Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

April 20, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 769 Solution of Projection Problems HOW TO GET THE BEST RESULTS TOLD IN DETAIL Coast Theatre Mechanically Perfect California in San Francisco Has Wonderful System of Lighting and Electrical Equipment THE California theatre of San Francisco is as perfect mechanically as it is beautiful. It contains many innovations and some of these were mentioned in a special article which appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of Electricity. The article says : "From the motion picture equipment itself to the aisle lights and the telephone systems, the latest in electrical devices has been sought out to make the California theatre of San Francisco a thing of beauty and of comfort for its patrons. "The building itself is of reinforced concrete in the gothic style, with main auditorium, vestibules, lounge room, rest rooms, try-out rooms, offices and store rooms. Both within and without (for the theatre is flood lighted), its main feature of attractiveness lies in the artistic lighting scheme. ''The stage is framed in a fan-like sounding board of metallic finished filigree work which provides space for the organ pipes, as well as offers an effective reflecting surface for the stage illumination. The color effects are particularly good and the changes of light with the gradual brightening of the blue back-curtain in peacock design, in contrast to the side hangings of old gold, provides a picture of rare beauty. "The auditorium lighting is semi-indirect and is arranged so that a dim light is provided even during the exhibition of pictures, and then brightened during organ solos and intermissions. Aisle lights alongside each row and exit lights provide effective illumination underfoot and for emergencies. "The organ itself is electrically driven with an ingenious arrangement by which it sinks down out of sight while the film is running and then rises to within view of the balcony as it is being played. "A lounge room of considerable size is provided for the convenience of patrons, which is effectively illuminated by central fixtures, side brackets and portables. An illuminated fountain forms an interesting feature here. "Telephones are provided on this floor for the free use of the public, and a house system connects offices, ticket booths, stage and organ rooms. "The details of electrical equipment are most complete. Beginning at the service switchboard, we find a duplicate set of services both for A. C. and D. C. with necessary single throw switches on each current for the general lighting and power, and an automatic throwover switch on the exit and emergency feeds. "From this point connection is made to sub-distributing panels in the basement directly below the stage switchboard, to the stage board and panels in the lobby controlling the exit and emergency lighting, general lighting throughout the lounging room, exterior lighting and motors on roof, to panels in the operating room, to the tryout room, to each motor in basement, stage and attic, and to each heating unit in each of the organ chambers. "The panels in the operating room are fed from each A. C. and D. C. service and double throw switches are provided for each machine, dissolvers, spot-light and motors. Weston ammeter and volt meters for arc and primary voltages are provided on the panels with necessary switches for taking the reading on any machine off either service. Rheostats are placed in a special chamber under the room, this chamber as well as the operating room being ventilated by forced draft created by fans placed on roof. Equipment is complete with the Motiograph projecting machine, spot-light, dissolvers and winding and rewinding apparatus. All panels are provided with sliding doors. "The try-out room is located in the basement, fulh equipped with projecting machines and all necessary apparatus. "The stage equipment is complete with three sets of borders, side and foot-lights, each containing lamps of four colors, viz. : white, red, blue and amber, seven threegang incandescent pockets, seven D. C. arc pockets in the stage floor, four D. C. arc pockets in spot and fly galleries, and two flood lights on the balcony front. General Electric Company dimmers are provided for each color in each border, side and footlight, and two of the three-gang incandescent pockets. These dimmers are provided with individual and master levers. All circuits are controlled by knife switches on the stage board, master control by pushbutton switches here operating contactors on the board in the basement. "The auditorium lighting is semi-indirect and is also wired in four sections to each outlet for as many colors, viz. : white, red. blue and amber. These lamps are fed through four sets of motor-driven dimmers, including a duplicate set of dimmers for footlights. These footlight circuits are pro vided with double throw switches on the stage board so that they may be fed through the auditorium or stage set of dimmers as desired. All of this lighting and the motors are controlled by three sets of push buttons in the operating room and on the stage board, operating contactors placed on the board in the basement. "Exit and emergency lighting consists of aisle lights placed in the floor of the auditorium and attached to the rails or set in the walls of balcony aisles, in addition to the regulation lighting required under the ordinance in corridors, lavatories and exits. The lighting of the main vestibule is a combination of semi-indirect and indirect lighting, as is also that of the lobby and lounging room. "The exterior lighting of the theatre consists of three projectors on the marquise on Fourth street and five on the marquise on Market street, of 1,000 watts each, which are placed so as effectively to bring out the face of the building. In addition to this, there are 1,000 lamps in the two marquise and 700 lamps in the sign, which is placed on the roof, displaying seven different designs. "The organ chambers are electrically heated, each heater being automatically controlled by thermostats, set to keep a uniform temperature both day and night. "The power service consists of motordriven apparatus for the ventilating system, organs, ejector, vacuum, sprinkler, water supply, lift for the console and curtain. All motors are provided with safety first equipment. The lift for the console is operated by a push button on the console and is equipped with limit switches and an electric brake on the motor. The curtain is operated by eight push buttons (five on the stage and three in operating room) which permit of its being raised, lowered and stopped at any point. "A call and signal system is provided which consist of signal lamps placed at points throughout the auditorium and lobby, which may be operated from a switch in the ticket booth. A full automatic non-interfering Decker intercommunicating telephone system of eighteen stations connects all executive offices, ticket booth, operator's room, stage, etc. Five of these stations are equipped with the Decker loud-speaking receivers, which permit the party called to carry on a conversation without the necessity of having to remove the receiver from the phone. A Couch system of phones between the six organ chambers and the console permits of conversation between any chamber and the console."