Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

July 21, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 49 Advisory Council Report — No. 5 decorated or redecorated in a very short time. When it is desired to change the decorations they can be ordered according to the owner's selection, and seasonal decorations can be obtained. All aisle spaces are barricaded from exterior light which spills through front doors. This light barrier prevents light from entering the auditorium, which is of great importance to the patron's visual comfort. The seats of this theatre will be of special design. Heretofore it has been customary to bolt seats to the floor, which took considerable time for installation. The new method devised is that the rear of the seat standard will engage in a slot and the front of the standard will be held in position by a clamp. The seats will come in sections and this new method of installation will enable the seats to be easily installed or removed. All seats in this new type theatre will be of sponge rubber instead of springs, and will be constructed in such a manner so as to eliminate any rodents or pests which are encountered in many theatres today. The aisle light installation in this new type theatre will include a raceway for wiring from the beginning of the aisle to the end of the aisle, which enables as many aisle lights as desired to be installed. Heretofore aisle lighting outlet boxes had to be installed in the concrete form before the concrete was poured, and after the concrete was hardened if it was necessary to add more aisle lights it proved to be a difficult job chipping out concrete and entailed considerable expense. With the new manner of installing aisle lights the outlets do not have to be spotted before the seats are installed, but can be taken care of after the seat installation. The carpet will be cut and sewed to size, and will be installed with snap-on buttons instead of tacks. Projectors and sound equipment will be composite units with portable plugs, so that they can be connected immediately upon delivery to the projection room. Centralized vacuum cleaning systems will be installed, with intake ducts in appropriate locations. The fresh air ventilation is provided by equipment to meet the temperature conditions. In all respects the ventilation in this new type theatre has been planned to afiford even distribation of air without extraneous drafts. The recirculation system is simple as the fluted metal side walls provide a return air exhaust. Air conditioning equipment will be installed where necessary. This equipment instead of having a centralized plant will be divided into composite units so that they can be readily installed and removed at will. The equipment for the heating system is also portable. Composite heating units will be installed so that the heat will be evenly distributed. Special ventilating systems have been planned for the foyer, lounges, toilet rooms, utility rooms and projection rooms. The materials selected for this all steel, prefabricated theatre give assurance of beauty of design, as well as strength. Majority of the other features are patented and copyrights cover the plans and designs. When materials are available and the Skouras organization is ready to make deliveries of this new type theatre, the exhibitors of the world will be able, literally, to walk into the National Theatre Amusement Company's 'store' and say, "Deliver me a 1200-seat house to 1200 Main Street, Pretoria, South Africa (or some such place) and I want to be ready to open in two months." The clerk will probably reply, "Yes, sir, one 1200-seater coming right up — and did you want red or blue chairs, pink or mauve ceilings, with or without air conditioning, etc., etc.?" Shades of Jules Verne? Not at all, just good American progress and in Showbusiness, too. Get 'em while they're hot. {Continued from Page 40) movement, tension springs and shoes, a few idlers, take-up belts, carbon jaws, a complete set of brushes for arc control motors and D.C. generators, an assortment of screws, nuts, washers of various sizes, fuse plugs and cartridge fuses of sizes required for immediate replacement, spare exciter lamps and spare tubes for sound equipment, proper oils and grease for projectors, lamphouse mechanisms, generators, fans, etc. Pooling of Spare Parts It is suggested that where a small circuit operator has several theatres in close proximity to each other it would be economical to maintain a complete reserve supply of vital parts in the most centrally located theatre from which the other houses could fill their needs quickly in an emergency. Theatres operating on a friendly competitive basis in a community with standardized equipment could similarly arrange to pool their spare parts requirements as an economical practice. The standardization of equipment in cases where a number of theatres are involved will simplify maintenance and reduce initial purchasing cost. We will go into this matter of purchasing economy in another session of the Council meetings, also the best procedures for maintaining carpet and chairs under present conditions. Sound Equipment Needs Attention, too! You don't neglect your theatre decorations, furnishings or building — you should take the same care of your sound and projection equipment. A breakdown could mean serious loss of business. Trouble is prevented when you contract for RCA Service — a periodic checkup that maintains old equipment at peak performance and keeps new equipment in top condition. RCA offers you a continuing service thar means getting the most from your equipment. The Service Company provides the same engineering skill for its theatre program that goes into the development and manufacture of RCA theatre, radio, television and other electronic products. The RCA Service and Replacement Parts Contract is your assurance against expensive overhauling and costly replacements — and at a cost equivalent to only a few admissions a day. For further details write: Box 70-179L, RCA Service Company, Inc., Camden, N. J. RCA SERVICE COMPANY, INC. A Radio Corporation of America Subsidiary