The Moving picture world (May 1922)

148 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 13, 1922 Non-Intermittent Projector Perfected By F. H. RICHARDSON LOOKING back through the pages of the Projection Department you will find that as long ago as six or seven years I made the statement, not once, but several times, that it was only a question of time when there would be a successful non-intermittent projector. In other words, sooner or later the moving picture could and would be successfully projected from a continuously moving film. Various demonstrations of a projector known as the Bardy Projector, have convinced me that S. Bardy, the inventor, has solved the problem of non-intermittent (continuously running film) projection, and solved it successfully, though let it be understood that in this I speak of projection as projection only. The Bardy Projector is diagrammatically illustrated in the cut. The light source (it may also be used with an arc source) is in this case a Mazda projection lamp, with the usual spherical mirror back of it. The condenser is unique, in that instead of immediately converging the light it projects it as a parallel beam through the film, where it is caught by a second element and converged into the projection lens. The rest of it I don't quite know how to make you understand from the drawing. The path of the film from upper to lower reel is indicated by the solid black lines. Circling the projection lens and both reels of film you see two lines. They represent the periphery of a wheel carrying four sectors, each ■ composed of four glass elements, which I believe we should call lenses, rather than prisms. This makes a total of sixteen "lenses," which as you will see by examining the drawing, pass consecutively between light source and film and the projection lens and the screen. Each element of this ring of lenses takes care of one picture, picking it up and registering it upon the screen in four "steps," finally taking it off the screen entirely, just the smallest fraction of an instant after the next picture is placed on the screen by the next element. You will thus see that one revolution of what we call the "lens wheel" takes care of four pictures, and, of course, the action is continuous, so long as there is film in the projector and the lens wheel is kept revolving. And now here is one unique feature: I had the projector slowed down until something like three pictures a second were passing the aperture. Aside from the fact that the motion was slowed until a close approximation of slow speed camera action was had, there was no visible effect at all. The projection was as perfect as at normal projection speed. Flicker was absent at any speed, of course, there being nothing to produce it. The lens wheel in the finished projector will be about twenty-eight inches in diameter. It will be provided with a magnetic brake for quick stoppage. It can be brought up to full speed within two to four seconds. There is only barely sufficient tension at the aperture to hold the films to the track. This is, I think, a sufficient description at this time. When and if the projector is finally placed on the market, I will advise you fully as to all its various elements together with descriptive photographs. Whether or not the projector itself can be manufactured commercially I cannot say, though after a careful examination I see no reason to doubt the statement of the Bardy men that it can and will be done. Golf Season Opens The spring film golf tournament has been set for May 25 at the Oak Ridge Golf Club. The entrance fee has been increased from $5 to $7.50. It will include all green fees, lunch, dinner — everything except clubs or balls. Felix Feist will be toastmaster at the dinner. Famous Players will play off a company tournament on Saturday, May 20, at Adolph Zukor's farm. Coming to Buy A cable dispatch from Kilner's Exclusive Films, London, informs that a representative is leaving for New York on the Majestic, to arrange for a three years' product for the organization. It will exploit films on a commission basis or purchase them. St. Louis Theatre Without Music As Musicians' Contract Expires; Refused to Submit New Wage Scale pressed the hope that the dispute will be settled in a few weeks, but they are prepared to carry on the f^ght all summer. TBERE will be no music in the picture theatres of St. Louis from May 1 because the Musicians' Mutual Benefit Association of St. Louis refused to submit a new wage scale and working agreement satisfactory to the theatre managers of St. Louis. The old contract expired at midnight April 30. About 260 musicians are affected. The minimum wage was $42 a week. The theatres asked a reduction of 30 per cent, and a new working agreement to permit managers to employe as many musicians as needed regardless of the size of the house or the admission prices. The controversy involved principally the minimum of players that should be employed in the smaller houses. Some neighborhood houses that can support only one or two musicians have been compelled to carry four and five under the union rules. The burden proved too much for the management, but when their appeal for relief was submitted to the musicians it was turned down cold. There was no alternative left but to dispense with music. Some of the smaller houses that eliminated music and reduced their prices some time ago have found the experiment profitable. Exhibitors have ex Convention Atmosphere {Continued from page 147) the big stars will be on hand. Sol Lesser, Irving Lesser and Sam Ramish this week headed a California delegation of producers who came East to be on hand at the exhibitor pyrotechnic display. The co-operation of the Board of Trade, Chamber of Commerce and Merchants and Manufacturers Association has been secured by the Washington committee to aid in making the convention a milestone in film history. And invitation or no invitation, 'tis rumored that the genial General Will Hays will be on hand. Senator James J. Walker when asked if he would come along, replied, "Try and keep me away." And, in passing, don't forget to drop into the headquarters of Moving Picture World in the Hotel Washington.