Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

FEBRUARY 1924 Pictures and Picf\jre$ver 65 ROMANCE IN THE DARK cupboards into the washing room. 1 Icrithey are thoroughly washed in a series of five tanks for half an hour. Washing over, the portions that require it are put into the tinting and toning tanks, where moonlight, fire, and other "effects" are imparted. Next, the -drying rooms. Here ttie films are wound on to revolving drums holding 1,000 feet each, which revolve at 100 revolutions a minute. In the warm air the print is dry inside halfan-hour. The most elaborate precautions, second only to the meticulous e.ue observed m dealing with the drying negative, are taken in these rooms to guard against the least speck of dust damaging the finished print. No air ean enter that has not been thoroughly washed and filtered, and every day the tiled floors are washed and rubbed until they shine with an aggressive cleanliness — and then oiled just to make assurance certain ! When the prints have been dried, they are separated into their subjects and reels and sent up to the joining rooms. Here girls, with nimble fingers and bottles of amyl acetate, join up the various scenes in their proper order, and insert in their right places, the titles which have meanwhile been drawn and photographed. And they work at an incredible speed and with an accuracy that compels admiration. Next the films have to be cleaned. There may be stains on the celluloid sale, there may be a speck of dust here and there — although that is a contin (( ontinued from /"'"/'• -'l ) gency only to be s|*>ken of in whispers and not m the least probable Tins are forthwith taken to the Duplex cleaner ami passed through an irigenious system of revolving wheels which, by means of methylated spirit and velvet pads, clean the celluloid side of the print at the rate of 1,000 t << i every thirteen minutes. And this delicate woik has to be done by machinery that must not inflict even a microscopic scratch on the film. Thai the scratches are not indicted is sufficient testimony to the marvels of the machinery invoh ed. Finally, there comes the test of all this laborious work. Our producer can join us now if he likes, for all is over and done and it only remains to see what the finished product is like. Up to the projection room we go, and for the first time the complete film Springs to life on the screen. Lynxeyed operators watch it jealously through their little windows, alert to detect the slightest fault. If any faults are found, back goes the film to the joining room for revision and correction. If not, away it goes to the despatch room. Here, neatly coiled up in its little tin boxes, it is placed in specially constructed and ventilated vaults, waiting to take its first journey into the world, first to its owner, and then later to the theatre where it is to be screened. Think of this when next you sit in the darkened comfort of your stall and watch your favourite star. HAVE YOU SEEN THE "AMAMI" GIRL? As announced last month in these columns. Miss Kathleen June Punchard, the 17-year-old girl of Maida Vale has been unanimously selected from among our 4,000 entrants in the " Amami " Stage Career Scheme, to be given an opportunity to equip herself for a theatrical career. Miss Punchard — or Miss Kathleen Amami, as she will in future be known to theatregoers — is now appearing at the Duke of York's Theatre in the revue " London Calling." Representative " Picturegoer's " was present at the first performance in which she figured and interviewed her after the show. " Do tell me ; did you see me, and how did I look, and don't you think I'm a lucky girl?" she asked breathlessly as soon as the " Picturegoer " man was ushered into her dressing room, and he had announced his mission. " Should say I did — simply ripping — most emphatically, yes!" he responded gallantly, " and now about ' Amami ' preparations (if you'll pardon a mere man for mentioning the subject). Do you-er, that is to say, your complexion — cr, your hair — " Our representative was floundering rather badly. His victim laughed merrily, " You mean are they real? Well, look!" She grasped a handful of glossy hair. " O-ooh ! But that hurts !" she exclaimed ruefully, and rubbed her cheek with a dainty handkerchief which disclosed not a trace of cosmetiqucs. " Of course," she continued, " I have to use a little make-up for the stage, but all the rest of the day I am, so to speak, an naturel. Yes I really am an ' Amami' Girl — Amami Creams and Amami Shampoos are all I use or ever have used." So Soft and Wavy I don't want to lie vain, hut 1 must say I do think my hair is rather satisfactory. It feels so thick and silky when I run my fingers through it, and it is quite a pleasure to hrush it, for IT TAKES SUCH A LOVELY POLISH. I hrush it for a quarter of an hour, night and morning, and it looks like burnished bronze, and seems to spring into waves of its own accord. Well, after so much boasting, I must confess that three months ago it was the most DULL, UNASSUMING, LIFELESS, MOUSECOLOURED hair you ever saw. But ever since I have taken to shampooing it every fortnight with Stallax, it seems to have developed an astonishing vitality and lustre. And although it is so long, it is NOT IN THE LEAST UNMANAGEABLE and goes up without any difficulty, even within an hour or two of being washed. After all that Stallax has done for me, I think it is only fair to let others into the secret. I find that OTHER GIRLS WHO USE IT say just the same, and whether their hair is black, golden, chestnut, or brown, it seems to impart a wonderful life and gloss to every woman's crowning ejory. ESTELLE. HAIR NETS "TIDY WEAR* MEANS TIDY HAIR hj Patent Tght Hj r M.,k.-> j ,' . , Obtainable from all Leading Drapers and Boots the Chemists. 4*d. 64d. 8*d.