Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Ideal Theatre Temperature

This is topic Ideal Theatre Temperature in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Blake Zaugg (Member # 1455) on 01-28-2004, 01:16 PM:

As a matter of opinion what is the ideal theatre temperature to set the thermostats at?
18 degrees - 20 degrees? (Celsius of course)

Posted by Dino Panagiotopoulos (Member # 1579) on 01-28-2004, 01:21 PM:

Normally our thermostats are kept at 70-72 F (around 21 Celsius). This is during the winter and during the summer It will go down to 67 or 68. The theaters are always very comfortable during any season and only get complaints from the cold blooded women (its freezing anywhere they go).

Posted by Michael Harlow (Member # 1353) on 01-28-2004, 01:44 PM:

We try and run around the 20-21 mark

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-28-2004, 01:46 PM:

As far as the film itself is concerned, the projection room can be kept at any temperature that is comfortable for the projectionist, usually between 20 and 24 Celsius. Somewhat colder or hotter should have no ill effect (on the film).

It IS important to keep the relative humidity under control, ideally between 50 and 60 percent RH. Really dry conditions can aggravate static and cause excessive film curl. Damp conditions can cause rust and corrosion of equipment, problems with electronic equipment (especially high voltage equipment like xenon ignitors), and soften the gelatin emulsion of the film, making it stickier and more likely to be abraded.

Long-Term Storage of film should be cool and dry, per SMPTE Recommended Practice RP131:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/technical/storage1.shtml

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 01-28-2004, 06:43 PM:

quote:
Normally our thermostats are kept at 70-72 F (around 21 Celsius). This is during the winter and during the summer It will go down to 67 or 68.

why the seasonal variation? if anything, during the winter, customers should be more prepared to deal with a lower temperature.

i think 67 or 68 is a good temperature. maybe cooler, not warmer. you can always put something on (if you're prepared) but you can only take so much off. and a little nip in the air helps keep you awake.

carl

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 01-28-2004, 06:46 PM:

Dino is right (on both counts).

Posted by Dino Panagiotopoulos (Member # 1579) on 01-28-2004, 07:34 PM:

One main reason for the variation is because at any time of the year, no matter what season, going to the movies is an escape for most people. Its the Exhibitors job to make sure they have the most comfortable environment to enjoy their movie. If I go to a theater in the winter and they're too cheap to provide adequate heating, then most likely when you go in the summer they wont have proper cooling.I wont be going back to that place. Most people come in the summer to get a cold drink and sit in a nice cooled environment for a while, to get out of the heat. Depending on how hot/cold it is in the summer, the temperature can probably go a little lower than 68. The few extra dollars on the heating will go a long way with attracting customers that just want to relax and stay cool during those hot summer days.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-28-2004, 08:20 PM:

Temperature setting somewhat depends on the film you are running. SOmetimes you might be able to take advantage of having control over the thermostat...... I once met a theatre manager that had run Lawrence Of Arabia at a theatre down in Texas during the summer months. 30 min before the intermission he cranked the heat in the place all the way up...needless to say when the intemission tag hit the screen the audience flocked out for a Coke. Per capita was really high that Summer....This is actually a true story!!

Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 01-28-2004, 10:35 PM:

Sometimes for horror films, we'll drop the temp a couple of degrees once the film starts.

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 01-29-2004, 11:28 AM:

It depends on the building. If your building is drafty, you'll have to run the heat up to 74F or so in the winter. If it's fairly air tight, 72 seems to be the happy medium for most customers in the winter and 73 for summer. Other wise, the complaints sky rocket.
I love it when it's 0F outside, and the ladies come in with their open toed shoes on, and come out of the film and complain that their feet are freezing. DUH!