The Exhibitor (1956)

Painting Drive-In Screens By A. B. CLAPP Spatz Paint Industries Preconceived ideas for painting drivein theatre screens are giving way to a completely new concept. Alert obser¬ vation by an operator of a drive-in and results of an actual installation by a screen tower builder advances a new thought on screen paint. “That’s the screen paint for which I have been looking,” are the enthusiastic words of B. W. Dittrich, Comerford’s Drive-In Theatres, Scranton, Pa., as he stood before the display of Selby Indus¬ tries at the recent TOA-TESMA Conven¬ tion and Trade Show. The simulated screen face at which he was looking, was painted with a heavy-bodied flat white stipple-texture paint produced by Spatz Paint Industries, St. Louis. The interest manifested by Dittrich was generated by observations of a rough recent face of a screen that his company built at one of their drive-ins. This par¬ ticular theatre was constructed on a budg¬ et basis and the rough cement screen was painted with a conventional type of flat white screen paint. According to Dittrich, the best pictures were always received on this rough cement screen. Different kinds and brands of movie screen paints were used on the many other drive-in theatres which Comerford’s operate without securing comparable pic¬ tures. The obvious conclusion, according to Dittrich, is that a stipple-texture paint coating that simulates the texture of rough cement is the answer. The introduction of a heavy-bodied texture paint by the Spatz paint firm was not premeditated. It happened quite by accident. The Phil Smith circuit, operating the Air-Way drive-in, St. Louis, was in need of a screen painting job 24 hours before an advertised opening. Howard Barthelhass, the painting contractor, one day prior to the day of opening advised that the bonderized metal screen would require two coats of conventional movie screen white to produce a satisfac¬ tory picture. So Spatz Industries, Inc., called in for help, supplied a special heavy-bodied stipple paint in an effort to cover in one coat. This paint, applied with a roller, worked perfectly, and since April 1955 is producing the best picture of any other screen in the Phil Smith circuit of 23 outdoor theatres. Selby Industries, Inc., built over 35 screen towers in the past nine months. All of the screen faces were painted with three coats of conventional movie screen white until the firm constructed a screen tower at Garrett, Ind. On this job, Selby applied two coats of Spatz heavy-bodied movie screen white producing a stipple effect with a long lambswool roller. The results were excellent when compared to other paints, according to John Selby, who reported that the screen face at Gar¬ rett produced the “brightest and best” picture of any of his screens. Shiny spots, usual to other paint, in the rain were Magnified View of Stipple-textured Paint practically eliminated. The paint was easy to apply and it required no more labor, nor material than ordinarily. Selby an¬ nounced at the recent TOA Convention that his company has adopted Spatz stipple-texture screen paint as standard finish for all his towers. Drive-in theatre owners in attendance at the TOA-TESMA Trade Show showed keen interest in finer pictures through the use of white screen paint applied in a textured finish, to meet this need a heavy-bodied screen paint that will be marketed under the trade name “StipTex” screen paint. The company advised that this paint is similar to Spatz Movie Screen White widely used in the industry for nine years, except the new paint is in heavy stipple form, ready-mixed and must be applied with lambswool rollers. According to Spatz, this not a new paint for drive-in theatre screens but a new conception of how a screen paint should be made and applied for the finest picture reproduc¬ tion. He believes that the stiple-texture paint will provide the most efficient white drive-in screen surface at the lowest cost yet possible. The following briefly enumerates the many characteristics and advantages obtained: Clearer picture from any angle in the theatre. Practically eliminates distortion from rain. Doesn’t collect dirt — cleans itself. Better picture reproduction in early opening hours. Low application and maintenance cost. Fewer repaint jobs. Where to apply Stipple-Texture screen paint — Over any previously painted screen surface. New construction should be primed according to type of surface. How to apply Stipple-Textured screen paint — Simply roll on with heavy lambswool roller — one coat usually sufficient. National Theatre Supply are exclusive distributors for Spatz drive-in theatre paints. 1 J o wT'm FOR THE FIRST TIME SPECIAL PURCHASE and BRAND NEW The HOLMES 35mm. PORTABLE Sound on Film Emiinment HERE'S THE AMAZING DEAL 2 — Holme* Boll Beoring 35 mm. Portable Sound Projector*. constant speed motors, 1000 watt Mazda lamphouses. 2000* upper and tower magazines, photo¬ cells, exciter lamps, etc. (Brand New). 2—Series I 4" lenses, with adapters (New). I — Set projector, phatocell and exciter lamp cables (New). I— Amplifier, late model, 25/30 watt out¬ put (Rebuilt like New). I —Jensen Heavy Duty 12" PM speaker, with baffle and 75 feet cable (Reconed and refinished), guar¬ anteed tame as new). ★STAR CINEMA SUPPLYCO. 621 West 55th Street, New York 19, N.Y i of Consistent Quality a nd Outstand i n g Service For Every Theatre Need! t NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY 29 Branches Coast to Coast MANUFACTURED BY INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY SUBSIDIARIES OF GENERAL PRECISION EQUIPMENT CORPORATION Insist on EPRAD In-The-Car Speakers! EPRAD 1208 CHERRY STREET, TOLEDO 4, OHIO December 5, 1956 PHYSICAL THEATRE DEPARTMENT of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR PT-15