Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1932)

28 Better Theatres Section December 17, 1932 screen made from bleached cotton cloth similar to that used for bed sheeting would be any good for sound." The carbons will be just as well as ever, provided they are thoroughly dried. You might leave them in clean water for a month without any injury to them whatsoever. Remember, though, they must be thoroughly dried before you try to use them, or the arc will sputter. Cloth such as you speak of would be all right with the horns behind it, provided it contains no starch. I do not say it would be an efficient screen, but while new and clean it would not be bad, always provided the cloth be bleached quite white. Cloth would not reflect nearly the same percentage of light that modern screens do, but it would pass sound somewhat better, I think. LIGHTING THE AUDITORIUM at the last meeting of the Projection Practice Committee of the S.M.P.E., President Goldsmith, who attended, suggested that the picture would be very much easier on the eyes of observers if different lights were substituted in the auditorium for those now in use. He said he had done considerable experimenting, and had found that the use of flame-colored lights in the auditorium would enable exhibitors to light the auditorium more than is now possible without in any degree lowering the screen image visibility, and at the same time decreasing eye strain very materially, Why cannot some exhibitors give this a tryout? It sounds feasible to me and would involve nothing more than the cost of amber lamps. If any try this, it is hoped they will let me hear what the results were. But don't decide until the lights have been in use at least two or three days. Often effects which, because of their newness, do not please very well, please immensely when we get accustomed to the change. CORRECTING FIGURES ON S.R.A. CARBONS every once in a while (not often, thanks be!) I pull a boner. Right now I am as guilty as His Satanic Majesty's Dominions, as is indicated by the following letter from Mr. E. R. Geib, manager of the Arc Department of the National Carbon Company. He says: "Dear Mr. Richardson, I have read with a great deal of interest your comments on the capacity of S. R. A. carbons in the October issue of Better Theatres. You may rest assured we appreciate your assistance in conveying proper carbon information to projectionists. There is just one place where we believe a slight typographical error has slipped in in the fifth paragraph of the second column, reading:" " 'S.R.A. carbons of from 12 to 15 millimeters are given the following current ratings, etc' This paragraph should read, '12-mm. combination, 28 to 32 amperes (sputtering starts at 34 amperes), 13-mm., 32 to 42 amperes (above 44 sputtering may be expected).' "There has not been sufficient demand for a 14-mm. combination to justify the company's placing it on the market, but from laboratory tests we would say a 14mm. positive would carry from 42 to 52 amperes. Above 55 there would sputtering." I appreciate the kindness with which the correction is made, but think I must slap Friend Geib on the wrist, for the figures were taken from Table V of the new National Carbon Company Projection Carbon book (Page 48), and in that table, now before me, 14-mm. carbons are quoted to carry what my article said. Surely if they are quoted in their own table, I had no reason to assume they were .not available. As to the error, it is quite evident that I inadvertently quoted the second figure instead of the first in the left hand column of the afore named table, and the first figures of the second column, the second (13mm.) the same, finally correcting myself without realizing the error I had made on the fourth or l4-mm. combination. However (Haw, haw, haw!) Friend Geib himself erred in quoting the paragraph by using 15 where I used 14 in print. So maybe we're more or less even anyhow. NEW BRITISH PROJECTION PAPER I am in receipt of a copy of the first issue of a new publication published in London, England. It is a monthly called Projectionists Journal. Its initial number consists of four neatly gotten up pages filled with matter of real value to Projectionists in that "right little tight little isle." The publication is issued by the Guild of British Kinema Projectionists and Technicians, Ltd., of which Mr. Stanley T. Perry is president. It proposes to supply news items of the various "courts" of the Guild, scattered throughout various cities of England. The initial number carries an editorial by President Perry explaining the purposes of the journal. I compliment the Guild upon this forward step. Such a publication is needed over there by reason of the reluctance of British trade papers to give publication to projection matters, save those dealing solely with equipment or technical projection matters. May I be permitted to offer a bit of advice to the Journal Editor? Technical projection problems have great publication value, as also have practical problems in the work of projection. But after all, that forms at this time only half the possible value of such a journal as has been launched. The other half consists of editorials and articles tending to build up the pride and ambition of the men themselves, to instill in them pride in their profession and leading them to regard and treat projection as a profession. More than this, it is of importance that exhibitors and managers be addressed and led to understand that they may gain at the box office and in projection overhead by being willing to pay enough money to make projection attractive to men of real ability. Of course it is not claimed that mere increase in pay will materially alter the incompetent men. It certainly will, however, act to replace gradually the incompetent. ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO F. H. RICHARDSON SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS FOLLOWS: F. H. Richardson, No. 3 Tudor Lane, Scarsdale, N. Y. 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