Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

E-20 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, February 1, 1947 ALL THEATRES CAN HAVE TOP QUALITY SOUND (Continued from Page E-3) top quality amplifiers — but if they aren't equal to today's best, then change the whole system." "It isn't wise to buy sound equipment piecemeal — costs more in the end and you never get best results." "Modernization is perfectly okay where the equipment retained meets definite standards of quality." . "Modernize except where the theatre's revenue justifies complete replacement." The Future? "I don't expect any important changes in the near future that would justify delaying improvements at present." "No, not in the near future." "Nothing radical, future changes will probably be matters of slow evolution." "In my opinion it will be years before exhibitors see push-pull, stereophonic sound or magnetic reproduction." 'We don't believe that anything is on tap that would not be adaptable to new equipment." "No, nothing in the immediate future." Two members, however, felt that information as to important changes that might come in the near future is not as yet completely available. One of these Check These Features 1. All transformers and chokes "Climatite" treated. 2. Plug-in type filter condensers. 3. Calibrated step-type volume control. 4. Wide range tone control. 5. Exciter lamp balance. 6. Exciter supply voltage control. 7. Photo-electric cell voltage control. 8. Auxiliary volume control. 9. Sound change-over in photoelectric circuit. 10. Built-in booth monitor and monitor amplifier. Plug-type connections from chassis to cabinet. Complete extra chassis available for stand-by pro^ tection. the PD50 11 12 COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEMS Licensed under U. S. Patents of Western Electric Company, Inc. Listed with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., and Canadian Standards Association. Sound Heads • Amplifiers Two-Way Horn Systems Series Amplifier Check the features on this Ballantyne PD-50 Series Amplifier, as shown above, and you'll quickly realize why theatres all over the world are installing Ballantyne Sound Equipment. Every known sound engineering advance has been incorporated into the PD-50 Series to make these amplifiers literally miracles of trouble-free operation. Plug-in type filter condensers can be changed in fractions of a second . . . complete sound control at working side of projector is achieved by the remote volume control and change-over — workmanship is of real engineering caliber throughout. Available for immediate delivery from your independent supply dealer. looks forward to unpredictable developments in television. As to improvements they would like to see developed, the control track was suggested by a majority of the meeting. This would provide automatic volume expansion, making possible a greater range of volume than can now be obtained — except by use of a cue sheet which is always subject to human error on the part of the projectionists — the volume for every scene being determined at the studio and automatically reset in the theatre by means of a control track on the film. As for other improvements: "All equipment should be double channel— not just the amplifiers, but anything that can get out of order, including a third projector in case of soundhead troubles. Both high frequency and low frequency speakers should normally work at half volume, so that half of them would be enough to carry the show if necessary. Radio broadcasters have completely duplicate facilities — are our shows less important?" "I would like to see finer equipment all the way through. Better amplifiers, better shielding, heavier insulation, an easier and quicker way to change frequency response; greater frequency response selection on small equipments; incorporation of a fine non-synch turntable, positive and convenient switching backstage, stereophonic speakers, push-pull recording, automatic volume control." "Yes, general use of push-pull and control tracks." "Dual or complete emergency features on all parts of equipment. And all systems could have volume controls usable from non-operating positions." "Simplify amplifiers and soundheads, and incorporate automatic voltage controls." "Yes, and there is still room for better sound quality, too." Voltage Regulators All members attending favored adhering to the SMPE standard which specifies installation of voltage control contrivances wherever power voltage varies as much as plus or minus three per cent. (Theatre managers, incidentally, can easily find out about the voltage regulation in their own theatres by asking the power company to install a recording voltmeter for a week or so; most power companies will readily do this) . The majority favored automatic voltage regulators. However: "As to manual or automatic, this would depend on the type and frequency of the variation. If it was for a definite period each day, a manual control would be sufficient." "Either type will do a good job." "We prefer automatic regulators, although manual ones used by us have proven adequate." Hearing Aids All participating members use hearing aids but some do so only in a few theatres Others, however, follow a policy of equipping from one to five per cent of the seats in every house with such aids. One adds that the only reason all of his theatres still do not have hearing aids is shortage of the equipment. (#1) . THE BALLANTYNE COMPANY 1707-1 1 DAVENPORT STREET OMAHA, 2, NEBRASKA