Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

2584 Motion Picture News On the left is shown the American Film Safe Cabinet used for Film Storage in Projection Rooms, Exchanges, Labratories, etc. The fire charred object on the right is also an American Film Safe Cabinet after it had been submitted to severe heat tests by the Underwriters Labratories. New Film Cabinet Reduces Fire Hazard and Insurance Rates A N equipment that is now being installed in many motion picture theatres and which deserves comment due to its unusual features and benefits to a theatre in which it is installed is the American Film Safe, a cabinet expressly designed for the storage of motion picture film. The American Film Safe is constructed having numerous individual compartments in which either one thousand foot or two thousand foot reels of film are stored. The reel of film is inserted by simply pulling back a conveniently arranged cover and allowing the reel to roll into place, the cover automatically closing. Perhaps the feature of this film cabinet that will appeal most strongly to exhibitors lies in the fact that insurance organizations are making substantial reductions in rates wherever this this particular type of film safe is installed. This, because the apparatus has been passed by the Fire Underwriters' Laboratories. The safe itself is made of rolled sheet metal and is claimed to be practically indestructible. It is of unit construction and may be added to or re-arranged at will. Each film is housed in a separate fire-proof compartment and is suspended on a film carriage, which automatically, moves forward when the door to the compartment is opened, making the film readily accessible. This new equipment is apparently in keeping with the time, i. e., new apparatus of improved design, which tend to make for more efficient operation of theatres and, also, in many instances, for better shows. Will Build Modern Theatre At Biloxi, Miss, Advices from Biloxi, Miss., are that Max and Jack Yellen of New Orleans, La., will build a $500,000 motion picture theatre on Lameuse street, Biloxi. The building will be three stories in height and of reinforced concrete and brick construction. Three New Theatres For The Middle West Contracts for the construction of a new theatre in Crystal Lake, 111., has been awarded to the Olson & Green Construction Company of that city. Fred O. Diering, 1839 Crawford avenue, is the owner of the building. The theatre will be of pressed brick, brick and terra cotta construction and cost about $85,000. The new Marshall Theatre, Manchester avenue, Maplewood, Mo., is scheduled to open within the next several weeks. It will seat 1,600 persons and cost $175,000. Gray & Contrakan will open their new Pantheon Theatre on North Grand avenue, Springfield, 111., about December 6. It will have seats for 700 persons. B. F. Shearer, Seattle, Making Extensive Tour of East B. F. Shearer, president of the B. F. Shearer, Incorporated, Seattle, theatre equipment specialists, recently paid a visit to the News' offices and commented on the exceptionally encouraging conditions of theatre building on the West Coast, particularly in and around Seattle. Mr. Shearer predicts that 1926 will show a record of theatre building in his territory. B. F. Shearer, Inc., who have completely decorated and equipped many West Coast theatres, are contemplating going into this business on a national scale. Mr. Shearer announces that these plans have been made due to the numerous requests that have been received from exhibitors from various parts of the country for services of his company. Saland, Formerly of Film Developing Co., Opens Own Nat Saland, who until recently was connected with the Film Developing Corporation in the capacity of vice president, has recently started a new laboratory of his own which is now operating under the name of Saland Film Laboratories, Inc., and located at Hudson Heights, New Jersey. Mr. Saland has been in the laboratory business for fifteen years. The New ork office of the Saland Film Laboratories, Inc., is at 729 Seventh Avenue. Wurlitzer Company Report Recent Sales Some of the recent sales and consignments of the Wurlitzer Organ Company include Shea's North Park theatre at Buffalo, The Newman Theatre Corporation, Kansas City, The Dawn theatre, at Hillsdale, one of the Bijou Theatrical Enterprise chain, Stanley's Victoria at Philadelphia, the Hamilton theatre, Omaha, Neb., the West Coast Theatre, Oakland, Cal., owned by West Coast Theatres, Inc. and Loew's Ohio Theatre at Cleveland. Foyer of Brill's Inwood Theatre, New York City.