Moving Picture World (May - Jun 1918)

850 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Mav 11. 1918 programme being six reels. That makes GO reels per exchange, or 360 reels all told. Total value, when new, say $40,000. That amount of highly fragile property is worth some attention, is it not? I would imagine that two inspectors ought to get around once every fifteen days, and really good men should be had at $50 per week, paying their own expenses, except carfare. That would make $150 per week and carfare? Say $150 per week all told, or $25 per exchange. Don't you think it would save you more than that sum in damage? Of course there would be a fight. The inspectors should be a bit diplomatic. Exhibitors would swell up and sputter about "interfering with MY business," and some of the more unreasonable ones would try to get service from some other point for awhile. But if done carefully and backed up by an iron-clad agrement, made to be KEPT, not broken, it would win, and to the huge benefit of all concerned. Maybe two inspectors, or even one, could do it all. I do not know. Texas Made. Perry J. Sherman, Corpus Christi, Texas, writes as follows : Attached picture will give an idea of the screen we are putting out down here in the land of the long-horn and cactus. These screens are giving excellent service. If you have any certain person or corporation whom you would like, to have test the screen you have but to supply name and address. Am not looking for free advertising, but want you to know just what we have. The screen requires no screws, nails, rope or strings for mounting. It is stretched sufficiently tight to it surface. Seems \ S X "' . ■ ' \ ' •\ / \ y \. M pull out all wrinkles and present a perfectly to me the army and the Y. M. C. A. would find it a very practical device for mounting of screens for field work. When folded the screen and stretcher form a neat and very compact bundle, but little longer and not so deep as an ordinary suitcase. Could I secure a copy of the address delivered before the Illuminating Engineers' Society, and, if so, how? Am a bug for absorbing dope of this sort. Friend Sherman also sent sketch of an invention of his own, designed to give warning of ending of film in time to prepare for changeover. I cannot approve of it, however, since it might cause a spark, and as it is attached to the upper magazine a spark would be objectionable. Might never do any harm, but — You can secure copy of address by addressing Secretary Illuminating Engineering Society, 25 West 39th street, New York City. Don't know what its price will be, but probably about 25 cents. It is not yet ready for distribution. As to the screen and stretcher — why, your information is too meager for m; to make intelligent comment. So Do We. Henry P. Vogt, Olympia theater, Sioux Palls, South Dakota, orders question booklets, and says : Just a word with regard to the Projection Department you are conducting in the Moving Picture World. In my judgment it is very much the best of them all, and I always am looking for the next World to arrive. The credit is all yours for the good work, and I am with you, Brother Richardson, until the place where the Pastor says Bob Ingersoll went freezes over. Have been operating for five years, but still have much to learn, and am willing to learn it. Isn't it queer how truly great minds run in the same channel. I, too, have the idea that this particular department occupies the front pew ; also, so long as your Uncle Dudley is on the job he intends renewlng its lease on that pew each year; also, again, there is no room between our pew and the pulpit for any other pew and — there you are ! Righto, Brother Vogt! It is the solid ivory top who either honestly thinks he has accomplished the impossible and learned all there Is to learn, or who knows he still has much he ought to learn, but is too lazy, ornery, or stupid, to make the necessary effort necessary to advance his knowledge, who never gets ahead. Also, he is, nine times in ten, a non-progressive as applied to others. He ridicules, sneers at and oven curses (under his breath, usually) those who do study. work hard and forge ahead. My compliments to you, friend Vogt, and may your tribe increase. The booklets have gone forward. Film Waxer. Again let me recommend to exchanges and producers the film waxer manufactured by the Projection Supply Company of Cleveland. It is a corking good machine and well worth its price to either producer or exchange. It will last for years and its use will decrease damage to film from emulsion deposit on tension springs. Separate Local. L. A. Young, Hartford, Connecticut, says : Just a few lines from the Nutmeg State to let you know we are still on deck. Since you visited us we have decided an allprojectionist local is better for us than a "mixed" local. So we are now Local Union 486, at your service. What do you think of it? Note in your — pardon, "our" department (That's better, brother. Your apology is accepted. — Ed.) recent issue that Joseph E. Bliven, New London, inquires for the Wm. Rhodes Film Cleaning Fluid. Mr. Rhodes was located in Hartford the last I knew of him. If I see him will sic him onto friend Bliven. I have a can of his cleaner now. Suspect it is carbon tetrachlorid. It works very well, but rapidly, evaporating more quickly than either. Local 486 has every member working, and most of us are pretty well satisfied. I am, as you may remember, at the Strand. Projection is, on the whole, very good. Most of the faults therein may be traced to friend manager, a few of whom are still innoculated with the "speed-'em-up" virus. This type of manager usually is pretty shy on the purchase of repair parts. This does not, praise be, apply to the Strand. Here we are allowed to get anything we want, within reason. Know you are busy, so will cease from troubling, with the remark that if you ever drive that onelung Harley (Slander, pure and simple. It's a twice-lunger. — Ed.) in this direction don't forget to include Hartford. Local 486 will do the rest; Letters from live wires are never a trouble. On the contrary, they are always welcome. And most of my correspondents are live wires. If they are not they don't correspond very long. Life is too short to bother with dead ones. I'm liable to drop in on you next summer most any time. I am a believer in all-projectionist locals. Mixed bodies seldom work well. Glad to know you have concluded to gang your own gait. Success to 486. May she live long and prosper. Wants to Shake Hands. Herman Taven, Manganese, Minn., says : Would like to shake hands with you, but am much too far away. If ever we meet I'll "buy." For I like people who can tell straight out what they think. And this you certainly can and do. Am in a country town. Bought an old projector, which was almost the first one I had ever seen. Have a big stone (weight 100 lbs.) hanging from the machine to steady it, and about 1,000 feet of hay wire to keep it from wiggling. Have no one to show me anything. Have never seen a firstclass operating room, but thought I knew a whole lot about my own outfit until I started reading the Projection Department, and discovered I didn't know one cussed thing. Enclosed find four dollars for last edition of the Handbook. Maybe I might learn something, too ! Wei, Brother Taven, you sure gave me one good laugh anyhow. If you need more hay wire, or some more stones just — but probably you have enough. Golly ! that's some considerable combination all right. Anyhow you're supplying that little community with amusement which it would not otherwise have, and your work therefore is of value. Remember, however, that the work of real artists depend upon that non-wiggling, weighted-down outfit, and the skill of the man who handles it. hence it is up to you to do the best you can. Anything less would be an injustice in many directions. Will be very glad to aid you at any time and in any possible way. Information Wanted. Mayo Foster. Nashville. Tenn., writes: Intend projecting S-foot picture at 40 feet, nearly. What is least a. c. amperage with which I may expect a good picture on muslin screen in dark room? Will 25 be sufficient? Using Power's 5 head, with inside two-wing shutter. Both wings have same area, made that way by having a wide blade soldered to the narrow. Why was this done? Can I get more light at screen if I cut down shutter blade to its original dimensions. Certainly you will get more light. Please don't ask me why some Ingrowing bonehead pulled a stunt like that. Reduce narrow (flicker) blade to its original dimensions. I never tried projecting a picture with 25 amperes a. c. Maybe it could be done, using three-eighth or half-inch carbons — cored, of course. Here is a case where the Mazda lamp would be just the trick. I doubt your getting a very good result with less than 30 or 35 amperes a. c. I would not myself try less than 85. 25 would supply light enough to illuminate the S-foot picture in a dark room all right, but the crater would be so very small that I don't believe you could maintain a clear field. Did any of our readers ever actually try 25 amperes a. c. on M. P. projection? Up to Date Operating Room. Guy Hill. Yakima. Washington, is going to tt^ a Mazda outfit soon. He describes his projection plant as follows : Last time I wrote was working at the Empire, but am now at the Majestic, both houses being under same management. Have a most up-to-date operating room (One man who hasn't a "booth" anyhow. — Ed.), two Power's 6A's, a 50 ampere Wagner Converter, with duplex control, two American Auto Arc Controllers, Volt and Ammeter, dissolving stereopticon and spot lamp. Frederick Mercy owns all the theaters in this city. The Liberty, a new house, is almost ready to open. Expect to be working there by the time you get this letter. Will tell you about it later. Expect to try a Mazda outfit in this house