R U N N I N G T H E S H O W

Before giving in detail the steps to be followed in running the show, some general points will be touched on.

Before any public showing, all presentations should be rehearsed as covered in the next section, "Rehearsing".

The fader must always be kept at zero when the house is open, except when testing with all theatre horns turned off, or when voice or music is actually being reproduced, as covered in detail in these instructions. This is necessary to avoid the record surface noise or film noise being noticed and to prevent the possibility of noises being beard from the horns at times when the pick-up equipment is being handled in setting up.

When making a change-over as described in detail in the instructions which follow, move the fader as smoothly as possible, and if you cannot make a complete change-over in one movement, stop AT ZERO for a fresh grip. Be careful not to overshoot the setting and then have to come back to it.

If the installation includes disc pick-up, always keep the reproducer in the rest except when a record is set up.

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So that the operator may have immediate and proper notification in case any part of the show is not coming over as it should, a member of the staff designated by the management, perhaps an usher, should remain in the theatre all through the performance. This observer should be competent to judge quality of reproduction, synchronism, etc.; he should be within reach of the observer's telephone and given responsibility for notifying the operator immediately anything goes wrong. He should also keep the operator informed as to how well the house is filled, so that the latter can adjust the volume if necessary. (See "Rehearsing").

Never make the monitor horn so loud that; it can be heard outside the projection room; keep the volume up just enough to follow the sound after the numbers have started, and make it a little louder before cues.

Do not cut synchronized film or sound film except in case of breakage (See sections on "Troubles-During Show" and "Re-placements-Patching Film"). If it is found desirable to eliminate bows at the end of the film, use the douser. If there is insufficient leader to permit proper threading of the film at starting, you may add more blank leader, provided, of course, it is added before the "START" mark.

With subjects using disc reproduction a broken film is a more serious interruption than with ordinary subjects, on account of the need for synchronism between

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record and film, and with film reproduction, a break is also specially objectionable because it cuts off the music as well as the picture. Therefore, examine all synchronized films and sound films carefully when re-winding, so as to catch tears before they develop into breaks. For this reason, rewind by hand and not by motor.

If oil or grease from the projector or film pick-up mechanism gets on the first few feet of film, clean it off carefully.

Keep emergency films in containers unless they have to be used.

Synchronized films and sound films come treated ready for immediate use, and require no more care than ordinary films, except as just noted.

Keep all records in envelopes they come in, when not in use. Put each record in its envelope with the playing side next the felt, and facing you. Put the empty envelopes at the back of the cabinet, so that the next record to be played comes at the front of the cabinet.

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The process of running synchronized subjects, using either film or disc reproduction, is as follows:

l. Follow out starting and testing procedure, and set up first two synchronized numbers on the two machines to be used, exactly as described in preceding sections.

2. Strike arc on first projector in usual manner.

3. When lamp is in operating condition and show is ready to proceed, start motor of first projector.

4. When motor is up to speed open douser.

5. Bring fader up SLOWLY so that it reaches correct setting just before voice or music begins. (This needs rehearsal).

6. For synchronized feature pictures, keep track of operation by listening to monitor and by watching screen for cues. Do not use monitor so loud. it can be heard outside projection room. At cue "SM" as given on cue sheet, start motor on second machine. At cue "CO", operate change-over so as to switch picture from outgoing projector to incoming. As soon as voice or music from outgoing machine is finished, bring fader of this machine to zero and then up to proper setting for incoming machine in time to catch first note of music. (This needs rehearsal).

Stop outgoing machine, kill arc, and set up third film, and also third record, with disc method.

7. For synchronized subjects other than feature pictures, keep track of operation by listening to monitor and watching pictures. As soon as last note of music or last word

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is heard, bring fader to zero, then fade out picture as soon as subject matter requires. Start second machine in same manner as already described for first machine. Proper instant for starting second machine so as to get right time interval between end of first subject and beginning of second, must be determined by rehearsal.

Stop outgoing machine, kill arc, and set up for third subject.

8. Continue process of switching from one machine to the other until show is completed.

9. When synchronized presentations are finished shut down amplifier and power equipment as covered in previous sections. Turn off battery switches on observer's and operator's sets. Put away films and records.

10. When using film pick-up, after running each reel wipe off with a rag the light aperture in the aperture plate and tension pad of the film reproducing attachment, so as to guard against possibility of dirt accumulating and obstructing light beam.

Non-Synchronized Subjects

When films without synchronized accompaniment are being used, and it is not desired to operate at the standard synchronized. speed of 90 ft. per minute, the speed is regulated as desired by the means provided for speed control on the motor control box. (See description under "Pick-Up Equipment"). The motor is started and stopped by the same switch used in synchronized operation.

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