film companies have made pictures here, all of which have proved unexcelled in detail and clearness. Printing and developing are also done for the trade. A. Alperstein is general manager of the company. The Palace Is Up-to-Date Studio PALACE Players Film Corporation (known as the Victor studios), 645 West Forty-third street, New York City, is one of the up-to-date workhouses for the modern producer. Three floors are devoted to the making of pictures, and the different phases of the filming of pictures are so laid out as to give the maximum in efficiency and photography. On the second floor of the studio are a projecting room supplied with a Power's 6B machine and a stage with floor space 35 by 60 feet, illuminated by four overhead Cooper Hewitt lights and two Wohl broadside lights. An emergency room, where accidents may be attended to, adjoins. ON the third floor are fourteen dressing rooms and specially fitted rooms for directors and stars. The executive offices, scenario writer's room, cutting room and manager's room are located on this floor. A room has also been fitted up for extras. The dressing rooms are supplied with running hot and cold water. THE fourth floor is given over to two stages, the larger being 50 by 70 feet. A 70-foot shot may be taken on this stage. The lighting system includes twelve Cooper Hewitt overhead and six side banks, two Trought lights, four Aristo arcs, eight Quartz lamps and two Kliegl spot lights. The smaller stage is 40 by 60 feet and is lighted by six Cooper Hewitt overheads and six side bank lights, two Wohl broadsides, two Duplex Wohl lights and two Troughts. All the lighting equipment may be moved on special conveyors. A test room is on this floor. Bell and Howell cameras are used. The building is equipped throughout with the sprinkler system. Joseph L. Hegeman is treasurer and studio manager. Every Convenience Is Found at Chester Studio THE Chester Photoplay studio, 502 West Thirty-eighth street, New York City, is one of the modern, up-to-date studios located in Manhattan. It has four stories of floor space, with a stage 24 by 55 feet. Every phase of the modern studio is represented in the Chester property, and the independent producer will find every convenience at his disposal. Stage space large enough to accommodate one complete set at a time is provided for, and a plentiful number of dressing rooms, supplied with hot and cold water, are conveniently located. About twenty-five sets of scenery are supplied. ILLUMINATION is supplied by five Cooper Hewitt overhead and five side lights, six Quartz lights and two Kliegl lights. A property man and electrician are in attendance. Pathe cameras are used and supplied by the studio. A Power's cameragraph is used in the projecting room. Conveniently located are a carpenter shop and test room. A spacious resting room for the actors forms an important part of the studio. The owners will rent the Chester studio by the day, week or for one or more productions.