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High intensity rotating positive arc lamp installed at Hoyts Esquire Cinema,
Bourke Street Melbourne. (Ashcraft lamphouse shown).
lamp that, when they were eventually replaced by 6.5 kW xenon lamps
(such as in drive-in theatres), there was a noticeable drop in lighting level. The air flow was directed towards the negative carbon, where it was
In particular, the Strong Electric “Futura” arc lamp, which came onto the exhausted, together with the arc waste products, through a separate
market in around 1963, was highly regarded as the benchmark against exhaust fan designed to cope with the effects of corrosive gases at high
which other similar types of arc lamps were judged. temperature. Both carbons were of the uncoated type, with each carbon
being fed by its own feed motor. The mirrors were usually 24 inch
Blown Arc Lamps diameter dichroic type, and often had an auxiliary reflector placed behind
the arc gap. �
The blown arc was a special type used where the highest possible light
output was required, used a soft core positive carbon, operated at between Credits:
140 – 160 amps and were fed at a rate of around 40 – 60 inches an hour. Motion Picture Projection and Theatre Presentation Manual (SMPTE).
The high current density was made possible by a series of air jets
surrounding the tip of the positive carbon, so as to constrict and compress Images from Author’s collection and from CATHS Archive.
the arc.

CINEMA SHORTS

SMOKING NOT ONLY CINEMAS AFFECTED BY TV
1944: Smoking introduced into NSW picture theatres. PERTH 1958 - A new cinema organisation - the Industry Development
Organisation - has been formed here to meet the advent of TV. In the
In Sydney the theatre chosen for the trial was the Plaza, attendances Eastern States TV has harmed the motion picture industry and also the
were normal with little objection from non-smokers; theatre atmosphere passenger transport industry, and here in the West efforts are being
was not largely affected. The general public’s reaction was sharply made by cinema interests to work hand in hand with other industries
divided, the critics were very bitter, flesh and blood traditions were very which TV, when it comes in some eight months' time, will affect.
much against its introduction. Fire brigade board representatives were
upset that the Chief Secretary took it upon himself to give permission Any transport people interested in assisting a very wide campaign
for smoking. A letter in Sydney's Daily Telegraph: "Smoking should should contact the Cinema Industry Development Organisation at Room
be permitted in all parts of theatres, especially the operating rooms, as 61, 104 St. George's Terrace, Perth.
a match accidentally thrown into a reel of film would save the public
from another session of rehashed film trash." Truck and Bus Transportation magazine. December, 1958.
Film Weekly Sept. 7 1944. Supplied by Steven Haby, Prahran Mechanics Institute (PMI).

22 CINEMARECORD # 99