The Exhibitor (1956)

Using SBA Funds ( Continued, from page PT-9) lighting fixtures, etc., can turn a small and drab appearing lounge into a com¬ fortable and inviting theatre “living room” that can be enjoyed and appre¬ ciated by the ticket-purchaser. A clean and efficient restroom is a “must.” A foul smelling, dark and dingy restroom, with poor toilet facilities, can cancel out an expenditure of thousands of dollars on remodeling other parts of the theatre. Added conveniences such as properly placed dressing tables and chairs in the ladies’ restroom, automatic hand dryers, comb dispensing equipment, etc. are investments that pay off. Auditorium The auditorium is the place where your patrons will spend two, three or more hours. If the seats and surroundings are below par, they will lessen much of the entertainment value of the picture being seen. It hardly seems necessary to stress the importance of seats. They must be com¬ fortable and in good condition. Chairs are available in a price range which should fit into the budget of every theatre, going from about $17.00 for a plain wood chair to $40.00 for a deluxe push-back model. There are many interesting wall cov¬ erings available to the theatreman. A fabric wall covering for a 500 seat the¬ atre can be obtained at a cost of about $800. The larger 1,000 seat theatre can have the same job done for approximately $1,800. The importance of a good screen can¬ not be underestimated. A heavy invest¬ ment in new projection equipment can be all but wasted if the screen is not capable of producing a sharp, clear image. Here again the theatreman has many types of screens to select from, with a wide price range. In general, screens are available at a cost of $.60 to $2.00 a square foot, with the average price be¬ ing about $1.25 a square foot. Dressing up the proscenium is another worthwhile project. The operator of a 500 seat house, with a proscenium open¬ ing of 30 by 20 feet, can install new curtains, track and curtain controls at a cost of about $1,000. A 1,000 seat theatre with a proscenium opening of 42 by 24 feet can get the same equipment for about $1,800. Many interesting effects can be ob¬ tained with house lighting by the use of dimming equipment, spotlights, colored filters, etc. Projection And Sound The booth is the heart of any theatre. The advances made in projection and sound in recent years are truly amazing, and it is almost mandatory for a theatre to bring its booth equipment up-to-date. A complete pair of projectors, including the projector head, arc lamps, lenses, pedestal, and direct current power sup¬ ply can be had at a cost of $5,000 to $9,000. Naturally, many theatres will not be in need of completely new projectors. However, the chances are very good that many of the integral parts of the projec¬ tion system could stand replacement. A pair of modern arc lamps will cost about $1,400 to $3,000. Prime lenses are available at a cost of $200 to $800 a pair. A set of anamorphic lenses will cost any¬ where from $350 to $1,200. Generators cost about $1,100 to $4,000, while rectifiers are about $125 to $600, with selenium units costing $850 to $1,500. Turning to sound equipment, a com¬ plete optical sound system will cost some¬ where between $1,500 and $4,300. If you add 1 track magnetic sound the additional cost is about $800 to $1,000. A complete magnetic sound system can cost anywhere from $2,300 to $6,000. Booth accessories are another area in which replacements can pay off in more efficiency and a better show. Although the individual items usually are not very costly, there are many which are needed and the total adds up. Therefore, it is wise to carefully study your needs. Some of the important booth accessories that should be looked over for possible replacement include the fire extingu¬ ishers, rewinds, rewind table, splicer, reels, reel bins, record player, storage bins, etc. It is generally estimated that much of this equipment can be replaced for about $300 to $400. Other Areas In addition to the areas of the theatre that have already been discussed, there are still many other places which should be evaluated for remodeling or replace¬ ment when thinking about applying for an SBA loan. The heating and air conditioning units are vital and should be gone over care¬ fully. Quite often the cost of operating and maintaining an inefficient and under¬ sized heating system is more costly, in the long run, than a modern efficient re¬ placement. There have been great strides made in air conditioning and ventilating equipment, particularly in the “packaged” units, and the theatre operator owes it to himself to investigate the market in terms of his needs and budget. Much of the success of a theatre can be traced to the efficiency of the staff. There¬ fore, it might be wise to invest in new, attractive uniforms. In most cases it im¬ proves the morale of the staff, who will take pride in their new garb, and im¬ presses the public. The list of items that can be purchased, and the jobs that can be done in and around a theatre is a long one, and var¬ ies with each theatre. It would certainly be to the advantage of the exhibitor to make a careful survey of his property and map out a program which will make his theatre a better place to visit, and therefore have a better chance of not only surviving, but of prospering and growing. The SBA loans can be the straw that breaks the back of the resistance of many financial institutions to offer aid to the¬ atres, and at a reasonable rate of inter¬ est. The know-how and the products have always been available, with a good chance to obtain the necessary funds now at hand the time appears ripe for indoor theatres to start a new era of glamor and comfort. EDITOR’S NOTE — We would like to point out that all prices quoted here are merely estimates that should he used only as a guide. Many things, such as trade-in al¬ lowances, discounts, installation, sales, local taxes, freight charges, etc., can enter into the price. Therefore, we advise the reader to check with reliable theatre sup¬ ply dealers, manufacturers and contrac¬ tors for specific price quotations to be used on any applications for SBA or other types of loans. i|i in yijfs./yp \/ . I vm If xitI j) — r ^ Your carpets may be — the thickest . . . Your soft drinks may be king-size . . . BUT EVERY PERFORMANCE STILL MUST BE PERFECT! Perfect performances depend so much on the quality of service your equipment receives. Giving the best service is the day-by-day job of every expert RCA Theatre Service Engineer. And he alone has behind him all RCA's tremendous technical resources. RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC. A Radio Corporation of America Subsidiary Camden, N. J. December 5, 1956 PHYSICAL THEATRE DEPARTMENT of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR PT-13