Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

48 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 7, 1944 Sound Recording, Television On Program of SMPE Conference Developments of both materials and processes which contribute to improvement in the quality of sound reproduction and film projection, as well as subjects related to television will be on the agenda of discussion which will feature the technical sessions of the Fall conference of the Society of. Motion Picture Engineers to be held October 16, 17, 18 in New York. Summaries of 18 of the papers to be presented were released this week by Julius Haber, publicity chairman, and indicate that there will be important factors for consideration of the technical men of the film industry at the various meetings which will feature the three-day conference. Among the papers of which summaries have been released are the following : "Comparison of Variable Area Sound Recording Films," by Dorothy O'Dea, RCA Victor Division, Radio Corporation of America : This paper describes the test results obtained by comparing the new Eastman 1372 film with those in current use. Our tests indicate that this film has characteristics superior to the Eastman films now in use for variable area sound recording, Why They Dont Go Nuts Syd Gross, publicity director for the Rivoli Theatre. New York, went on vacation this week and will devote the time to work on a book on which he is collaborating with Monty Salmon, his boss. The opus, dealing with the million or so nutty things that happen in the nation's movie houses, as well as the countless pests, crackpots and chiselers who frequent the theatres, will be called: "It's a Wonder Movie Managers Aren't Nuts!" particularly with respect to density speed, processing tolerances, and requirements for direct positive. "Two New Eastman Fine Grain Sound Recording Films," by R. M. Corbin, N. L. Simmons, and D. E. Hyndman, Eastman Kodak Company: Eastman Fine Grain Sound Recording Film Types 1372 and 1373 have been introduced recently to the motion picture trade. Type 1372 is a variable area film having high contrast and with capabilities of producing a high degree of imaee sharpness. This emulsion may be used for recording with ultraviolet or white light with very little diflference in sound quality. Test data are presented for these two films. "The Densitometry of Modern Reversible Color Film," by M. H. Sweet, Ansco, Binghamton, N. Y. : Sensitometric procedures for modern multilayer reversible color films are much more exacting than those for black and white films. The problem of evaluating the finished sensitometric strips in terms of the color densities of each step has been facilitated by the construction of a special form of direct reading densitometer. "The Art Reeves Motion Picture Reflex Camera," by Art Reeves : This paper describes a light, compact, motor driven 3Smm camera, designed for military and production purposes. In addition to customary features, it embodies a finder system with which the cameraman views the exact picture field with light diverted from the taking lens. "Practical Utilization of Monopack Film," by Charles G. Clarke, director of photography, 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. : Practical use has been made by the author of the Eastman Monopack 35mm color film in photographing the current 20th Century-Fox Film production, "Thunderhead." The paper presents some of the problems encountered ; the production techniques used, and benefits obtained by using this method of making motion pictures in color. "Coaxial Cable and Other Facilities for Television Networks," by H. S. Osborne, chief engineer, American Telephone and Telegraph Co. : The telephone companies provide many services which contribute to the entertainment industry. The part they may play in the introduction of television as a new means for the nation-wide distribution of information, news and entertainment is related to the Bell System plans for extending coaxial cable networks. . "Technical Developments at the National Film Board of Canada," by Raymond Spottiswoode, technical supervisor, National Film Board, Ottawa, Canada : The paper will summarize the activities of the National Film Board, e.g., production of 250 pictures per year, a distribution of theatrical pictures to about 8000 theatres in the U. S., Great Britain and Canada and non-theatrical audiences of 400,000 per month in rural areas and 250,000 per month in industrial plants. Three Western Houses Sold The Congress Theatre at Palouse, Wash., has been sold by its former owner, Gus Bergstrom, owner of the Republic Theatre, Republic, Wash,, to Roy Torpey, of Farmington. Included in the transaction were two other theatres handled on a circuit, in Garfield and Oakesdale, Wash. Bergstrom continues to operate his Republic house. BUY MORE WAR BONDS YES, they're probably eating up every word, too, because that RCA Projectionists' Handbook is packed with good information on the care of theatre equipment. Theatres all over the country have ordered this 76-page manual, prepared by our experts in theatre service, because they realize the importance of preventive maintenance . . . preventive maintenance to prevent costly breakdowns. :i-Very fictitious names, of course Care of your equipment will continue as number one on your "must list.'''' That's why we urge every theatre manager to back his projectionists in setting up a preventive maintenance program at once. Your projectionists are doing a swell job — Mr. Manager — and deserve your utmost cooperation. Send the coupon today! Address : RCA Service Company Inc., Box 70-77G, Camden. New Jersey. RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC. A Radio Corporation of America Subsidiary This 76-page manual "RCA Photophone Handbook for Projectionists" — chock-full of good preventive maintenance suggestions. No obligation. RCA SERVICE CO., Inc., Box 70-77G, Camden, N. J. Name Theatre, Address. City -State.