Boxoffice-July.01/1950

Carpeting in the sunken lounge of
the new Crest Theatre in Wichita,
Kos., demonstrates a distinctive use
of custom-tailored design which a
number of the larger carpeting firms
are now glad to supply on orders
above a minimum quantity.
In this case, all carpeting in the
theatre employs the crest of the state
of Kansas against a plain background.
The pattern was specially
loomed for the Crest by the Mohawk
Carpet Co.
HOUSE APPEAL FROM THE CARPET UP
by MERRILL A. WATSON*
X HE THEATRE OWNER WhO SCeks tO
contract for new carpeting in his house or
is starting from scratch to equip a new
one, will be wise to listen to several suggestions
from the carpet manufacturer
who has had many years of experience in
dealing with every problem of contract
installation. He is familiar with special
requirements of lobby, aisles, the ladies'
lounge or for an entire carpeting job. A
few hints can prove useful in making a
choice of carpeting and will help mainlain
the carpeting after installation.
Selection of color and design are primary
considerations, for the carpet can be the
dramatic point of departure for the entire
theatre decor or it can be a subtle background
for other color and decorative elements.
It is well to keep in mind the fact
that, no matter how careful a day-to-day
cleaning carpeting receives, the color will
"gray down" after a few weeks' use. This
is not the fault of the dyes in the wool
yarns, but comes from the dust film which
hangs over the cleanest of cities. In selecting
a color, it is a good idea to choose
one that is a little more intense than the
shade you actually want. Because of the
excellence of the dyes used by American
carpet manufacturers today, you need not
be concerned about wool carpeting fading.
Use your hands in judging the quality
of a wool floor covering. Density of the
pile is an important factor in determining
the durability of a carpet. The pile is the
face of the carpet made up of tufts of
woolen yarn held together by backing
yarn. The denser it is, the more it will
resist your thumb's making a dent in it.
Quality wool has a springiness that lets
it bounce back from pressure.
The quality of a carpet cannot be determined
by the depth of the pile alone.
It is necessary to know what the carpet
consists of, for there are some low pile
carpets which can win over the high pile
•President. Carpet In&tilute, Inc.
types and there are texture weaves which
combine both low and high tufts. Many
rich-looking and long-wearing carpets are
made up of several levels of tightly looped
pile and others are an interesting combination
of cut pile and looped pile. Pile
height is, of course, a factor in judging
quality, but not the decisive factor.
For the heavy traffic areas of theatres
it is a good rule to buy the best quality
carpeting the budget can stand, for top
quality carpet wiU stand up well and give
long service even under the mud-spattered
and scuffing feet of countless patrons.
Several varieties of wool are required
for carpet weaving. While the sheep born
in the United States furnish fine wool for
clothing, carpets require strong, tough,
wear-resisting yarns made from the wool
grown on the sheep of wild mountainous
countries. No one wool fiber has all the
necessary characteristics for fine carpeting,
but a judicious mixture of wools brings
about the best results. Carpet wools are
imported from India, China, Egypt, Iraq.
Tibet, Argentina and Scotland. In those
10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION