Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1946)

E-22 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, November 9. 1946 'Black Light' Provides Thrilling Xmas Decoration By J. Cornell Richardson* Christmas season decorations call for the theatre manager's utmost ingenuity in devising holiday ornamentation that reflects the sharp showmanship theatre patrons have come to expect in their favorite place of entertainment. Black Light offers an easy, highly successful, answer to this important problem. Simple to apply, inexpensive to use, Black Light and fluoro-materials provide vivid color in glowing radiance to delight and mystify the public. Theatre managers often shy away from Black Light; their attitude frequently is: "It may be alright for Rockefeller Center, but my budget is limited and I am not sure I have the necessary talent for such design." The simple truth is that no theatre is too small to incorporate Black Light into its Christmas decorations. As for talent — free, expert consultant advice is easily had. And no theatre is too large or elaborate to benefit from the glorious, breath-taking displays which Black Light affords. Consider the most common of displays — the Christmas tree. Whether it is placed in the foyer or lobby of the large theatre, at one side of the screen in smaller theatres, or outdoors on top of the marquee, the same principles of applying Black Light are followed. First, the area around the tree must be dark or semi-dark. White light shining directly on the subject washes out the fluorescent effect. Either a natural tree or an artificial one can be used. To get the best results one should spray the branches with fluorescent lacquer. A green transparent lacquer is ideal for use in conjunction with a whitelight flasher system, for the surprise effect it gives. Under the white light, the tree will look quite ordinary. Under Black Light, however, it will glow with startling brilliance. For a greater fluorescence intensity, opaque lacquer is recommended. If any color but green is used on the tree, it is advisable first to spray the tree with a white casein paint for a base coat and then spray on the fluorescent lacquer. It is important to have the spray gun absolutely clean before this final operation. The ornaments can be treated with fluorescent lacquer applied with a small camel's hair brush. The brushing is more successful if you thin the lacquer with a high-grade retarder thinner. A large star placed at the tip of the tree can be treated with Arctic White lacquer to give a lovely, silvery glow. The star can be fashioned from plastic, wood, or hardsurface paper or cardboard. Here again it is wise to use an undercoat of white casein paint, especially on paper, to prevent excessive absorption. For the children, a Christmas display is 'President, Black Light Products, Chicago. disappomting unless it includes a Santa Claus. A real-life Santa can wear fluorescent makeup and a suit of "firewagon red" fluorescent satin. The harmless makeup will cause his skin to glow. A papier mache Santa can be given a fascinating, out-of-this-world appearance Under Black Light, a Christmas tree sprayed with fluorescent lacquer glows with magic radiance in vivid colors. by coating the face with fluorescent lacquer (over a base coat), painting the lips red and eyes a merry blue. His hair, even, can be fluoresced with fabric solution, and the snow on his boots can be made to shimmer like the snow in a wonderful fairyland. A simple, yet effective, fluorescent display consists of a giant Christmas card, addressed to theatre patrons and signed by the theatre management. The lettering can be done in any of the 13 available lacquer colors. Such a card can be designed especially to fit into one of the "coming attraction" display windows. In this case a Black Light source can be suspended from the ceiling, with the invisible rays shining down on the sign. The light fixture most often recommended for theatre seasonal displays consist of 100-watt mercury vapor units. These may be placed 10 or 12 feet from the tree or display. All Black Lights work on regular 110volt AC current but only through the transformer provided as part of every unit. The transformer is commonly mounted directly on the lamp to provide a self-contained unit, bui it can also be installed at a master switchboard, using No. 12 wires for the circuit to avoid voltage drop. The life of the lamp runs about 1,000 hours and it is replaceable at moderate cost (#17). Quality Soundhead For Powers Mechs Theatres still using Powers mechanisms will be interested, in this time of shortages and delayed deliveries, to know that Ballantyne Company can make prompt shipment of their high quality Royal Soundmaster and SP soundheads, which are designed to be used with Powers as well as Simplex projectors and pedestals. Ballantyne soundheads for mechanisms of the Simplex type also can be supplied complete with drive attachments for either Simplex, Super Simplex, Simplex E-7, Simplex SI, Century, Wenzel, Gardiner and Motiograph Model K mechanisms. A very wide variety of combinations can be attained, using the Ballantyne soundheads. For example, among other possibilities, they can be installed successfully between a Powers four-point pedestal and a Simplex-type mechanism; or on a Simplex pedestal with a Powers mechanism. (#18). G. E, Foresees New Projection Ligiit The "pulsed light" projection lamp now used to enable television cameras to pick up programs from motion picture film is not suited to theatre projection in its present form, but "there is every possibility that a new light source operated by the same principle will be developed later for theatre application," according to E. L. Robinson of General Electric Company. The "pulsed light" device is a gasfilled discharge lamp electronically controlled. (#19). New Airkem Freshener For Rest Rooms Only A new product by the makers of Airkem Chlorophyll Air Freshener has been brought out specifically for use in rest rooms. It is designed to be more efficient in that application than the standard freshener, which is for general use. (#20). USEFUL SPEAKER Signal Corps surplus, the excellent little loudspeaker shown here is useful in many theatre applications. It has been bought in quantities by Loew's, RKO and Paramount, for intercom munication, particularly in connection with stage shows. Small, light, compact, it clamps on almost anywhere. Power handling capacity is in excess of IV2 watts; impedance 4,000 ohms. The price is $3.95 — possible only because this item is government surplus. Harvey Radio Company of New York is the distributor. (#21).