Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

106 B ETT E R THEATRES July 24, 1943 men, and take my advice, don't have any women in a box !" "The Army is reaching out for me. I will drop you a line when I get in." A 15-Year-Old Wants To Start in Projection projection ever attracts the young as a life's work, as well it may. It is not an easy trade to get into, in normal times, but increasing wartime shortage of manpower may have a tendency to open it up a bit. It is all right for skilled trade to protect its workers, but I do think the lack of provision for apprenticeships will prove to be a mistake. Projection is too young to suffer from this policy now, but I think that in time it will. Letters from boys who want to become projectionists are frequent, and once in awhile I like to publish one, with a reply, partly against the possibility that other youngsters interested in projection may see these columns. Here is one from a 15year-old boy, William Bush, of Binghamton, N. Y.: "I have been interested in motion picture projection for about four years. I have read all the books on the subject irt our public library. I have had experience with practically every type of 16-mm. sound projectors including the Victor, Bell & Howell, Ampro and Kodascope. I also know how to thread the Motiograph 35 mm. projector. I know the principles of sound recording, sound reproduction, arc lamps, and shutter and optical system, and 1* know some of the less important things such as film being inflammable and film going through at 24 frames per second. "I am only fifteen years old now and I won't be sixteen until September. I have talked with a projectionist at the Capitol theatre here and he said that before the war they did not take apprentices or hire a boy until he was eighteen, but he said maybe because of the war they might start taking them younger. "What I want to know, if you can tell me, is this. Is there any way in which I can get started as a apprentice or assistant or in any capacity at all in a projection room ?" Well, son, fifteen is a pretty young age, but it is a fine age to start thinking about what you want to make of yourself as you grow older. If you understand all the items you mentioned in your letter I must say that you understand more than a great many older men in projection know. Eighteen is the ordinary age at which apprentices and assistants are started ; however, the war has changed many things and it is quite possible that there are some places where you would be considered. Local employment conditions would be the big factor. I suggest that you go to the nearest local union, find the business agent and have a talk with him. He can advise you as to what is being done in your own particular neighborhood. • Index of ADVERTISERS in BETTER THEATRES Page American Pop Corn Co 93 American Seating Co 89 Artkraft Sign Co., The 93 Automatic Devices Co 92 Baldor Electric Co 96 Bausch & Lomb Optical Co 88 Brenkert Light Projection Co 95 Chicago Expansion Bolt Co 92 Dayton Safety Ladder Co 88 DeVry Corp 105 F & Y Building Service 89 Forest Mfg. Corp 96 Formica Insulation Co., The 84 General Electric Co., Air Conditioning Div. 83 Goldberg Bros 92-102 Hertner Electric Co 104 Heywood-Wakefield Co 87 LaVezzi Machine Works 96 Motiograph 103 National Carbon Co., Inc 101 National Theatre Supply Div. of National Simplex-Bludworth, Inc 93-106 Pantasote Co., Inc., The 93 Projection Optics Co., Inc 92 RCA Theatre Service Co., The 102 RCA Victor Division of Radio Corp. of America 82 S. O. S. Cinema Supply Corp 98 Strong Electric Corp., The 99 United States Air Conditioning Corp 97 Union Carbide & Carbon Corp 101 Wagner Sign Service, Inc 98 Wenzel Projector Co., The 98 Those who bought Simplex High Lamps know that it stands for the utmost in projection lighting. Although production of new lamps has been discontinued for the duration, it's a good name to remember for the future. THE COPPER DRIVE IS ON! America needs more copper for producing ammunition. We must save all the drippings and strippings from carbons. Wasting even a small part is the equivalent of withholding bullets for the guns of our fighting men. And you wouldn't do that! Do not hesitate to call us when in need of parts or service on any type of equipment. NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY Division of National — giH*p4z£ — Bludworth, Inc. THERE'S A BRANCH NEAR YOU