Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1939)

50 MOTION PICTURE HERALD January 14, 1939 RCA RECONSTRUCTS SIX REPRODUCING SYSTEMS New Series with Technical Improvements Announced at Three Day Sales Convention The Photophone theatre sound reproducing division of the Radio Corporation concluded a three-day sales convention in New York on Thursday with the announcement of a new series of six reproducers built from the present series with new technical advances, including "shock-proof" drive mechanism, double-exciter lamps, a new optical system. Special attention has also been given the external appearance of soundhead housing, amplifier rack and volume control box. Harry L Sommerer, RCA Photophone head, told the 50 company sales executives and salesmen attending the convention that greater convenience of operation in the projection booth is created by the new reproducers, and that they are available for all size theatres. The convention opened Tuesday morning at the RCA manufacturing headquarters in Camden, running through Wednesday, when a banquet was held at the nearby Tavistock Country Club. On Thursday the delegates were transported to New York to visit the World's Fair grounds, NBC studios and other associated RCA company offices. Addressing the delegates were: Henry C. Bonfig, commercial vice-president of RCA Manufacturing Company; Homer B. Snook, reproducer sales manager ; Edward C. Cahill, service manager ; Edward Auger, reproducer sales executive ; E. T. Jones, Photophone advertising manager ; Fred Wilson, manager of field sales activities for RCA Manufacturing ; Max Batsel, chief Photophone engineer ; Morris J. Yahr, technical chief, and Lynn Brodton, RCA equipment designer. "Shock-proof" Drive To augment the rotary stabilizer in effecting a constant film speed, a new drive mechanism has been designed which Mr. Batsel, who conducted a demonstration of the equipment described as "shock-proof." This was introduced, Mr. Batsel added, for the purpose of making it "impossible for gear-backlash to be transmitted to the constant-speed film sprocket, thus insuring constancy of film speed." A double exciter lamp unit gives an emergency spare light for quick change-over in case of failure. The optical focuser on the new equipments can be locked into place after adjustment. Gear failures are said to be virtually eliminated by an integral gear box assembly built into the new sound-head which keeps gears running in an oil bath. "Standby facilities for the equipment have been provided to relieve possible breakdowns," said Mr. Batsel. The new type drive mechanism is mounted in a new type of integral gear box in such a way that it can be removed easily as a unit for servicing or replacement. The sound bracket assembly, including the optical system and the drum shaft, can also be removed in one piece. "Mr. Batsel explained the new self -locking focal adjustment mechanism. A light shield in front of the optical system avoids "96-cycle" hum resulting from modulation of the sprocket holes in the film. A new type of pre-focused exciter lamp bulb has been utilized, doing away with the necessity for adjusting the lamp laterally. The sound head has a new styled housing over the electric driving motor. This cover is removable for inspection or servicing. On the right side of the soundhead is a glass window which permits a view of the interior, so designed that it is illuminated at the edges, eliminating glare and permitting a clearer view of the interior. The photoelectric cell transformer has been shielded in a cast iron chamber in the soundhead, insuring virtual absence of noise from static in the sound-head, according to Mr. Batsel. A new system of mounting the soundhead beneath the projector mechanism has been devised. A separate, removable plate is provided atop the soundhead to which the mechanism is fastened. It is then only necessary to remount the removable plate on the sound-head, securing it with four screws on the outside. This contrasts with the older method of running long bolts from the projects into the soundheadhead, it was said. The removable plate also serves as an oil collection plate, gathering oil drips from the projector mechanism and feeding them into a tube which empties into a removable container. The external styling is by John Vassos and Lynn Brodton. Mooney Release Revives Film Riding along with the publicity attending the release from California prison last week of the labor figure, Tom Mooney, Pathe Films is distributing, through "state rights" exchanges, the two reel film, "The Strange Case of Tom Mooney." This film was made in 1933, and released at the time through First Division Exchanges, now in liquidation. The distribution in New York and Boston is being handled by Treo exchange, 630 Ninth Avenue, New York City, which has booked the film with the Translux Theatre in Boston and the Broadway and 49th Street Translux in New York. Paramount Newsreel put out a "special" on the Mooney release, issued on the coast and as far west as Kansas, on the day of his release. Movietone News released 118 feet in Monday's issue, Number 35; Pathe, 215 feet, in its Tuesday issue, Number 50; Universal, 45 feet, in its Tuesday issue, Number 735; and News of the Day, 300 feet, in its Tuesday issue, Number 233. The Leo Morrison agency is said to be arranging a theatre tour for Mr. Mooney. Talley Names Fitzgibbon Truman Talley, producer of Movietone News, has appointed Steve Fitzgibbon New York studio manager. Mr. Fitzgibbon has been in English and European production, in association with producer Robert T. Kane. E. I. Sponable continues as technical director of the studio and of Movietone News. SHORT PRODUCT PLAYING BROADWAY Week of January 7 CAPITOL King Vulture Columbia CRITERION Unusual Occupations, No. 2 . Paramount Home on the Range Columbia Mutiny Ain't Nice Paramount MUSIC HALL Donald's Golf Game RKO Rad'to Going Places, No. 58 Universal Stranger Than Fiction, No. 58. Universal PARAMOUNT Sport Parade of 1938 Paramount Unusual Occupations, No. 3 . Paramount Cops Is Always Right Paramount RIALTO Great Library Misery, The .. Vitaphone Dave Apollon and Orchestra. Vitaphone Self Control RKO Radio RIVOLI Cavalcade of Stuff Grand Nat'l Tannhauser Paramount Mother Goose Goes Hollywood RKO Radio ROXY Fashion Forecast (Winter Styles) 20th Cent.-Fox STRAND Swing Time in the Movies. .Vitaphone Civic Leaders Join Hays Service Plan How to develop the greatest usefulness of the motion picture is the challenge faced by the industry today "with part of the world on fire, with foes even in our own household, with danger of contagion from a distance," Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, told leaders of national civic, educational, religious, welfare and youth organizations Wednesday at a luncheon meeting in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. At the session, a reunion of national groups that first met with Mr. Hays 17 years ago with the twofold objective of improving the quality of pictures and of audience appreciation, Dr. James E. West, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, presented a resolution, adopted by the gathering, expressing appreciation to the industry for the progress it has made over the years. "I want your best thought," Mr. Hays told the civic leaders, "on what there is we can do in thoughtfully planning ahead, to meet the new conditions with the wisdom of experience and the efficacy of honest purpose. "We have opportunities now, we believe, for further intensifying the service of motion pictures. In doing this we shall meet the challenge of the future with a steppedup determination to do all that we can to develop the maximum usefulness of the motion picture." To facilitate the work, a small committee will prepare a statement of suggestions to be submitted to Mr. Hays.