Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE MARKET AND ITS SOURCES OF SUPPLY New Auditorium Chair With Retracting Seat AN AUDITORIUM chair with a retracting seat has been added to the line of the Ideal Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich. The new model, called the "Slide-Back," has been designed with seat and back so acting in unison (see triple-exposure photograph below) that, according to 'the manufacturer's specifications, the passage space between rows is increased to as much as 6 inches over that between rows of chairs not having a retracting seat. The retracting mechanism includes provision for automatic raising of the seat after it has retracted, and retraction is also automatic. When evacuated, the seat automatically slides back, then rises and locks into position so as to leave unoccupied areas of rows free of obstruction. The manufacturer points out this feature with special reference to mass evacuation of the auditorium in an emergency. The seat auto Triple-exposure photograph of the Ideal "SlideBack" chair, showing seat and back in their travel, with the seat moving not only back, but up. matically unlocks to slide forward when a patron lowers it for occupancy. General construction and design is similar to the conventional models in the Ideal line, entailing, according to the manufacturer's description, only three more moving parts. With retraction of the seat, the back moves slightly upward. The back, Indicating the space for passage between rows when the seat of the chair is retracted. which is a die-formed steel panel, covers the seat cushion at the rear to prevent a patron from placing the end of a shoe between them. The special bearings used in the retracting mechanism require no lubrication. This model is obtainable with cushions of deep-spring construction and in a variety of styles and end standard designs. Booklet on Screen Care a pocket-size booklet of 12 pages is available from the National Theatre Screen Refinishing Company, 129 Zenner Street, Buffalo, N. Y., on the installation and maintenance of motion picture screens. The booklet also describes the company's "Artie Blanch" method of resurfacing screens, which can be applied readily by members of the theatre staff or others employed locally. Booklet on Class Doors information on the effective use of Tuf-flex plate glass doors is contained in a new booklet issued by the Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio. Applications of all-glass doors to theatres are among the uses illustrated by photographs, and the book supplies data for the guidance of building owners and designers. New Drive-In Speakers of Central and Station Type five types of drive-in theatre sound installations have been announced by Motiograph, Chicago, two with a central horn system, and three for in-car or post-mounted speaker units. One central loudspeaker system has a power output of 75 watts, the other one of 150 watts. The individual speaker systems have power outputs of 150, 250 and 500 watts, with the latter having emergency provision for operation at 40 or 250 watts as desired. Specifications of the individual speakers are given as follows: The in-car speaker is fabricated from heavy gauge drawn steel, plated and finished in light blue enamel. The front side has a perforated area over the speaker unit cone. The rear side is provided with a special rubber covered hook to enable the speaker to be supported at any desired position in the car. A constant impedance volume control is mounted in a recess in Motiograph in-car speaker shelter, showing a speaker in one of the two compartments. the front side so that its operating knob is protected from damage during speaker handling. The heavy duty moisture-proof connection cord is 6 feet long, and the hook design provides a place to wind it up for storage. The cone is water-proofed and the metal parts are treated to resist corrosion. The characteristics of this unit are matched to the acoustical characteristics of the speaker housing. The in-car speaker shelter and junction 30 BETTER THEATRES, MAY 31, 1947