Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

1254 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 31. 1918 Dentelbeck Is an Operator and More President of Local 173 and Chief of Toronto's Strand Is Keen for Refining Accessories. THE projection at the Strand theatre, Toronto, shows signs of gradual improvement all the time due to the personal interest taken in projection room matters by Charles Dentelbeck, chief operator, who also happens to be president of the Moving Picture Machine Operators' Local 173 of Toronto. Dentelbeck has worked out a buzzer attachment to warn the man in charge that a reel is becoming exhausted. This device consists of a roller which functions with the film on the upper reels. This roller drops down as the reel becomes unwound until a contact arm touches the opposite pole of a dry battery circuit, causing the sounding of a buzzer. The alarm continues until it is switched off by the operator who then has two minutes in which to prepare for the switch to the other machine. When the buzzer is disconnected from one projection machine the switch becomes aligned with the connection for the other projection machine. Another innovation consists of shaded incandescent lamp bulbs inside the "carbon compartments" of the machine to throw direct light on the inside of these boxes when carbons are being changed or when any special adjustments are being made. At the Strand the operator does not have to rely upon his own watchfulness to keep the picture at full brilliancy because the chief usher on the orchestra floor has a push button which operates a buzzer in the projection room to warn the operator of a possible misframe or dark spot. This warning signal was installed at the request of Mr. Dentelbeck him Operator Dentelbeck has also reduced the size of apertures through which the pictures are projected and also the operator's windows. One glance is sufficient to show how much vagrant light is caught by the reduced apertures. All electric lights in the projection room are fitted with special shades to throw all rays from the apertures and windows. Incidentally, these windows are fitted with glass pains. An exhaust fan was recently installed in the ceiling of the Strand projection room and during the recent hot spell the temperature of the room never went above 84 degrees. Dentelbeck has a work bench that would honor a toolmaker. Along the back of the bench is a long row of machinist's and electrician's tools and practically all repairs or attachments can be made on the spot. Still another Dentelbeck innovation is a string and pulley attachment which facilitates switching from one machine to the other. When the beam of light is shut off on one machine, this cord opens the door between the arc and the film on the other machine ami vice versa. This cord crosses one machine to the other at a height several feet above the head of the operator. GLADISII Unfeelingly Crack Canada's Blue Laws That's What Allen Theatre Interests Did When They Showed "Hearts of the World" to Convalescent Soldiers. Till". Allen Theatre interests of Toronto broke the Blue Laws of Canada respecting the observance of the Sabbath twice during the present month for the sake of entertaining returned soldiers who are now convalescing in military hospitals. "Hearts of the World" was presented at the Davisville Hospital on Sunday, August 4. before several hundred exwarriors, the majority of whom have lost either a leg or an arm. Great excitement prevailed as the story progressed and the soldiers had one of the most enjoyable . fternoons of their hospital life. On the following Sunday, the 11th. a party journeyed from Toronto to Whitby by automobile to present "Hearts of the World" to the many soldiers who are in the Whitby Convalescent Hospital. The picture was presented with full orchestral accompaniment, the Allen Theatre orchestra making the trip for the occasion. The big feature was shown in the up-to-date picture theatre which has been provided by the Canadian Government for the amusement of the soldiers in this hospital. HOT WEATHER DOESN'T STOP SWAAB. Lewis M. Swaab, 1327 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pa., who is the exclusive distributor for Simplex machines in Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey, is one of the most progressive supply men in the industry. The importance of printed matter as a vital means to the growth of his business has been evident from the time Mr. Swaab entered the accessory field. He not only uses mediums of national circulation, although he sells within a limited territory, but he reaches his public through house organs, large quantities of envelope inserts and advertising in local publications. Neither does he relax in the so-called dull spell of summer. He believes in keeping exhibitors informed of the fact that he is selling machines during all seasons. St Louis Officials to See "Salome" William Fox Will Entertain Them at Private Showing Night Before Opening of His Liberty Theatre. PRELIMINARY to the opening of the new William Fox Liberty Theatre September 29 in St. Louis, there will be a private screening of the opening attraction, "Salome," the night before in the theatre with Mayor Christman and more than 500 city officials and their friends as guests of the management. According to an announcement by John Zanft, managing director of the William Fox Circuit of Theatres, who has been in charge of arrangements for the opening, the first public opening of the new theatre will be Sunday, September 29. "Salome," the great Theda Bara super film production, has been booked for an indefinite engagement, inaugurating a policy of high-class pictures which will put the William Fox Liberty Theatre among the leading playhouses of the country. Renovations on the Liberty Theatre are progressing apace. Workmen have practically completed the installation of the $12,000 pipe organ, the changes and redecorating in the interior of the house are nearly completed, and the lobby has been enlarged and transformed until now the Liberty has room For some of the fines! lobby displays in any house in the Middle West. JOHN BLACKWOOD IN NEW YORK. John II. Blackwood, personal representative for Jesse D. Hampton, is in New York, making his headquarters at the office of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. Mr. Blackwood announces production satisfactorily progressing on I. Warren Kerrigan's first Hampton pictures, "Prisoners of the Fines," and states that other good stories are in hand from the pen of the same author, Kennet B. Clarke. One of the objects of Mr. Blackwood's visit is the selection of more stars for J. D. Hampton for distribution by Hodkinson ice. GENERAL FILM TO AID W. S. S. In co-operation with the National War Savings Committee, eral Film Company lias instructed its twenty-eight exchanges in the United States to give energetic attention to the War Savings Stamp campaign. Arrangements have been made to n ml at least fifty animated W. S. S. cartoon trailers to each exchange, these to be attached to the most active film and kept working. At the same time the committee will be kept informed by General Film of the subjects that carry these 'Thriftette" trailers and also the houses displaying them. MARGUERITE CLARK MARRIES. Marguerite Clark, Famous Players-Lasky star, and Lieutenant H. P. Williams of the Engineering Corps, U. S. A., married Thursday morning at the First Methodist church at Greenwich, Conn., by the Rev. Harvey Dalley. Lieutenant Williams is stationed at Washington. m A Dependable Mailing List Service Saves you from 30% to 50% In postage, etc. Reaches all or selected list of theatres In any territory. Includes name of exhibitor ns well as the theatre In address. A list of publicity mediums desiring motion picture news. Unaffiliated exchanges looking for features. Supply houses that are properly characterized as such. Producers with address of studios, laboratories and offices. Information In advance of theatres being or to be built. W74 MOTION PICTURE DIRECTORY COMPANY 80 Fifth Avenue, New York Phone— Chelsea 3227 Addressing Multigraphing Printing Typewriting