Theatre Catalog (1954-55)

DIMENSION INCHES 1,377 40.001 0.18704 0.0005 4.750+ 0.013 0.078 +0.0004 1,98 + 0,01 0,073 + 0.0004 0.086+ 0.002 NOT >0,001 1,049 + 0,002 148.70 +0,015 0.013 i i MILLIMETERS | 34.98+ 0.03 4.8624 0.01 2.18+0,05 NOT >0.025 ““*L** DIMENSION REPRESENTS THE LENGTH OF ANY 100 CONSECUTIVE PERFORATION INTERVALS. width for CinemaScope is determined by the aspect ratio, i.e. by multiplying the height by 2.55. Under the stated circumstances the resulting picture will be roughly twice as wide as the old picture for the same height. If a situation exists in a particular theatre which positively limits the picture width, then the height is determined by dividing the maximum width by 2.55. In dealing with a number of small theatres it has been found that, with thought and engineering ingenuity, it was possible to install a screen of considerable width and the resulting picture height for CinemaScope was essentially the same as the prevailing height in the theatre. Actually, if the existing projection lens is used with CinemaScope the resulting screen image will have greater height than the conventional picture because the 35mm. film is being used to greater advantage by employing a frame with 19 per cent greater height. FIGURE 1 shows the film dimensions after the mecessary sprocket hole size, spacing changes. The story telling must be handled differently and approaches that of legitimate stage technique but still maintains the unique feature of motion pictures where scenes can be rapidly changed at will. The closeup is used less frequently but is as important as ever and the intimate scene is not ruled out. In photographing the picture a special optical attachment, technically described as “anamorphic,” is added to the front of the conventional camera lens. The anamorphic attachment “looks” at a wider picture than the conventional lens but does not in the least way affect the height, the result being as though the picture were photographed in a_ horizontal direction with a very wide angle lens but with an ordinary lens in the vertical direction. Observation of the Sry (20 04mm oog AAG d? were at : ra: ee ee Awoured mA ~ alee nm ee 1954-55 THEATRE CATALOG image on the negative, or the print made therefrom, will show that the image is squeezed in the horizontal direction. All objects seem to be thinner than they should be. By adding to the projector a similar optical attachment in combination with the existing projector lens, which has precisely the opposite effect to the taking lens, the image is restored optically to its correct proportions and the picture on the theatre screen is a true reproduction, in all of its proportions, of the original scene. In this way it is possible to get a very wide picture on a standard piece of 35mm. film and use all of the available area of the film. In order to provide as large an image on the film as possible, to reduce the magnification required in the theatre, to maintain resolution, to minimize grain and to provide space for the sound tracks, it has been found entirely practical and good engineering to reduce the size of the sprocket holes on the film. The reader can easily observe that the sprocket holes have less width than the present standard film. and that they are located near the outer extremes .ofthe existing sprocket holes. (See Figure 2.) Stereophonic sound, properly recorded and projected, adds a great deal of realism to the picture presentation. It not only has features of direction; that is, sounds appear to come from where the source is seen on the screen, but in addition to this the perspective, the acoustic character of the space around the performers, the overall sound quality and naturalness are greatly improved. Provision has also been made in the CinemaScope system for the use of auditorium, or surround, speakers at the exhibitor’s option for special effects when the producer and/or the exhibitor feels that such effects add sufficiently to the value of the picture entertainment. Since a whole new sound system is involved in this case, from producing through exhibition, advantage has been FIGURE 2 shows designs produced to i that new sprockets will headin all cock. ba gherhall ai 221