Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

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1864 Motion Picture News Many proiiiinent in the industry attended the banquet of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers at the Hotel Monticello, Norfolk Va., April 25-28, 1927 S. M. P. E. Norfolk Meeting Highly Successful Papers Presented by Authors of Note Cover Many Phases; Attendance Excellent THE spring meeting of the S.M.P.E., which Mas held at the Monticello Hotel, Norfolk, Va., April 25-28 inclusive, proved to be one of the most successful ever held by that organization. The list of papers presented were by authors of note and covered an exceptionally wide scope of all phases of the motion picture industry, from the most technical aspects to generalizations on the motion picture business. The attendance of members and guests at this meeting set a record as being the largest in the history of the Society. Besides the comprehensive program of papers various specialties for the entertainment of the Society took place in the evenings. Highlights on Wednesday In particular, a banquet, held on Wednesday night, proved to be the highlight of the convention. Through the courtesy of the Vitaphone Corporation and the Western Electric Company, a Vitaphone presentation was given at the banquet. A historic touch was added to the meeting, as Tuesday, April 26th marked the 320th anniversary of the landing of the Cavaliers on Cape Ilonry, and on that afternoon, in commemoration of this event, the entire convention motored from Norfolk to Cape Henry to witness the celebration. The convention opened on Monday morning with a review of the progress of the Society by President Willard B. Cook, who stated that the present membership of the Society was the largest ever attained, and that efforts were now under way to further exjiand both the membership and the scope of the activities of the Society. It was at this session that a new phase of the work to be undertaken by the Society was determined upon by the formation of a New Theatres Committee, whose duty it will be to engage in efforts to in sure maximum comfort for theatre patrons, compatible with perfect projection, by coordinating the efforts of architects in the design of theatres. Also, assistance will be rendered to theatre owners and architects in illumination problems, such as the general lighting of the interior of theatres, as well as projection problems. Two papers, which were of unusual interest, inasmuch as they were prepared by authors from foreign countries, were ' ' A Film Developing Process for Automatic Records," by J. B. Engl, Technische Hochschule, Berlin, and "A Shutter Dissolving Mechanism," by D. L. Mistry, Bombay, India. Many other points of interest to this industry were brought out through the various papers, one of which was a discussion of motion pictures in their use in the study of the form of athletes. This study is of particular significance, inasmuch as it was Muybridge's original desire to study, in a similar fashion, a race horse in action, that led to the invention of motion pictures. Also, in another paper, it was pointed out that the eventual elimination, or at least a reduction of deleterious effects of arc lamp illumination in studios, may be brought about by the general use of panchromatic film, which gives good photographic results through using incandescent lamps rather than arc lamps. A Twenty Ton Camera A discussion of the scientific studies and investigations which are being carried on through the use of motion pictures was revealed in one of the papers. A notable achievement in this line of work, it was pointed out, is the construction of a movie camera weighing twenty tons, to be used for the purjjose of making motion pictures of the planet Saturn and its rings. A complete list of tlie papers niul their authors, as they were presented at the convention, are as follows : "Report of Pi-ogress in the Motion Picture Industry," by Carl E. Egeler, National Lamp Works, Cleveland, Ohio. "Hollywood and the Motion Picture Engineers," by K. C. D. Hickman, Research Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Company. "Radio Movies and the Theatre," by C. Francis Jenkins, Jenkins Laboratories, Washington, D. C. " Some Technical Aspect of the Vitaphone," by P. M. Rainey, Electrical Research Products Division, W^estern Electric Co. ' ' The Conservation Program of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America," by Hickman Price, Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., New York City. "Motion Photoniicrography with a Cine-Kodak," by C. F. Tuttle, Research Laboratory, Eastman Kodak Company. "To the' Roof of the World in Thibet," by H. T. Cowling, Eastman Kodak Company. ' ' The Motion Picture in Science," by J. W. Coffman, CarpenterGoldman Laboratories, New York City. "Some Facts about Projection Lenses," by W. B. Rayton, Director of Research, Rausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester, N. Y. "An Improved Type of Arc Illumination and Condenser System for Motion Picture Projection," by L. M. Townsend, Eastman Theatre, Rochester, N. Y. ' ' Effect Lighting in Theatres," by J. H. Kurlander, Brenkert Light Projection Co., Detroit, ]\Iich. "A New Light Source for Mazda Projection Lamps," by H. I. Wood, General Electric Company, Cleveland, 0. "The !VIercury Ai-c, " by F. Benford, General Electric Company, SchenectadA', N. Y. "The Physiological Effect of Light," by M. J. Dorcas, National Cai'bon Company, Cleveland, Ohio. "Why Is Make-Up Coml>ulsory in the IMovies?", by V. A. Stewart, Fox Film Corp., New York City. "Illusions in Cinematograj)hy, " by F. Waller, Famous PlaA-ers-Laskv Corp., Long Island City, N. Y'. "Some Patents f(U Trick Photography," by E. J. Wall. "A Film Developing Process for the Acoustic Records," by J. B. Engle, Technische Hochschule, Berlin. "A Polj'gonal Floodlighting Mirror," by F. Benford, General Electric Company, and ^I. W. Palmer, Famous Players-Lasky Corp. ' ' Some Faults Demanding Attention," by F. H. Richardson, {Confinucd page 1866) I