Boxoffice-October.04.1952

.
be an economical,
eas.v-to-clean material admirably
adapted to modern design. And an even
more important consideration was the pos-
JLightweight Metal
Panels Introduced
iFor Theatre Walls
Corrugated, Perforated
Sheets Also Allow Better
Light and Sound Control
lar ami never
passserby :
M? people
play in the ti.
iny other ,;C'
atnres metal sheathing would prove to
of the ;
ietii and ft;
1 neon and e;i:
sible
Dies recentl!', '.
trol by means of perforated metal.
loto participaa
irthy. manase:
actual use.
ling in Olilaht:
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roject: Dean
Iter Theatre,!
of Stele Tt-i
gated to produce a saw-tooth surface.
eye strain.
modern theatre eliminates contrasts.
11
blends into the metal sidewalls.
m
ance.
BOXOFFICE
£AT«E SECW October 4, 19,'>2
TThen the architectural firm of
Ketchum. Gina & Sharp beKan planning
the Cinema Theatre in the Shoppers'
World, at F1-amingham. Mass., they began
an examination of new materials for use
In the theatre. It wa.s their belief that a
improvement in light and sound con-
The idea has proven to be successful in
The practical development of the idea
was a lightweight metal panel punched in
an all-over pattern of holes, each hole less
than one-eighth of an inch in diameter.
In addition the panels were sharply corru-
The
'teeth" were correctly spaced to catch and
deflect the light thrown off by the screen.
for with the rays bent at right angles to
the sight-line of the viewer there is no
The darkness of the ordinary theatre
magnifies the whiteness of the screen, and
vice versa, whereas the interior of this ultra-
This
can be credited to the perforated metal
walls whose function it is to catch and diffuse
the brilliance of the chief fixed lighting
element, the screen. Moreover the
architects, in conjunction with lighting experts,
were able to achieve a constant level
of soft illumination by surrounding the
screen with a band of translucent plastic.
This merges into a curved plaster wall that
Like the old-fashioned gaudy and gilded
interior, the darkness that characterized
"the movies" is obsolete. The Shoppers'
World Cinema is filled with a glow that
permits the patron to find a seat without
difficulty and enjoy a glare-free perform-
The second and equally important func-
The corrugated, perforated metal paneli cover the walls, balcony arid ce/7/ng To achieve a conjtonf
level of soft illumirtatior}, the screen Is surrounded by a band of translucent plastic which, in
turn, merges into a curved plaster wall that blends into the side metal panels.
tion of the metal walls was worked out in
conjunction with acoustical consultants.
Sound waves easily penetrate the perforations
to reach strategically spaced acoustic
materials that create dead or reflective
areas—becoming more resonant, for example,
as they strike against plywood, less
when they come in contact with Rberglas.
An outstanding advantage is that the metal
panels can be removed without trouble if
shifts must be made in sound adjustment.
The corrugated panels cover the walls,
the balcony front and the ceiling. The
latter, curving toward the screen in a
An advantage of the metal panels is that they
can be removed without trouble, if shifts must be
made in sound adjustment. Photo shows how panels
were used for the balcony and the rear of the
auditorium, and handling of lighting
broadening arc. Is pierced with a few recessed
downlights.
According to Morris Ketchum. the perforated
metal was no more expensive than
other materials in ordinary use for such
purposes and. its strength increased by the
bending process, performance has been
highly satisfactory.
The 1,500 seats distributed between the
main floor and a balcony are arranged unconventionally
in staggered and indented
patterns with occasional gaps. Varying
widths for the aisles help regulate traffic
and. together with the informal seating,
contribute to visual and physical comfort.
Chairs are crimson, the carpet gray and
crimson, and the walls, decorative in themselves
because of the perforations, are
painted a neutral gray.
Air conditioning equipment is located
next to the projection room but the Cinema
is heated by the same central steam plant
that serves all the buildings in the Shoppers'
'World.
The exterior of the theatre is no more
than a thin skin of 4x8-foot asbestos board
held in place by aluminum strips. These
strips, bolted to the structural frame of the
building, are in themselves an integral part
of the decoration. This lightweight envelope
requires less steel, less construction
time, and is less expensive than conventional
masonry walls.
The lobby is a one-story glass-enclosed
addition to the front of the building: a
showcase with a gaily painted background
and contemporary furnishings. Baffles are
used instead of doors to keep light out of
the auditorium.
The Shoppers' World, largest regional
shopping center in the east, was entirely
designed by Ketchum. Glna k Sharp. Located
at F^amlngham. Mass.. near Boston,
the S8.000.000 project has 50 stores and
parking space for 6.000 cars, which gives
ihe theatre an audience potential of mammoth
proportions.
39