Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1050 Motion Picture Newi National Anti-'Misframs League Forum tniinilliiunilimumiiwi|inwillllinniinnillli „ -r iinii iiiim Projectionist Has Miraculous Escape in Washington Disaster UNION Moving Picture Operators throughout the country have cause to be both proud and grateful concerning the miraculous escape and heroic rescue work of Brother James Hamilton, who was the projectionist on duty in the booth of the Knickerbocker Theatre, Washington, D. C, when the root of the building crashed through on Saturday evening, January 28th, resulting in a death toll of more than a hundred persons who were part of a fashionable audience gathered to witness a performance of “ Get Rich Quick Wallingford.” Hamilton s life was saved due to the location of the projection booth, which had been added on the outside of the building after completion. , .. ,9n the lower floor of the theatre two apartments were added to the original building and these were occupied by the families of the house manager and of the janitor. Above these was built the brick booth, approximately 10 x 12 feet projection being effected by cutting through the two-foot fire wall of the building: into the auditorium. & Scarcely five minutes before the crash of the roof on its death-dealing fall through the theatre Hamilton had left the rewinding room, which was located m the rear of the balcony midway between the floor and the ceiling, and had re-entered the projection booth to begin the second showing of the feature film Hearing the deafening noise caused by the collapsing roof and balcony followed immediately by the cries and groans of the injured, Hamilton peered through an opening in the front of the booth and witnessed the terrible scene on the orchestra floor. With great presence of mind he immediately shut off the power on the projector and made his way through the intricate mass of wreckage to the street, carrying the film with him. 9nce on the street Hamilton assisted in hastily rigging up an emergency lighting system to be used in exploring the debris of the disaster and in heroic fashion brought out from the ruins several of the dead and injured making several return trips into the house at the peril of his life. Hamilton, who is a charter member of the Washington, D. C., local was reticent m discussing the part he played in the rescue work following the tragedy and particulars were supplied over the long distance telephone by an official of the I. A. T. S. E. and Moving Picture Operators’ Union located in Washington Dear Sirs : — I have been waiting some time to receive my membership card and now that I have it I feel like one of the “ boys,” I am working on my fifth year in the game, thus not a novice. I am enclosing some of my appliances which have been constructed by myself. I noticed in the Dec. 31st publication a motor rewind constructed by Bro. Dynes, I am sending a diagram of one I have used four years that is a wonderful help and almost automatic. I also will soon send diagrams of “Framer Lights” and dissolving devices. The “ Framer Lights ” give the operator absolutely no expense for mis-frames when threading up even on outlineless titles. Later I will send a diagram of the “Reel Clock” that tells each patron just what reel he is coming into the show on and how it automatically sets at the end of each performance. Two Paramount men, Mr. Dawson and Mr. Kentner, on being shown my booth praised it very much and also said : “ That boy has the most projection equipment in a small booth we’ve ever seen.” (My booth is 7 ft. by 9 ft.) Tell any of the boys I am at their service if they only say what they want. I’ve got it or with the suggestion, I will make it, if possible. I am very much interested in the N. A. M. L. Forum and always watch for the boys’ suggestions. Yours truly, John E. Dunkin. N. A. L. M„ No. 1581. Motion Picture News : Gentlemen : I think that if a guard was made to cover the motor drive belt and pulleys so when they are oiled the oil will not fly up on the stereopticon fan If the oil is kept off it, it will not catch lint and gum up, and therefore you will have a clearer picture. Tell me what you think of my suggestion. Truly, J. Clyde Hutchinson, Strand Theatre, Kenova, W. Va. The oiling of a projection machine, under which heading comes the speed control, is a process that can be performed correctly or abused. If the oil is applied until it spatters and flies out over the lenses, etc., it indicates that there is an excess of oil on the mechanism. We suggest to Brother Hutchinson to be more moderate in applying the lubricant. — Tech. Ed. Gentlemen : I have never written to the News yet. Jusl sort of sitting back and reading what the othei fellow had to say. I am a small town operator. Although I have been in the booth eleven years. I have two Powers 6B motor driven machines. I find a lot of good information in the forum, but not much on cleaning a machine. I think a greasy machine is a miserable sight. Here is my way of doing. I have an air tight tank with a connection for a bicycle or auto pump from which I have a 5 ft. piece of hollow wire such as used in the hollow wire lighting system. I pump about fifteen pounds of pressure in the tank and use the wire as a nozzle. This requires an extra head so as to give the head just washed time to dry. Neither will it hurt your extra to take a three days’ turn on the bench. I would like a little comment on this scheme from the other fellows. Near forgot to mention I am a member of the N. A. M. L. ranks. Fall in boys. Yours truly, Melvin F. Shollenberger, Pine Grove, Pa. Dear Editor: Having read Mr. Burnett’s article in the N. A. M. L. Forum, on a change-over idea, I would like to say something on the subject myself with the intention of perhaps helping some struggling projectionist to change over easier and make a perfect change too. Mr. Burnett’s idea is well and all right, but in case two scenes on the end of each reel are nearly alike, as sometimes happens, or if the operator is occupied in adjusting his lamps, as is often necessary, on a newly struck arc he cannot watch the screen, his cue sheet and his lamp at the same time. The result is, the change-over may be too late and the operator gets the blame which is right. My method of changing over may not meet with the approval of our readers, although it has never failed me and furthermore it does not make it necessary to scratch or punch the film, or paste tape or tin-foil there on or have a cue-sheet to watch while changing from one projector to the other. Here is my idea : It is so simple it may cause a ripple of laughter among the brother operators but it works fine and in my opinion should not be discouraged. All that is needed are enough pieces of number 18 or 20 sheet metal, one inch square with corners and sharp edges filed round and smooth, to rewind in at the end of every reel from which you want to change. Bend them slightly so as to fit the reel when rewinding them in as shown in drawing. ( Continued on page 1052) 'Patch/ ^3et*ch. of fen s/a tc