Projection engineering (Jan 1932-Mar 1933)

Page 24 PROJECTION ENGINEERING A British view of sound-on-film versus sound-on-disc By John Wilson* THERE is a section of the trade today which holds the opinion that the day of the disc is fast waning and the ever-increasing number of sound-on-film releases with a corresponding decrease in disc releases certainly lends color to this belief. I, for one, however, do not share this popular opinion since I am of the firm conviction that there still exists a wide field in which the disc can be used to greater advantage than the film for the purpose of reproduction. Technically speaking, and from a surface viewpoint, sound-on-film does possess considerable advantages over sound-on-disc, but a careful consideration of the matter tends to make one discount some of the alleged advantages of sound on film. Granted, one can cite against the disc two distinct disadvantages, firstly transport charges and the ever-present risk of the discs going astray from the film in transport to the confusion and annoyance of the exhibitor and secondly, the necessity of a fresh start in the case of a film break. Those are, however, the principal disadvantages in connection with sound-ondisc, and at the same time which cannot be cited against sound-on-film. Now, on the other hand, sound-onfilm, with all its advantages, possesses one great disadvantage. To be better able to appreciate that one great disadvantage which looms so large against sound-on-film we must be able to appreciate fully also the position of the small exhibitor. The small exhibitor is, in this country, the backbone of the trade, and according to the size of his hall he is much in the same position as the member of a large family of very small means in which for economic reasons the mantle of an elder member of the family descends through successive stages of wear to the youngest member of the family whose nakedness is finally hidden beneath what might at one time "Chief Engineer of Gramo-Radio, Ltd. have been a model of sartorial elegance, but which has become through much hard wear merely a tolerably wearable garment. The exhibitor will immediately see the analogy. A sound film commences its comparatively short life at some super house, and from there is passed along by stages to the youngest member of the cinema family, namely, the smallest exhibitor. The deterioration of a sound film commences the first time it is run through a projector, but this deterioration is slow and hardly discernible, while the film remains amongst the elder brethren — the large halls — since their projectors are of the very latest type, and for the most part air-cooled, which is a vital point as we shall see in a moment. When the film commences to be passed down to the younger brethren, however, deterioration becomes more rapid and for that one simple reason that the projectors of the younger brethren are not air-cooled, which brings me to my argumen against sound-on-film as a method of reproduction for the small exhibitor. In passing, before the gate of the projector the sound film is subject to the intense heat of the arcs which softens the emulsion on the film and consequently the film passing on its way to the bottom spool box in this softened state is scratched by dust and dirt on those parts of the projector with which it comes into frictional contact. This scratching may not be very apparent on the picture itself, but on the sound track, owing to the microscopic proportions of this latter havoc is worked, and thus deterioration continues as it passes through the hands of the younger brethren, with the consequence that the small exhibitor offers to his patrons a tolerably good picture with sound marred by extraneous noises which make speech unintelligible, and distort music. No blame attaches to the renter in this connection because he cannot be expected to furnish to the small exhibitor a brand new copy, since returns will not warrant it, and thus the small exhibitor has to offer to his patrons who are often more critical than those of any West End cinema a picture that does not leave a great deal to be desired with sound that leaves practically everything to be desired. Excellent sound and a poor picture is likely to meet with greater tolerance than indifferent sound, and a good picture, and so the small exhibitor who confines himself exclusively to sound-on-film is going to find himself with an empty hall. The small exhibitor who has turntables installed is in a much better position since his sound is independent of his film and he may, either for nothing or at the most for ten dollars obtain a brand new set of discs with this film so that he is able not only to offer to his patrons an excellent picture, but also sound as perfect as that put over at the London premiere, and for that reason I contend that sound-on-disc, despite its disadvantages, is a much more profitable nroposition for the small exhibitor. Further, we must not lose sight of the fact that Technicolor productions are still being produced on disc, and as has happened in the past so in the future will brilliant Technicolor productions come along, of which the small exhibitor will not be able to avail himself and reap the advantage unless he has tables installed. Again, despite appearance there is really no actual dearth of disc productions, as any exhibitor who goes into the matter fully will find, and I would, therefore, counsel every small exhibitor who would run his cinema on the lines most profitable to himself, to show as many disc productions as possible, since only on disc can he offer to his patrons perfect sound, and by keeping alive the demand for disc productions, so will the supply be influenced. — Cinematograph Times, London. (In the United States at the present time about 20 per cent of the equipped theatres employ disc sound systems. — Editor.) WM. C. ELLIOTT SUCCEEDS CANAVAN WILLIAM C. ELLIOTT of Cincinnati has been elected president of the I. A. T. S. E. and M. P. 0., succeeding William F. Canavan. Mr. Elliott has been first vice-president of the organization. This move also advances John P. Nick to the post of first vice-president, and William J. Harper to third vicepresident. Joseph C. Campbell becomes fourth vice-president, and William T. Madigan becomes fifth vice-president, while Floyd M. Billingsley becomes sixth vice-president.