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Dave Cutler
15/70 projectionist &
Booth Manager at a 24-plex
Kansas City, MO

"In general, their principal ingredients are: petroleum coke derived from the refining process, lamp black, graphite, and rare-earth compounds that provide the special qualities of the light. Pitch materials are used to bond the particles together."

Those proprietary "rare-earth compounds" probably included several "heavy metal" chemicals. Carbons come from a day when lead paint, mercury thermometers, arsenic insecticide, DDT, and asbestos insulation were considered safe.

If you use carbon arcs, be sure you have the proper ventilation, use a respirator when cleaning the ash, and NEVER cook or heat food in the lamphouse.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

The white, fiberous insulation used on wires exposed to heat was often asbestos. Likewise, the gray-colored material used on heat baffles and dowsers often contained asbestos.

Asbestos left by itself is usually not a hazard. Breathing the airborne particles is hazardous. Disposal of asbestos-containing equipment and materials must be done properly, and is often regulated. How many old theatres still have asbestos curtains?

Uh-oh. I failed two of the three above...!

Regarding Dave C. question;

Obviously, in the nitrate days there had to be some testing to insure projectionists knew what they were doing. Even after safety film was introduced, there was still the possibility of getting an older nitrate print. But after many years, most every nitrate print had been "purged" from theaters and film exchanges. (Now, in Connecticut, you can't run nitrate even if the booth was equipped to run it.) Also, xenon lamps and automation further reduced the need for "real" projectionists. And with theaters struggling to survive, any labor cost reduction (regardless of how it is done) is perceived as "a good thing." Which not only pushes legislation their way, but also encourages equipment manufacturers to provide even more automated features. (Did you ever think 20 years ago that anyone would want an ethernet network connection to a sound processor!?)

Connecticut has just stopped requiring projectionist licenses. The test had become a joke, anyway, with only 10 true/false lame questions.

"If you use carbon arcs, be sure you have the proper ventilation, use a respirator when cleaning the ash, and
NEVER cook or heat food in the lamphouse."

Uh-oh. I failed two of the three above...!

So, which one did you pass? Answer quickly, the ambulance is coming for you.

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