The Exhibitor (1956)

ivesti THE WORLD FAMOUS SILVERLITE ALL-PURPOSE SILVER SCREEN and the NEW ULTRAWHITE HI-LITE SCREEN 100% VINYL PLASTIC MOLD and FUNGUS PROOF Theatre screens with a world-wide reputation since 1927. VOCALITE SCREEN CORPORATION ROOSEVELT, N. Y., U.S.A. Superb HILUX STILL the lowest. . . and one of the finest... HILUX 264 152 FIXED VARIABLE ANAMORPHIC LENSES $lOT-50 5395-00 ■”# each per pair See your Theatre Supply Dealer or write us directly . . . NOW PROJECTION OPTICS CO. ROCHESTER, NEW YORK of Consistent Quality and Outstanding Service For Every Theatre Need! L NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY J Insufticent Exits Pose Chief Fire Hazard Boston — Insufficient exits, plus exits not properly marked and lighted in the¬ atres have been the principal factors in the large loss of life fires that have occurred in theatres throughout the world in the past century. This and other findings are contained in a special study of 100 motion picture theatre fires, Fire Record Bulletin FR 56-1, just published by the National Fire Protection Association. The study is illustrated and cites spe¬ cific case summaries of fires in both indoor motion picture theatres and drive-in the¬ atres from 1349 through 1955. Typical loss of life theatre fires dating back as far as 1808 are listed. The 16-page report also reprints an article from the April, 1951 NFPA Quarterly on “Fire Safety For Drive-In Theatres.” There is a tabulation of the factors which contributed to the spread of fire in the 100 theatre fires studied; also, their point of origin as well as additional tabu¬ lations on theatre sprinkler performance and on the known causes of motion pic¬ ture theatre fires. Copies of this special occupancy fire record may be obtained from the NFPA Publication Department, 60 Batterymarch Street, Boston. Price is 50 cents per copy. RKO 58th St. Gets Face Lifting New York — In keeping with the re¬ juvenation of Third Avenue, the RKO 58th Street, will undergo extensive alter¬ ations, according to William W. Howard, vice-president of RKO Theatres. To con¬ form with the Avenue’s “new look” since the removal of the “El,” John McNamara, noted theatre architect, has submitted plans that include the new marquee and upright currently being erected on the theatre’s Third Avenue entrance. This will be augmented by modern glass doors, a new boxoffice and attractive signs, giving the entrance a more elaborate and more attractive appearance. The inner lobby which leads to the ticket-taker is to be entirely redecorated and made more inviting and luxurious. ^lUi and ^Uat I Abound the ^nade I Miles A. Goldrick will be transferee! to 1 the Westrex Corporation’s Hollywooel 9 tlivision to assume the duties of public ■ relations administrator. Prior to this 1 change Goldrick had been located in Hong 4 Kong as supervisor of Westrex activities 1 in the Far East . . . . . . The subject of proper and efficient methods of sweeping and cleaning is cov¬ ered in latest bulletin issued by the Na¬ tional Sanitary Supply Association, Chi¬ cago. A copy may be obtained from a member sanitary supply dealer, or by i writing directly to the Association at 139 J N. Clark St., Chicago 2, Ill . . . J . . . Projection Optics Company, Ro c Chester, N. Y., has produced a special , adaptation to use the Hilux-Val as a reversed anamorphic projection lens in drive-ins requiring a focal length beyond 7.00 inches. The inversed unit can be used , with any standard projection lens. Due ^ to the special adaptation, it was pointed > out, the Hilux-Val then becomes a fixed anamorphic lens . . . . . . Henry J. Hood, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., was recently honored by the American Standards As¬ sociation in recognition of his accomplish¬ ments in the development of American Standards. Hood represents the Society , of Motion Picture and Television Engineers on the Standards Council, which is responsible for the technical program of \ the American Standards Association . . . ^ . . . An increase of 32 per cent over i 1954’s sales was reported by Hewitt | Robins, Inc., Stamford, Conn., in the firm’s 1955 annual report, recently released. The ' firm, which produces foam rubber and ^ flooring products used in theatres, also revealed net profits, after taxes, to be at ‘ an all-time high ... . . . Problems of assuring the adhesion of paint films to smooth surfaces, such as galvanized drive-in fences, aluminum i sheets, sign boards, and neon display signs, ^ can be handled satisfactorily, it is claimed, ■ through the use of Metal Bond, now be ing offered by the Wilbur & Williams Company, Boston. This clear metal coat¬ ing is applied by brush or spray and acts as an adhesive for the usual paints used. ... A four lane automatic ticketless admission control system has been pur ‘ chased by Associated Prudential The¬ atres, Inc., New York, for installation in its Massapequa, Long Island drive-in, it J was announced by Ed Seider, of APT, and • A. J. Platt, manager, theatre equipment ij field sales, RCA theatre and sound prod !] nets division ... 4 . . . United Theatres, New Orleans, re j cently signed a contract with Altec Serv ^ cie Corporation for that firm to provide 4 sound service for 17 theatres in the cir j cuit ... ! ... A new anamorphic lens for taking > and projecting CinemaScope 16mm. pictures was recently introduced in Los i Angeles by the Radiant Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, and Panavision, , Inc., Hollywood. PT-32 PHYSICAL THEATRE DEPARTMENT of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR March 28, 1956 1