The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 20, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 311 Rothafel Foresees Egg-Shaped Theatres in Speech to Motion Picture Engineers ON MAY 1 the Society of Motion Picture Engineers met in the Home of the Bean, the Hub of the Universe, surnamed Boston, and then and there transacted business of very real and lasting benefit to the motion picture industry. The meeting was by far the best ever held — and there have been a total of fifteen semi-annual meetings since the inception of the society in Washington, D. C, in 1896 — both in point of numbers attending and in excellence of program. As a matter of fact, something more than eighty men were there, many of them accompanied by their wives. The entertainment program was planned by C. A. B. Halvorson, Jr., of the engineering department of the West Lynn works of the General Electric, and his able a=;sistants, including S. C. Rogers. The program included a visit to the West Lynn works, a shore dinner at Marblehead, Mass., than which this scribe hath nt-ver partaken of a better, at the conclusion of which came a most interesting illustrated talk by W. R. Collins, of the Department of Fishes and Game of the State of Massachusetts. There were various other talks and lectures arranged by the committee, one by James T. Williams, editor of the Boston Evening Transcript, entitled "Aftermaths of the Disarmament Conference." Another most interesting talk was by O. W. Hill, director, Investment Division, Babson's Statistical Organization, entitled "The Business Outlook," the main point of which was that every period of inflation is followed by a period of depression, corresponding exactly in amount, and that while things are now on the upward trend, still the center of the present depression will not have been passed until about August of this year. Mr. Hill presented very understandable charts in explanation and support of his conclusions. Sees New Kind of Theatres The society was addressed by S. L. Rothafel, of the Capitol Theatre, New By F. H. RICHARDSON York City. "Roxie's" talk was intensely interesting in that he made certain [prophesies with regard to the future of the picture theatre which must have been an eye-opener to some who still doubt that the motion picture will not finally exhaust its vogue with the people. Among other things Rothafel predicted a complete change in construction methods employed in the picture theatre, intimating that it would finally take somewhat the form of a gigantic egg. The seating caliacity of the city theatre would, said Mr. Rothafel, be made very much larger than at present, and it would probably not be located in places where ground rentals and values are so high, but would by its very excellence be able to draw patronage to itself although located away from congested centers. Mr. Rothafel also predicted radical changes in projection methods, a very large increase in automatic devices employed therein, and that the time would come when projection speed would be made to automatically synchronize with camera speed. The projectionist of that day, said he, will of necessity be a man of very superior ability, as compared with what is now required. Wednesday evening, May 3, there was a banquet, followed by a most interesting and instructive lecture on color photography by Dr. C. E. Mees ; also the new Prizma, "The Glorious Adventure," was run and was very well received. One point was very evident to all who saw it both ways, viz : the light source was a Mazda and the color showed very much better with the comparatively weak light than with the high intensity arc, which latter emphasized the color values and in many places made them objectionably vivid. Doubtless later development of Prizma will so modify color contrasts that this will not be true, but it certainly is true now, and I would strongly advise projectionists presenting "The Glorious Adventure" with high intensity, or even a powerful ordinary arc, to try stopping down the condenser or projection lens to decrease screen brilliancy. The general effect will, I am very certain be much improved. Papers Read The meeting, as a meeting, was very successful indeed. The following papers were read and discussed : "Constant Potential Generator for Motion Picture Projector," by A. M. Candy ; "The Film Splicing Machine," by J. H. McNabb ; "Projection and Its Importance to the Industry," by F. H. Richardson; "New Applications for Prismatic Rings," by C. Francis Jenkins ; "A New Type of Shutter for Motion Picture Projectors," by W. O. Runcie ; "Some Uses for Aspherical Lenses in Motion Picture Projection," by Hermann Kellner; "Negative Test Method as an Aid in Condenser Design," by J. T. Beechlyn; "Motion Picture of the Future and the Equipment Probably Required," an extemporaneous talk by Samuel L. Rothafel ; "Graininess in Motion Picture Negatives and Positives," by Arthur C. Hardy, and Lloyd A. Jones; "Visual Education," by Rowland Rogers; "Color Photography," a lecture by Dr. C. E. K. Mees; "Studio Lighting from the Standpoint of the Photographic Director," by Alvin Wyckoff ; "Projection Screens," by R. E. Farnham. The following is an incomplete list of those in attendance: W. G. Wolfe, W. S. Wallace, G. A. Webster, Thomas F. Walker, H. F. Vickery, F. H. Stewart, John F. Summers, C. E. Robb, F. W. Ralston, Walter O. Runcie, Stephen W. Rogers, Carl J. Reich, William Redpath, H. H. Powers, W. K. Pike, Lawrence C. Porter, R. S. Peck, M. W. Palmer, Otto Nelson, John E. McGark, W. S. MacGuffin, L. C. Moen, R. D. Mailey, J. R. Manheimer, H. C. MacNary, J. H. McNabb, F. H. McCormick, W. P. Little. William C. Kunzman, Dr. Herman Kellner, William V. D. Kelley, J. G. Jones, L. A. Jones, Bernays M. Johnson, C. Francis Jenkins, R. B. Hussey, R. L. (Continued on page 312) MEMBERS OF SOCIETY OF MOTION PICTURE ENGINEERS IN ATTENDANCE AT FIFTEENTH SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING