Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

\ Sees Standard Projection Ratios Set The so-termed “technical revolution” has simmered down to a point where wide-screen is leveling off at 1.85 to 1 and the CinemaScope aspect ratio is closer to 2.34 to 1 in the opinion of Merle Chamberlin, member of Hollywood Studio Projectionists Local 165, IATSE, and chief of projection at the MGM studios. Mr. Chamberlin’s viewpoint is presented in the autumn issue of the Bulletin of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators. According to Mr. Chamberlin, “Standardization seems to have arrived. I will admit that while not all pictures are projected at 1.85 to 1, wide screen product is being photographically composed at that ratio. You could feel perfectly at ease in informing members that non-anamorphic, widescreen pictures can be tied off at 1.85 to 1.” Mr. Chamberlin added: “In cases where keystone is part and parcel of the projection installation, compensating masking adjustment and aperture filing will cut that ratio down a small amount, but in all cases, the projected picture will be much more pleasing if we start at the same ratio point in the projector head. That will also cut down five or six sets of apertures.” The Hollywood projectionist said that the anamorphic CinemaScope ratio is closer to where it should have been all along. “Now that most CinemaScope prints have mag-optical tracks, the actual photographic ratio ends up on the film at 2.34 to 1. With proper masking our projected CinemaScope picture should be closer to 2.25 to 1. I think we will agree that this ratio change will contribute materially to eliminating the viewed-through-a-mailslot effect of many CinemaScope presentations,” he said. Mr. Chamberlin also mentioned other projection equipment in which standardization and modernization are taking place, among them being a new approach to “heat-on-film” problems, new carbons, apertures, light level, excessive grain and definition in prints. General Teleradio Names New Eastern Sales Head Theodore W. Herbert, account executive with the Mutual Broadcasting System, has been named eastern sales manager for the General Teleradio owned-and-operated radio and TV stations, Wendell B. Campbell, national sales vice-president for RKO Teleradio Pictures, Inc., announced. Mr. Herbert, whose appointment became effective November 1, joined the MBS sales organization last year. Edward L. Hyman Tours AB-PT Affiliates Edward L. Hyman, vice-president of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, is on a country-wide tour of his company’s affiliates with the aim of emphasizing local-level showmanship. The return to basic merchandising of pictures is a major point in the 10-point program promulgated by Leonard H. Goldenson, ABPT’s president, and Mr. Hyman, and recently stressed at the national conference of the company’s affiliates and executives. Mr. Hyman has met with managers of theatres operated by AB-PT and its affiliates in Detroit, Buffalo and Rochester urging greater local-level cooperation between the theatres and the distributors in the advertising and exploitation of pictures. Loren L. Ryder Leaves Paramount HOLLYWOOD: Loren L. Ryder, Paramount technical head who has been with the company since 1929, has resigned as head of the studio’s sound department to devote more time to outside business interests, including Ryder Sound Services and Magnetic Sales Corp. He will be retained by Paramount as technical consultant to Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president and studio head. Mr. Ryder will remain, however, as sound department head until a successor is named. Cinemascope COLOR BY TECHNICOLOR A WARWICK PRODUCTION Reserve It Now for New Year’s Eve from COLUMBIA!