Boxoffice-December.02.1950

IF YOU ARE
fUSSY' about
PICTURE
QUALITY
Here Is
The Screen
For You!
Spectacular Stage Effects Possible by
Using New Bandcar Without Guide Tracks
W.HETHER OR NOT Stage shows should
return to the motion picture theatre as an
added attraction, a growing number of
neighborhood and suburban theatres are
making a pitch for the position of recreational
center for the community. In the
larger theatres, particularly, it is becoming
less and less unusual for dressing rooms
and stage facilities to be planned into new
theatre design.
Conscious of this trend, it is interesting
to note that at a recent performance at
Purdue University Music Hall, the great
20-ton fire curtain majestically ascended
and the mammoth draw curtain started to
open as the strains of a lively overture
filled the hall. Then the orchestra appeared,
rising from the orchestra pit.
Higher and higher it rose, with all musicstand
lights glowing, until it reached stage
level. Smoothly and without a pause, it
moved onto the stage and continued downstage,
coming to an easy stop at the last
notes of the overture.
Bandcar rising to stage.
Bandcar locked into "up" position.
THE NEW
DA-LITE V-1
FOLDING SCREEN
Every gradation of tone in black and
white film and every shade of color in color
film is brought out with complete fidelity
on Oa-Lite's new V-1 Folding Screen. The
VI is the finest professional theatre screen
Da-Lite has ever produced in 41 years of
leadership in screen manufacturing. Ask
your theatre equipment dealer for a demonstration!
Or send for a sample swatch
and make your own tests and comparisons!
Here is a screen that does justice to your
film attractions. Compare it on any basis;
brilliance, sharpness of detail, quality of
sound transmission. It will spoil you for
nny other screen.
In addition, it gives you all of these moneysaving
advantages:
• Low Transportation Charges
The Da-Lite V-1 is so light and compact,
it can be carried by one man (sec
above) and shipped Parcel Post.
• Economical Installation
by only two men,
• Easy Maintenance
Can be washed by your janitor.
• Fewer Replacements
Fungus-rcsistont. Flameproof. Permascalcd
seams — no stitches to come
loose or break. Seams perforated after
fusing for uniform aging and longer
service.
.\sk your dealer about the new low prices
on this popular Pa-l-ite V-1 Folding .Screen.
Write for illustraled cirrnlar.
DA-LITE SCREEN CO., Inc.
2721 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago 39, Illinois
Since 1909 Makers of fine Theatre Screeris
BANDCAR TRAVELS WITHOUT GUIDES
This spectacular touch was made possible
by a huge new motorized bandcar recently
designed and installed by J. R.
Clancy, Inc. One of the outstanding features
of this new bandcar is that it requires
no guides built into the stage floor; the
car travels straight without external guiding.
The fact that the car operates on a
smooth stage floor without the necessity
of mutilating the floor by the insertion of
steel guides is considered an important
achievement in theatre engineering. Another
important step in stage equipment
design is the use of all-aluminum structural
members, which greatly reduce the weight
of the car.
The car is electrically operated and
remotely controlled. With the car on the
orchestra lift in the basement position, the
touch of a button starts the lift rising to
stage level. When it is flush with the stage,
the bandcar motor is energized and the
bandcar travels back stage. However, if
the Clancy disappearing microphones are
in the up position, the car will not leave
the lift until the microphones are lowered
into the floor. The instant the car starts
to move off the lift, the elevator is locked
in position so that it cannot be moved until
the car is either completely off or completely
on the elevator. The car then
travels backstage to a predetermined point
where it stops automatically.
On the forward travel, the car proceeds
out to the disappearing microphone position.
If the microphones are up, it will
again stop until they are retracted into the
floor. Furthermore, the car will not pass
this point unless tlie elevator is up in posi-
Bandcar may be used with trailers.
tion to receive it. When it does cross this
line, the elevator is automatically locked in
place until the car takes its position completely
on the elevator, at which time the
elevator-operating circuit is automatically
restored.
The car is fitted with a variety of
parallels and platforms which make possible
a wide variation in orchestra and
band seating and in choral grouping. When
used for stage work only, the bandcar can
also be extended in both length and depth
by means of trailers which practically
double the already mammoth size of the
car. These trailers are easily handled and
are transported by the elevator lift to the
basement for storage. The main car is
stored on the lift itself when not otherwise
in use.
When the bandcar is stored on the orchestra
elevator, the power unit may be
removed, giving the car a completely flat
surface. The orchestra lift can be automatically
spotted flush with the stage floor
either with or without the bandcar on the
lift.
28 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION