Movietone Bulletin (August 1928)

Don’t Guess Don’t work by guess in the matter of movietone sound. There is but one right way and that is to cue the fader before you show any movietone subject to an audience. The producer cannot do this because of the vast difference in sound requirements in various auditoriums. As we have already advised you, there is but one correct way to cue movietone and that is to station some competent observer in that portion of the auditorium which experience tells you is best suited for the purpose, (it will vary somewhat with auditoriums), and with no audience present, have the observer, by means of suitable signals, direct the raising and lowering of sound for each scene until it is at maximum value for that auditorium. The projectionist of course, will make a cue sheet for the fader in accordance with the observer’s direction and thereafter while that same production is used, the sound may always be kept at maximum by following it. Note: It must be remembered that with the cue sheet made in an empty auditorium it probably will be necessary to add one or two points to the reading when the said auditorium is filled with people. This is largely due to the fact that an audience makes a great deal of noise; also the forms of the people probably interfere to a certain extent with the sound waves. ‘Gentlemen, you may work without a cue sheet, but when you do you are working merely by guess. You are not doing your duty by movietone and by the theatre patrons who have paid for and are entitled to receive maximum results. That the manager does not demand that a cue sheet be made does not excuse you. You are the projectionist and it is up to you, not the manager, to see to it that the best possible results be placed before “your” audiences. Lens Barrel Reflection A southern movietone projectionist says: “Dear Mr. Richardson: I have a queer effect which I am unable to find the cause of. Recently -I took my projection lenses apart and very carefully cleaned all lenses, as I have always done once every three months. That day I noticed when projector No. 1, (the left hand projector. Ed.), was running there was a very faint ring of light around the screen. It is probable the audience would not notice it, but it doesn’t belong there and I don’t want it. I have disassembled the lens of that projector and everything seems to be all right. Can you help me in this? Please wire at my expense.” This is the day letter I sent him: “Cause undoubtedly is reflection from interior of lens barrel, which you must have rubbed with something. Paint it with coach painters’ black thinned with tur pentine.” This wire came next day: “Thanks. You’re a wizard. Paint did the trick.” I might say to you all that cleaning the interior of your projection lenses once in ninety days is good dope. When you do this, however, do not touch the interior of the barrels, but examine them carefully, and if the coating is not in perfect condition, using a small camel hair brush, recoat the barrel interior with a thin mixture as per my wire to the southern brother. The Sound Gate For the benefit of the many projectionists who have within the past few weeks been added to the family of movietone projectionists, let me direct attention to the necessity for very carefully examining the sound gate after each run, making absolutely certain that no dirt adheres tonite A wee bit of deposit gathers more deposit rapidly and soon will be scratching the sound band, which means serious injury and possibly a ruined reel of film. You must look and feel very carefully and if there is even the least bit of roughness, remove it with your dampened finger. Never scrape it off with a steel instrument or any other hard substance. If you do you will roughen the surface so that deposit will form very quickly. Water is the thing. Just dampen your finger and rub the deposit off. | FLICKERS | A fan tells us that movietone sounds a lot like radio. Yes, but there is this advantage. You don’t have to stand by while the announcer reads a whole bunch of telegrams. You can’t always tell how much damage an automobile accident does. We know one that wrecked one automobile, two homes and five or six sets of nerves. Help the manager keep down expenses. If you have never run a business or had to buy millinery you don’t know what overhead expense is. Be economical with the property entrusted to your care. Economy is the art of cutting enough off the grocery bill to buy a spare tire for the flivver. According to the society news there are a lot of quiet weddings. According to the divorce news the quietness doesn’t last very long. You can’t always judge by appearances. Stealing a kiss sounds as if it ought to be petty larceny, but a lot of girls think it is grand. looking for A pessimist dreams are Don’t always be something to happen. is a guy whose day nightmares. A reformer is a guy who is willing toe let good-enough alone. The trouble is he can’t find anything good enough. You can’t keep a good man down if he keeps up. If you want to take things easy be a shoplifter. Give the boss a break. If time is money a lot of hired help are embezzlers. The darkest hour is just before dawn. No wonder it is so hard to find the keyhole then. Watch your step. After all, the corkscrew is just a straight piece of wire that went crooked.