Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, February 1, 1947 E-27 f. & 0. R. R. Starts Theatre-On-N heels Back in the gas-lighted midVictorian era Jules Verne, who so romantically predicted electric light, submarines and other improbable wonders, wrote in his "Around the World in Eighty Days" that American railroads have dining cars, sleeping cars, club cars, and "only a theatre car is missing." Characteristically Verne added: "Never mind, there will be one some day." Nightly now, after dining cars of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad's crack train. The George Washington, have completed their function as restaurants, tables are folded back against one wall, curtains are drawn over them, and the diner becomes a theatre. Dining car chairs, set in alternate rows of four and five, provide seating for 50 persons. A screen measuring 5' x 3' 9", and a two-way speaker system, are fastened rigidly in place at one end of the car. At the other end, a union projectionist threads two 16-mm. sound projectors with narrow-gauge prints of late releases obtained from Universal-International under the terms of a one-year contract. Waiters act as ushers. Passage through the car is not obstructed; the chair arrangement leaves an aisle at one side. The theatre-car service started January 6th, with an invitational world premiere of "Swell Guy," followed January 7th by regular public showing of "The Dark Mirror." For the time being the service is confined to The George Washington, which runs both ways between Newport News, Virginia, and Cincinnati: but the road is planning to extend it, and is having new cars built designed specially to provide the best type of performance aboard a moving train. Future pictures will be run two weeks, in both directions, with two shows each night, beginning at 9:30 and running 90 minutes each. As installed aboard The George Washington, the railroad theatre utilizes two 16-mm. sound projectors and high-andlow frequency speakers. A special compartment built under the train houses storage batteries, which supply 3,000 watts at 110 volts and are recharged by a generator connected with one of the axles. Projection light is provided by 1,000 watt incandescents. Four-inch lenses are used, the throw being 48 feet. Maximum sound volume available is 25 watts — very considerably in excess of Academy requirements. The cars are soundproofed to prevent interference from railroad noises, and both projectors and screen are rigidly fastened so that both rock in unison with the movement of the car and no vibration in the image is apparent. (#16) . Sidney Lust has broken ground at Kensington, near Washington, D. C, for a new 900-seat theatre. It is expected to be completed during the Spring. The Show Must Go On WITH working crews waiting to install them on arrival, American Seating Company Bodiform chairs were recently shipped by air to meet a scheduled opening at Pawtucket, R. I. Midwest Section of SMPE Joins Technical Council The Midwest Section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers has now been affiliated with the Chicago Technical Societies Council. Election of the SMPE group to Council membership was by unanimous vote. One of three such groups within the SMPE — the other two being the Atlantic Coast Section and Hollywood Section — the Midwest engineers have recently heard and discussed such papers as: "Loud Speaker Design Trends" by Hugh Knowles of Jensen Radio Mfg. Co.; "The Motiograph AA Projector" by Mr. Weinke of Motiograph, Inc., and "High Fidelity Magnetic Recording for Motion Picture Production" by John S. Boyers of Magnecord, Inc. (#17). MULTI-PURPOSE "MIRACLE" ODORLESS DISINFECTANT AND DEODORANT For "Tactful" Sanitation in Theatres Obvious Efforts Scare Patrons Away Diluted 10 to 20 Times Makes Rest Room Plumbing as Microscopically-Clean and Odorless as a Hospital Thermometer By Actual Hospital Laboratory Test ODORL£s REG. U. S. PAT. OFFICE PATENTS APPLIED FOR Odorless Germicide, Fungicide and Bacterial Deodorant Disiniects As It Deodorizes Without Leaving Odor Stain or Damage KELPS PROTECT JUVENILE TRADE AGAINST INFANTILE PARALYSIS POSSIBILITIES IN REST ROOMS AND SCALP "RING WORM" OFF SEATS. DEODORIZES AND DISINFECTS MOPS. ONE SPRAYING KEEPS DOWN DECOMPOSITION ODORS ON PLUMBING FOR 24 TO 48 HOURS Effective against contagious organisms. Eliminates unsightly and plumbing-clogging urinal blocks. Can be sprayed on seats, carpets and fine surfaces without damage and instilled in soap mop water. Makes floors and toilet surfaces hospital clean. A MUST for "Stink Bomb," foul air resulting from bacterial accumulations in air-conditioning systems and vomit eradication in auditoriums cmd rest rooms. ECONOMICAL* 0pe 9a"on makes 10 *° 20 gallons of an effective odorless KW\/Plw*Til\rf#*4l»« disinfectant and deodorant. Leaves powerful residue on surfaces after evaporation of water 500 times as effective as carbolic acid without the disadvantages. 10 gallon keg minimum direct shipment to theatre. Used exclusively by large circuits. Ask your theatre supply dealer or write FORTA-CIDE CORPORATION CHARLES P. HUGHES, President 160 East Illinois Street. Chicago II Telephone Superior 6961 METICULOUS SANITATION PAYS OFF AT THE WINDOW | Fort-A-Cide Corporation. STR ■ 160 East Illinois Street. | Chicago 1 1, III. J FREE — Send me your 4-page colored illustrated I folder showing the way to use Fort-A-Cide Odorless | Solution. I NAME OF THEATRE. I ' Address i I City State.