Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

The main lounge below the lobby. Off of this are men's and women's rooms. the sidewalk, and across the front are five sets of doors leading into the lobby. The lobby is fully carpeted. The design is in modern patterns, with blended tones at all plastered surfaces and metal trim. The ceiling is stepped into lateral bands, one above the other, each step concealing trough lights. The auditorium is ornamented in a modern scheme, but conservatively. An immediately distinguishing feature is the ceiling, which is vaulted in a series of broad ribs radiating from the proscenium arch. Walls and ceilings are entirely of plaster, which is painted. The only part of the plastered surfaces carrying a pattern, however, are the side walls. These are relatively low, the ceiling reaching down to a low point and terminating in a stenciled band, behind which are lighting troughs from which a colored glow is cast along the walls. The air-conditioning system incorporates cooling with well water. The system is operated according to zones into which the the theatre has been divided for control. Air is introduced as well as exhausted at the rear of the theatre. Inlets are located across the ceiling above the edge of the balcony for the introduction of air for the main part of the auditorium. The balcony has its own inlets at the rear cornice. The projection equipment consists in Simplex projectors and RCA Photophone. The Savar is fully equipped for stage shows, with full rigging and switchboard equipment. House lighting is controlled from the projection room, on a pre-set dimmer system. Color in three-tone combination, all by means of indirect sources, is ex tensively used and forms a principal decorative medium. Certain innovations have been introduced in the lighting scheme, which have been explained by William A. McAvoy, Jr., of Philadelphia and New York, who installed it, as follows: "Color and its application has long been acknowledged as one of the most important elements of the theatre. Several preliminary tests were made of various types and sizes of colored lamps for the Savar. After exhaustive tests, it was decided to use clear lamps of the standard type in conjunction with a special reflector. The reflector was made of a metal called Alzak, a product of the research department of the Aluminum Company of America. This reflector has an efficiency of 83 to 86 per cent. It is equivalent to the reflection factor of mirror glass, with the advantage of a permanent finish. With the use of blue heat resisting color roundels over these reflectors, it was found that a 25-watt standard clear lamp would give out a higher intensity of light of considerably better color quality than a 40 watt sprayed inside standard lamp, which heretofore was used for this purpose. Likewise, the red color was reduced from 25 watts to 15 watts or approximately 40 per cent saving in current consumption. This also applied to the color lighting of the stage, which was reduced 40 per cent of the wattage that heretofore had been used for this purpose with a much more even distribution of color illumination over the full length of the curtains and a much improved quality of color. Savings were brought about in the current consumption of the signs and marquee by the unique design of the sign control panel. While color was alternately flashing all over the signs and marquee, it was so arranged that as some controls light, the others were out, and as these were timed of even duration, it was possible to use twice the wattage at the same current cost. Another unique feature is the pilot control panel, which controls the sign from the manager's office and which indicates at a glance, through the use of pilot lights, which lights are on, off or flashing." 12 Better Theatres