Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1940)

Page 34 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Alarch 30, 1940 The Essentials For Good Projection As we have stated before in this department, good, clear sound reproduction depends on well constructed equipment. The projectors should be of latest design and new, but if new ones cannot be afforded, the projectors should be rebuilt by a reliable repair shop so that they will deliver rock steady pictures with no side motion. If they are carefully rebuilt, they will run quietly. Buying good equipment is important, but it is also of paramount importance that the projectionist keep the apparatus CLEAN. No equipment will function 100 percent if not oiled properly. A recent call to a small town was for the purpose of repairing an intermittent movement "because the picture jumped on the screen." On inspection it was found that the intermittent sprocket was simply dirty— looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a month. It was a simple job for the projectionist to clean the sprockets with a tooth brush. That is practically all I did and the picture was steady after cleaning. We also found that the sound sprockets were dirty, causing poor sound. Of course, jump in a picture is often due lo other causes, such as undercut sprocket, sprung starwheel shaft, etc. The other day we were called to a fairly large city in the South and found the cause of trouble (hum) in the P. E. Cell cables. The projectionist simply drowned his mechanisms with oil and never took time to wipe off the surplus oil, resulting in oil getting on the cables and causing trouble. On another call recently, the manager complained that his volume on one machine had dropped way down and sound was not clear. On inspection we found oil had gotten into the sound lens. Of course, modern soundheads, of the better makes, have provision for catching this surplus oil, but it is still not advisable to flood your mechanisms with oil. These few instances prove the necessity for care in oiling, wiping the soundhead inside and out with CLEAN RAG EVERY DAY. During a recent trip in Texas I dropped into a small theatre, seating about 300, and was very much impressed by the appearance of the house, inside and out. It was very neat; fine upholstered seats, well lighted, and the walls and ceiling were treated and beautifully decorated. The well projected picture and fine sound impressed me very much. The picture was sharp in focus and bright, the changeovers perfect, the sound was clear ana sharp and of very good quality. Even though everything was functioning 100%, the manager was a real live-wire and requested that we check up the Amusement Supply Co., Theatre Designers and Builders Modernization of Theatres Our Specialty THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS DIRECT FACTORY REPRESENTATIVES 341 WEST 44th ST. NEW YORK Circle 6-0850 equipment. We mounted to the projection room and found the projectionist very much on the job and on inspection found the equipment clean and properly adjusted. The port hole glasses were clean and the lenses, both sound and projection lenses, were clean. That was as it should be, and the reason why he secured such good projection and sound. The projectors were in good repair, two rebuilt lamps, practically new soundheads and new 30watt amplifier. There was an enclosed rewind and hand rewind for inspection. These were mounted on rugged metal bench and under the bench was the film cabinet. Everything was operating 100%. We complimented that projectionist on his .fine work and the way he kept his equipment clean and in good repair. There are many like him — but we wish there were even more of his kind. New GoldE Projec+or Gives Added Effect to "Black Light" GoldE Manufacturing Co., Chicago, has developed a new supply source of "Black Light," known as the GoldE Nubicrome. The lamp is a motor-driven, self-contained unit using a long-life low-cost lamp and eliminates the special bulbs and transformers heretofore necessary to produce intermittent "Black Light" fluorescent effects. Novel feature of the unit is that it provides a constant contrasting change from any desired color to the fluorescent effect. Thus, the set piece or display design can be flooded with color and the fluorescent effect appears when desired without added switching or transformer equipment' or multiple circuits. The development eliminates the periods of darkness between illumination of the fluorescent effect where only the ultra violet rays are provided and gives more flexibility and display to the desired effects by making the change that brings the fluorescent designs into sight by contrasting illumination preceding and following the "black light" designs. The Nubicrome projector is driven by a synchronous motor with projection of the light through lenses and focusses and projects the "black light" exactly where and when wanted. New Ozone Generator For Electric Fans Russell Electric Company, Chicago, is marketing a new practical ozone generating unit to be used in conjunction with electric fans. The attachment is a small cylindrical unit which produces its effect by an electrical discharge. The Ozonator is 6 inches long by 3^ inches in diameter. It weighs ZYi lbs. and is furnished with an adjustable clamp so it may be readily attached to the upright member of a circulator fan or fastened to a wall. Housing is made of durable metal, chromium plated, and a 10-foot rubber-covered cord is supplied, ready to be plugged into any standard 110 volt AC circuit. Current consumption is less than 10 watts. Capacity is 40 cubic centimeters of ozone per hour. The Ozonator is best adapted to use with large circulating fans, air conditioning units, blowers, and any type of equipment which permits the ozone to be drawn into the air stream and thoroughly diffused throughout the area treated. This allows time for oxidation of odors and impurities. Moss Building Theatre and Stores in Brentwood, Pa. Construction has started on an amusement and shopping center in Brentwood, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh. The project, one of the largest private undertakings of the year in the Pittsburgh district, is being built by John P. Moss, who owns and operates the Melrose Theatre in Carrick, Pa. The building, containing one million cubic feet, will have a frontage of 231 ft. and depth of 125 ft. The theatre will seat 1,000, the building also providing space for a large food market, seven smaller stores on the ground floor, with bowling alleys and suites of offices for a medical center on the second floor. Plans for the project, known as the Whitehall Amusement and Shopping Center, are by Victor A. Rigaumount, architect, of Pittsburgh. Tips on Spray Painting A hand book — the ABC of Spray Painting Equipment, has just been published by The DeVilbiss Company, manufacturers of spray painting equipment. The subjects treated . are, the Paint Spray Gun, its troubles, remedies and accessories ; Alaterial Containers ; Hose and Hose Connections ; Air Transformers and Condensers, and Air Compressing Outfits. The material in the book is presented in question and answer form. The questions, are those most often asked at The DeVilbiss Training Schools and at the numerous clinics which The DeVilbiss Company has conducted. Lafayette 1940 Catalog Ready Radio Wire Television, Inc., announces the publication of the Spring edition of its 1940 catalog. Comprising 124 pages, the catalog includes the first listing of the new line of Lafayette Public Address equipment featuring innovations in circuit design as well as cabinet styling. The edition also lists more than 64 pages of equipment, parts and tools for the servicemen. Know "What To Do?" Unless the postman didn't even ring once, all SIR readers now know the answer to the teaser flashed at them in the issue of March 9th, and the story that made many guess has been revealed in a folder mailed, we are informed, to all theatres in the land. This all refers, of course, to those pictures of a harried individual whose frantics were close-upped in a series of four displays under the caption "What to Do?", and which appeared on pages 16, 19 and 21 of the March 9th issue. For the first time in the recollection of several old-timers around the business, sponsors of a new piece of equipment stepped right into the showman's own game of putting over a dramatic build-up for a showing of new wares. Teaser advertising such as has been used with powerful effect in conjunction with motion pictures in this instance "teased" theatremen into the right frame of mind to consider the value of the new Simplex High Intensity Projection Arc Lamp. Purpose and message of the teaser ads and the punchy follow-up folder was to drive home the value of good projection and the ticket-selling fundamentals of putting on pictures the right way. The folders were prepared by the Wendt Advertising Agency for distribution by National Theatre Supply Co.