TO LORD

. During
!
imnerable other items that have come
tout hi just the past 10 years?
Bver try to buy a rebuilt 20-year-old film
latter, or a used 4,000-watt xenon lampouve
from 1950? How about the proper
jel amis with excellent takeups for 28-in.
•eb? How about anything to prevent film
unage?
Considering film damage alone, tests and
ivestigations seem to indicate that much
I the damage being reported today is a
J.'sult of two instanees—large reels with
idden startups and misaligned film gates.
my most recent trip to California.
tested the studio guides on a new pro-
SCtor, rebuilt for a special purpose, and
i.uind that neither guide even touched the
ilm. When a crooked splice came through.
simply caused a run-off. which in turn
>re up the film. Terrific! Too, I'm sure
reryone has seen the fast starts of the large
eel units, where wornout or poorly design-
(d lower takeups resulted in the film snaping
in the first 15 seconds of the run.
I
If
Inferior
Lenses
The story is the same with lenses, they
Living progressed from the old four-elenent
Petzval lenses of the '30s into the
iiuich-improved six-element lenses by
Jausch & Lomb or Kollmorgen. The sixtlement
lenses are anastigmat and fully
l-olor corrected in addition to being manu-
'actured under exacting controls for other
optical corrections. Today, however, about
SO per cent of all new lenses sold in this
ountry are cheaply designed four-element
enses. We are returning to the '30s, and be
issured. the guy in the front row knows all
ibout
it.
I sold the Pierce-Arrow for $400 in 1952,
nd still wish I had it. It would be worth
ibout SI 0.000 today—not for everyday use,
if course, just as a collector's item. The
Monograph and Brenkert are well made.
lut are collector's items, too.
Are you really going to base a modern
tusiness on equipment designed for an industry
of 25 years ago? Your wife won't let
that happen in the kitchen; are your patrons
.ss important?
A classic
example of equipment upgradng
is at Radio City Music Hall, New York.
In the past three years, projectors were reaced.
carbon arcs changed from hycandescent
to high powered xenon plus a new
lens set for Cinemascope. Now it has the
quality Cinemascope picture (a giant
p6-ft screen) in its history, and probably
the best in the city.
No, they don't build them like they once
and it's a good thing. If they were any
pod, we couldn't afford them, and besides
hey would be 25 years obsolete. If you
! insist, go ahead and use the old equipment
(and tear up the film. Th; film labs will
c you for it.
In the meantime. I rotihl cry about my
Picrce-Arroi-
Optimum Performance, Reliability,
Safety, Convenience & Economy
• Maximum Light Output — due to computer designed metal reflector and
horizontally mounted xenon bulbs. Optional dichroic "cold" coating available.
• Specialized Built-in Cooling — for prolonged bulb life.
• Fused Circuitry and Power Supply Interlocks — plus tamperproof cabinet
locks.
• Conveniently Located Controls and Bulb Adjustments
• Automatic Ignition and Remote Terminals — for interface with any automation
system.
• Easy Bulb Replacement and Servicing - special cabinet configurations
designed to bare internal components.
• Ruggedized Heavy-Guage Steel Cabinets — fit most standard projector
bases, xenon conversions are simple.
• Guaranteed One Year
Plus a full selection of in-stock xenon bulbs and
world-famous XeTRON/IREM Power Supplies.
Close to ') :< u and expanding shopping
.f [center developments are in various stages
•'
preparation across the U.S., according
to the International Council of Shopping
Hers.
:r- BOXOFTICE :: April IS. 1977
29