Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT VOLUME 124 'Betteuheatres JULY 25, 1936 CONSTRUCTION OPERATION NUMBER FOUR Academy May Begin Screen Survey in Fall negotiations' with electrical instrument manufacturers have been opened by the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for the development of equipment which meet the council's specifications for the purpose of investigating the illumination of theatre screens throughout the country. It is the hope of the committee in charge of this work to measure the illumination of screens in ten or twelve thousand theatres. The interest of the Academy body in screen illumination is based on a desire for improved presentation of product. According to Gordon Mitchell, manager of the Research Council, if a suitable illumination measuring instrument is developed in time, the committee will undoubtedly proceed with its plans this fall. Chicago Theatre Code Getting Basic Changes six meetings this summer of the Chicago building code committee, considering an ordinance which will supplant the one which has existed with only relatively slight revisions since 1906, indicate the enactment this fall of regulations fundamentally changing requirements for theatres. In some cases the proposals impose limitations upon former practices, in the interests of safety, while in others they represent a more lenient attitude, in recognition of changes in architectural practices. At the outset, the proposed code makes no general distinction between types of theatres, though motion picture theatres which do not have stages suitable to fullsized stage performances would be automatically exempt from certain requirements. The new ordinance provides for two types of stages, and that merely for sound equipment (3 feet deep and with an area of 180 square feet and having no movable scenery) does not require a fire curtain. Communications between theatres and other occupancies is not permitted under the old code. The new ordinance permits such communication on the main floor only through fireproof vestibules equipped with automatic fire doors. The old code has no provisions regulating standing space in lobbies. The new ordinance provides for definitely separated standing spaces in lobbies, not to exceed 60% of the lobby width. The old code uses the terms "entrance" and "exit" interchangeably. In the new ordinance the term "normal exit" refers to the usual means of exit for the public which, under normal conditions are also the usual means of entrance. The term "emergency exits" refers to exits provided for the public in an emergency , other than the normal exits. Under the new ordinance the total width of outside exit doorways will be the same as under the old code. Aisle widths are proportional to the number of persons served, the same as in the old code. The old code limits the number of seats in a row to ten. The new ordinance permits twelve seats in a row. The new ordinance also provides that longer rows of seats may be used if the spacing between rows is increased in the proportion of one added seat for each inch added to the minimum required spacing. (A similar provision has been made in the new code proposed for New York.) The old code requires exit courts to be 10 feet in width regardless of the capacity of the theatre. In the new ordinance the required width of exit courts will be determined by the number of persons served thereby. The minimum width to serve 300 persons will be five feet ; for 800 per sons, 10 feet; for each additional 250 persons, 1 foot additional. The requirements for gas lighting of exit signs, contained in the old code, has been disregarded for years, the newer Chicago theatres making use of an independent electric battery set for emergency use as is required by the new ordinance. In theatres, as in all types of buildings, the new ordinance requires the colors for exit signs, directional signs, and danger signals to be as custom has established for traffic control1, viz., green for safe means of exit, and red for danger signals only. The construction of small theatres of three hundred seats or less, may, under the old code be ordinary construction, and theatres seating more than three hundred, fireproof. The new ordinance requires all theatres of 600 seats or less to be of at least semi-fireproof construction, and larger theatres of fireproof construction. Other provisions of the new ordinance which are not contained in the old code are : A garage is permitted in the same building if separated from the theatre by fire walls. Communication with adjoining buildings is permitted on the ground floor only. Self-raising seats are required on the main floor opposite side wall emergency exit doorways. Drinking fountains and the location and A photographic demonstration of a victory of American equipment over European, as reported by the firm of J. Roe & Company, British distributors of the projection lamps manufactured by the C. S. Ashcraft Manufacturing Company of Long Island City. This display in the window of Roe's Wardour Street store in London, followed the selection of the American manufacturer's product over European makes of lamps after tests. Roe also supplied Ashcraft suprex arc equipment for the first installation of television apparatus at the British Broadcasting Company studios. 5