Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1956)

of the screen channels. The audience is completely immersed in an atmosphere of high-fidelity music expressing the theme and movement of the scenes it accompanies. There is no reason why this type of sound cannot be made available to any theatre. Regular CinemaScope provides the foui necessary magnetic tracks. The CinemaScope effects track is now 29 mils wide. It should be increased to 63 mils, comparable to the other three tracks. Then effort should be made to utilize this track to its fullest extent, with consistent orchestral scoring, with choral interpolations as the theme may suggest, and with effects extending the impact of the scene as narrational material advices. Time delay effects producing proper reverberation periods may be used to reproduce any type of locale and musical enclosure. Such possibilities are unlimited. At the reproducing end, those theatres which are now equipped with three stereophonic channels would need only the addition of a fourth channel and the installation of good-quality surround speakers. SURROUND REPRODUCTION .As to the selection and location of surround speakers. First, it must be emphasized that the quality of sound reproduction from these speakers should be as high in quality as that from behind the screen. If this is not the case, the atmospheric sound will reflect adversely on the picture. The surround speakers should be located so that good distribution to the audience is provided without causing annoying lead level sound to be produced in the adjacent areas. Cinerama uses about eight speaker assemblies for the auditorium. These have A'ery good frequency characteristics and power handling capacity. Since the audience seating area is restricted in size, these speakers are located at sufficient distance and produce good distribution and no discomfort. However, where seating covers the full area of main floor and balcony, the surround speakers should be reduced in size and power, but the number used should be increased to give good coverage without audience annoyance. Some work should be done to assure a series of loudspeakers and enclosures which will have the optimum characteristics described above. It must be remembered also that since large quantities of such speaker units will be used in each installation, the cost per unit should be kept at a minimum. The improvements being produced in picture quality on the screen by the negative-to-positive film reduction process should be accompanied by a similar upsurge of stereophonic and surround track scoring. The only way to maintain or increase theatre attendance is by providing stories with top quality of picture and sound. Sharper Pictures, More Light on the Screen, Greater Contrast, and Greater Definition. ..and this under the most trying outdoor operating conditions. Actually 7 out of 10 new Drive-Ins install Super Snaplite Lenses... and more and more established Drive-Ins are turning to Super Snaplites. Ask for Bulletin No. 222, it gives you complete information on these lenses. Plont: 347 King St., Northampton. Massachusetts COKrORATlOK 0 New York Office: 30 Church Street, New York 7, N. Y. CARVER rectifiers . . . since 1915, the standard of the industry Keen competition in the entertainment field necessitates the best possible presentation. Join the impressive numbers of drive-in theatres now using GARVER projection rectifiers. They are satisfying critical present day audiences. Whatever your requirements may be in Bulb or Selenium type rectifiers, single or three phase, Garver engineers can produce it tor you. Write today for full details. THE GARVER ELECTRIC COMPANY, Union City, Indiana, U. S. A. Domestic Distributor : Export Distributor : THE B.4LLANTYNE CO. STREUBER & L.4 CHICOTTE. INC. Omaha. Neb. 250 W. 57th St., New York 19, N. Y. BETTER THEATRES SECTION 31