Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

DOUBLE INLET MULTI-BLADE BLOWER All metal construction — positively noiseless. Can be used for Blower or Exhaust Purposes and for Heating as well as Cooling. Every theatre should be equipped with a DOUBLE INLET MULTI-BLADE BLOWER. 10" wheel capacity, 1850 cu. ft. per min. 12" wheel capacity, 2250 cu. ft. per min. 16" wheel capacity, 5000 cu. ft. per min. Prices from $23.95 to $49.95. (Less Motor and Pulley) F.O.B. Grand Rapids, Mich. Shipped C.O.D. Subject to 7-day trial offer. TAYLOR MANUFACTURING CO. 314 MONROE AVE., GRAND RAPIDS. MICH. U BETTER PROJECTION • "H & C" is the accepted standard throughout the world for perfection in Projection Lighting — assuring superior projection results because of better screen illumination. Writ* for Illustrated Booklet HALL & CONNOLLY, Inc. 24 Van Dam Street, New York City the entire 90° angle, eliminating all dead spots. It is comparable to a narrow stream of water from a hose, and the same stream widened into a spray by readjustment of the nozzle. The spray would very well represent the sound distribution obtained by the new system I am describing. "We have considered the mid and highrange elements. Let me now lay before you the peculiarities of the low-frequency units, which consist of a very carefully designed wooden baffle or so-called 'folded horn' assembly, attached to which are one or more low frequency cone speakers, or 'drivers.' It is in fact an exponential horn to which are attached several low-frequency units, thus enabling the reproduction of all low frequencies in proper phase with the mid and high-frequency ranges. "Mr. Shearer's department in California has expended much time, energy and money in developing this system. Several were installed in Loew theatres in New York City for actual theatre tests. Through these tests, made by my department working in co-operation with Mr. Shearer, the faults were finally ironed out and the desired system perfected. "The results provide such naturalness in sound that, with the exception of audioperspective — which we expect soon to add — we feel that in reality the proverbial 'last word' is obtained so far as sound is concerned. Moreover, the system is available to all theatres, since sound equipment manufacturers have adapted it as part of their future sound equipments. "However, let it be understood that the horn system does not embody all the improvements of the new, complete sound reproducing system. For several years RCA has been supplying a sound reproducing head that utilizes the so-called rotary stabilizers to eliminate flutter, at least so far as it is detectable by the human ear. It reduces mechanical flutter to a fraction of 1 per cent. Erpi has designed a similar soundhead that will be available very soon now. AMPLIFICATION INSUFFICIENT "Further, the type of sound recording used by all studios during the past year is of such nature that much higher powered amplifier systems in theatres is absolutely necessary if sound is to be properly produced. The majority of theatres are still operating with 1928 sound equipments, with which it is wholly impossible to properly reproduce 1936 recording. In my opinion all theatres are under-powered, so far as wattage be concerned. When we attempt to reproduce such splendid voices as Jeanette MacDonald's, Grace Moore's or Nelson Eddy's with an under-powered sound system, we cannot possibly do justice to these fine artists or the theatre-going public, because the recorded beauty of these voices cannot be properly reproduced. "For example, numbers of present-day theatres are powered by 12-watt amplifiers, which in some cases are increased to 24 watts. In them it is utterly impossible to reproduce the proper acoustic effect without distortion. In the new systems this wattage is increased to such an extent that the average theatre will have 50 watts of amplification available, whereas houses such as, for instance, the Capitol in New York City, will have 150 watts, with proper driving net works whereby the lowfrequency units will be powered at 100 watts and the high frequencies at 50 watts. The division in frequencies between highand low-frequency units begins at 300 cycles, so that all frequencies below 300 are carried on the low-range, and all above or. the high or mid-range unit. "The new type soundhead also embodies an additional feature, in that it will reproduce push-pull (two-track) or the present conventional single-track sound recording. The push-pull method is now available. The 'Great Ziegfeld' carries the push-pull track. Further, the new soundheads, being designed as they are, and obtainable from both major companies, will reproduce a new sound track now in process of development, concerning which we will soon be able to give you full details. "All in all, the new system is a very big step in advance. Certainly it will do much to improve theatre sound presentation. I do not say it cannot be improved upon. Everything can be improved, but certainly it does reproduce sound, as applied to motion pictures, to the extent that music is really music and dialogue, natural and fully intelligible. It produces results such as only waits the advent of the third dimension to actually place the artists on the stage in truth. "I want to give Mr. Shearer full credit for the hard, faithful, splendid work he has done to bring about this improvement." One other thing noted was the rather astonishing apparent lack of visual distortion in the screen angle, though the Astor projection angle is heavy, as also was the side view from the above described seat. The writer remarked upon this to Mr. Isaac and his answer was both interesting and enlightening. He said: "Although it is quite true the angles are both high and the distortion in reality present, it is not objectionably visible for the reason that visual results upon that screen are very nearly perfect. The elements of the optical trains of the projectors are all of the very best obtainable. Not only that, but they are in perfect alignment, in addition to which I have the very finest type of diffusive type screen surface now in use. I think you will agree with me that all this tends to make distortion due to angular projection and view less visible. In other words, perfection in other visual effects tends to make such faults less visible." — F. H. Richardson. EDITORIAL NOTE: In the April 4th issue of Better Theatres, the Shearer horn system was the subject of an article based on a technical description of the development issued by the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 26 Better Theatres