The motion picture projectionist (Oct 1928-Oct 1929)

February, 1929 The Motion Picture Projectionist house," upon which the motion picture theatre depends for its existence and successful operation. There are still a few exhibitors and quite a few architects, who are of the opinion that after the theatre is practically completed, some out-of-the-way place can be found to install two projectors and a spot light. This, however, is a great error, as there are so many facts to be taken into consideration, that no one man is capable of properly locating the projectors and other equipment without hours of careful study of the individual characteristics of each theatre. For instance : How many seats will the theatre contain ? How wide will it be t How long? How high? How large will the Proscenium opening be? How deep will the stage be? How high above datum? At what angle would a patron in the front row be compelled to look at the picture? The back row? The most extreme right and left seats? Will people walking back and forth, obstruct the light rays of the projection room? Are there any mechanical obstructions to the light rays such as chandeliers and decorations ? Will the decorations be of a character to pick up and reffect light rays to the screen or the patrons ? Selection of Equipment Will the location of orchestra lights, chandeliers or bracket lights reflect light to the screen? Will there be any possibility of daylight reaching the screen? Will the size of the screen be commensurate with the dimensions of the house ? What type of equipment will give the best results, Incandescent Lamp, Mirror Arc Lamp, Ordinary Arc Lamp, or H. I. Arc Lamp? What type generator will give the 'best results with a minimum cost of maintenance? What type lens will be best suited to the particular theatre? The kind of performance to be put on will raise the question of placing the screen or screens, also the necessary equipment in th projection room for the projection of lighting and scenic effects to the stage. Will stage lighting be controlled from stage or projection room? Will curtains be controlled from stage or projection room? Will house lights be controlled from stage or projection room? Sound Presents New Problems With the advent of sound in motion picture theatres, of course there are many more problems which will enter into the correct design of the projection room. Heretofore, we have not had to worry about the projection room being actually sound proof. But now we may have to materially change the design of projection ports in order to eliminate the undesirable feature of having the audience hear the monitor horns blasting through the ports. Again with the advent of sound, it became necessary to install the conduit system for the sound equipment in such a manner that it would be a permanent installation and not look like an afterthought. This necessitated close cooperation with the organizations who were furnishing the talking equipment. New projection room standards were necessary in order to increase the space between the projectors and accommodate projection room for the sound equipment. In view of the fact that this sound equipment is so very new and changes are occurring rapidly in the installations and design of same, it is necessary to keep in constant touch with the manufacturers and their engineers. Only after considering a vast number of important details, is it possible to intelligently plan and design a projection room and recommend the proper projection equipment to be installed therein. EQUIPMENT distributors should have facilities to handle all installation work to the most minute detail, including in their staff men who arcthorough theoretical and practical electricians. Draftsmen who are thoroughly familiar with projection room equipment and requirements. Men versed in the study of reflection and refraction, and who are familiar with every type of screen and its characteristics. Expert projector and repair and maintenance men, equipped with the most upto-date tools to give quickest and most effipient projector repairs. I A corps of competent service men who pan be reached at any hour of the day or (light. Men who specialize in theatre illumination, interior and exterior, stage drapery, and generator installation. Repair men, electric wire men, both light and power, electrical instrument workers, experts on optics, as applied to motion picture projection. Illumination experts familiar with every known type of motion picture projector or arc or incandescent lamps. Men familiar with requirements of projection port shutter design and construction, as well as projection room ventilation. Men familiar with every type of motion picture projector from the professional model to the smallest toy projector. Co-operation of All Concerned The above serves to merely indicate the variety of work which must be taken into consideration before it is possible to plan the projection room and to illustrate to what extent equipment distributors can be of service to the exhibitor, architect and contractor, as well as to the projectionist. At the earliest possible moment the architect should confer with the engineers of the equipment distributors, the supervisor of a circuit, the chief projectionist or a local projectionist of some standing. In some instances it would be advisable to consult the secretary of the Local of the I. A. T. S. E. of the territory in which the theatre is being erected. The plans of the theatre should always be submitted to a practical projectionist and after consultation with the owners the architect must receive directions which will enable him to properly prepare the floor plan of the projection room. The right time to do this is in the early stages of preparing the plans in order that the full requirements of the projection room may be considered before construction makes it difficult or costly to give the projection the proper size, location, etc. After a decision has been arrived at, as to the type of equipment most suitable for use in the theatre, the engineer should get in touch with the architect who designed the theatre. He should acquire copies of the orchestra floor plan, projection room floor plan, and longitudinal cross section through centre line of theatre. These plans should be studied from each of the above mentioned angles, the distance of projection determined, the correct size screen decided upon, and the angle of projection worked out. This necessitates quite a little bit of mathematical calculation and geometric drawing, and should not be left to mere guesswork or to someone relying on a keen eye to determine the proper angle of projection. Abolish Hit-or-Miss Methods A case is known in which a man working in a projection room for twelve years was under the impression that his projectors were setting at an angle of approximately thirty-six degrees. This was an error, as a protractor measurement showed exactly eighteen degrees. A very careful and thorough study should be made of the cross section plan to determine whether there is any likelihood of the iron construction, or the decorations interfering with the sight lines from the projection room to the stage. The seating arrangement should then be carefully studied, to ascertain positively whether there is any possibility of the seated or moving patrons interfering with the projection ray. The placing and size of the screen are also to a considerable degree dependent upon the seating arrangement. For instance, a large screen placed close to the first row of seats would subject the eyes of patrons to serious optical gymnastics in order to take in the entire picture. This is one of the causes of eye strain. Again, placing of the screen relative to seating arrangement may determine the type of illumination to be used on the projectors, as too great a screen brilliancy will cause eye strain from the front seats or from certain angles. The next problem in planning the projection room is to determine the height of the projection ports, which is governed mainly by the angle of the projector light rays. The actual layout is now ready to be incorporated in a drawing. The lens ports are laid out so that the center line of each projector will be equi-distant from the center line of the theatre. In case of three projectors the center one will be directly on the center line, and the other two on either side of the center line. The placing of the projectors should be so that a minimum distance between them will permit comfortable working space, and a maximum distance which will not create too great a keystone effect in the picture. Planning the Ports We are now ready to lay out the observation spot light and dissolver ports. The projection angle will also determine (Continued on page 26)