Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

to be removed and I-beams installed across the width of the building. This would be quite an expensive proposition. For the seating arrangement, I suggest that you place fourteen seats in a row across the width of the auditorium with a wall aisle on each side. The maximum seating capacity will be 350 seats. The minimum floor slope should be 4 feet, 6 inches, leaving the first 15 feet, beginning at first row level. The projection room should be located over the lobby and foyer, and the ceiling height above the high point of the auditorium floor should not be less than 17 feet, unless the projection room can be built in part of the upper structure. In that case, 15 feet will do. I suggest that you reverse the dimensions of the lobby and foyer — make the lobby at least 10 feet deep, and the foyer 6 feet wide. The men's and women's toilet rooms can be placed on each side of lobby, opening on the foyer side. The furnace room should be located under the stage; however, you may have to widen the stage a little. That, however, is the most economical location. If my presumption concerning the floor construction, as described above, is correct, I advise you to consult a contractor to give you the necessary data on cost. Since I do not know the actual details of the building construction, my estimate would be nothing else but guess work. Before purchasing the building, make yourself familiar with the actual construction, since if the upper structure has to be rebuilt, you may just as well build a new theatre, as all you actually would save would be the outside walls. • THE QUESTION: I AM taking over a neighborhood theatre in a suburb. The population of this suburb is about 5000 and there is one theatre. The building is 40 x 110 feet, with cement block construction. A 10-foot alley runs along one side of the building. The other side abuts a two-story brick building. The front was formerly stuccoed, but the stucco has been removed except for an arch over the theatre entrance. There are two small store buildings, one on either side of the entrance, a restaurant and barber shop. There is a there-room apartment across the front upstairs, and just in back of the apartment is the projection room on one side, and a small balcony for colored people on the other. The outside entrance 13 feet, 6 inches wide by 9 feet deep. The ticket window is in the center of the entrance to the lobby, with doors on either side leading into the lobby. The lobby is 13 feet, 6 inches wide and 20 feet, 2 inches deep, with entrance and exit doors on opposite sides leading into a foyer or cross-aisle 7 feet wide. At one end of this cross-aisle there is a side entrance from the alley which serves as a fire exit and also as an entrance to the colored balcony. The foyer TUNED to the TIMES ZEPHYR unit V-TYPE MARQUEE Progressive showmanship necessitates keeping abreast of the times. For a comparatively low cost you can install on your theatre front a marquee with attraction power, efficiency and beauty of proportion which has made it the favorite of many leading chains including Warners, Schines, and Publix, as well as a number of independent theatres. Constructed of high quality porcelain and galvanized angle iron, the Zephyr resists wear, makes unnecessary costly repainting of vital spots. The cost is kept down through a standardizing of parts which permit mass production. The Zephyr will fit any front. Wide variety of spectacular effects from which to choose assures the individuality of yoar display. Write for literature, prices and terms, giving width of front and width of sidewalk. THE ARTKRAFT SIGN COMPANY LIMA, OHIO World's Largest Manufacturers of All Types of Signs 130 Sales Offices Throughout America — One Near You PARAMOUNT-PUBLIX THEATRE, N. Y. C. Eook at your lobby floor — all your natrons do. A run-dovvn-at-the-heel appearance indicates poor business or a lack of progressiveness. TYL-A-MATS will dress up that old, cracked or otherwise unsightly floor. They have been chosen for many years by the largest theatres to enhance the portals of the modern theatre. Now TYL-A-MATS, more beautiful than ever, can be installed in the smallest house at very reasonable cost. An investment in TYL-AMATS will cut your cleaning costs because their construction tends to keep dirt outside your auditorium. Our color-illustrated TYL-A-MAT folder, together with a generous sample of the actul mat, is yours for the asking. Write for it today. Prominent Users of TYL-A-MATS Paramount Publix Corp. BKO Corp. Warner Brotheri Comerford Amusement Co. Brandt Theatrej Skirball Brothers Shea Chain, Inc. Schine Circuit Sparks Circuit United-Detroit Theatres O.W.JACKSON&CO. Nc 290-5™ Ave.,N.Y. Mat House Are You Going to Remodel Your Theatre This Summer? . . . if so, you may find the Planning the Theatre department of Better Theatres helpful. This department is conducted by an experienced theatre architect, Peter M. Hulsken, and he will give your inquiries his personal attention. There is no fee . . . and no "trade tie-ups." Only unbiased advice as to construction, decorative treatment, materials, costs, etc. Merely write: BETTER THEATRES, ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK July 25, 1936 39