Cinema engineering

Ever since the early days of the Nickelodeons and Bioscopes, most cinema audiences have been unaware of the continually changing and developing technology at work behind the porthole in the `projection room'. The original single projector became two machines, and more recently back to one again as larger spools and their associated film-handling systems have come into use. The xenon lamp is now an alternative to the proven carbon arc as a light source. Silent films gave way to sound and Dolby systems are beginning to be used in the search for better sound quality. Automation has helped in the struggle for better presentation, and is essential in today's multiauditorium cinemas. Indeed it is the excellence of presentation by many conscientious projectionists that prevents the mechanics of the cinema from intruding into the patrons' enjoyment of the films