Movietone Bulletin (July 1928)

That Rewinder AVE you lined your rewinder H perfectly and then bolted it down solidly so that it cannot possibly again get out of line? A rewinder just a little bit out of line will, as you know, commit an outrage upon the films every time the reels on it rotate. This is the more especially true if the reels themselves are the least bit out of true, but it is true even if the reels be perfect. To test your rewinder, unwind sufficient film from any reel to reach clear across the rewinder. Put two empty reels on the rewinder, first making sure that they are perfectly true. A crooked reel would be very misleading in such a test. Now stretch the film through the empty reels, letting it lie on the hubs thereof or not as you please. Have your helper hold one end, or lay something as high as the reel hubs back of one of the reels and ‘lay the film end on it right up close to the reel rim and exactly central between the two sides of the rim. Then stretch the film through the reels, and if it does not touch either reel and is central between all reel rims, your rewinder is in exact line. If it is not, then do whatever is necessary to remedy the fault. Caution: While the film is stretched it is best to revolve both reels, just on the chance that one of them may be a bit out of true. When you have the two elements exactly in line, or so that the reels mounted upon them are exactly in line, rather, I repeat, bolt them down solid, so they cannot possibly move. Stop and think a moment. If the film rubs on the reel as it (the reel) revolves, the edge of the film is tilted up, and of course an unnecessary strain is put on the film edge, which certainly is bent or buckled right along through the line of sprocket holes, and surely you will agree that that is at least not very good for them. Far worse than that, though, (and “that? is plenty bad enough), if the bending is sufficient and the sound band is on that side and the reel is rubbing on the emulsion side, the sound band will certainly be injured and perhaps even ruined. That is pretty self evident, is it not? All right! If you have not examined that rewinder recently and tested it for line, do it now! Drop in Voltage ROM New England comes this letter: “Dear Mr. Richardson: I’m getting along just fine with movietone. The Bulletin has been a lot of help to me. I have one trouble, though, and want your opinion to show to our manager, who thinks I am, in some mysterious way, to blame. “The voltage fiuctuates. In the afternoon it is not so bad, though it drops perceptibly every few minutes and comes up again in a minute or so. I have told the manager it is some heavy motors, probably an elevator, on our lines, but he says I’m just trying to find an excuse for not finding what the fault really is in my own equipment. In the evening the voltage is low, and the fluctuations due to the motor (I think it is) are very bad. Will you please advise me?” As to the motor, you are of course, entirely right. From the description it surely is caused by an elevator. Possibly one in an apartment house. In the evening, either your lines or a transformer supplying them, or both, are overloaded, and of course that would, as you say, make the fluctuations caused by the motor much worse. Your manager should take the matter up with the power company, entering vigorous protest. In the afternoon, when the motors are running, they overload either the lines or transformer, (I assume the supply to be A C), which presumably are not overloaded when the motors are idle. It is not up to you, but to the manager. He is entitled to full voltage at all times, and the Power Company in effect contracts to supply it. They should install larger lines, transformer or whatever it is that is overloaded. A magician is not the only one who produces things you never saw before. Look what the laundry sends back. FLICKERS Out on the lot they were preparing for a Wild West scene, depicting a battle with Indians. Arms and ammunition were piled everywhere. “Why all the artillery?” cooed Cora the Cute. “That’s to shoot the picture with,” informed Dumb Dolly. Be thankful for small favors. Do you know what the tramp said when the lady gave him quail on toast? He said: “A bird in the handout is worth two in the bushes.” It won’t be long till crews are in the Orient taking news shots for movietone. Projectionists are warned to brush up on their Chinese so they can be sure the audience is getting every word correct ly. Don’t get nervous at the prospect of projecting movietone. If you must have a little stage fright go get a blonde or a brunette. Circumstances alter cases. It makes a lot of difference if the ham is kosher, but it doesn’t help the ham actor much. There aren’t any 777 ways of splicing film correctly. Variety is not the splice of life. Movietone Mike says his girl is librarian in a laundry. She takes care of the sheet music. The janitor of the theatre is a good radio fan. He picks up a lot of programs. Always be careful what you call anybody. You might miss your calling. Film censors are persons whose duty it is to find out who put the sin in cinema. Silence is golden—but not when it is movietone faded into silence.