The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-01
(Continued)


 But of course, censorship Is a. mat ter now being threshed out through out the cuntry with varying results, And as in many lines of endeavor motion picture machine operating has its demand yet the supply exceeds the demand. A young man we are acquainted with told us he was full fledgcd motion picture operator, but as there are, at the present no open ings for him he Is content to keep at his other trade, that of machin- ist, until an opening occurs. His work is interesting he admits but his one desire Is to secure a steady position as the mighty monarch of q motion picture booth.
 Now a word as to the young man who wishes to become an operator. First he serves an apprenticeship as a "rewind man" for an expert oper- ator. He is given tips and hints, gleaned by the master of his trade in years and years of experience. He is explained the ''whys and hows' of this and that in the operators routine and is instructed in the adjustme ent of the machines and mechanism. Then tho apprentice is initiated into the mysteries of threading the machines. the handling of the arc lamps and q hundred and one small but impor- tant things he never perhaps heard of before. When he has spent say from eTzht to ten months or more as an apprentice he Is ready to take the examinations provided by tho state
 If he comes away with flying colors from his examinations, he receives his state operators license and be- comes a member of the motion pic fure machine operators profession F.. Aa fo@ with him, secures q position in 2 theatre whsre motion pictures arc exhibited.
 This position, although at times giving him unlocked fo- trouble fur nishes the means of insulting life as it were, into the making of tn, most popular entertainment ever be fore known which brings joy to thu youngsters. a most p4easing and en tertaining way of spernling a fev hours of an afternoon or evening t the older folks. of the classes and tn Tnasses, and even. a Ia Kipling, to yol and I.
 One theatre fin this city average 122 reels a week run through eacl machine (two machines are installe, fin every first class motion pictur theatre) making 264 reels a weel in the both machines; reels averagin 950 feat each, making all told ap proximately 2.500 miles of motto picture film passing through this on theatre's machine in a year.
 Roughly estimated there are nor than 3S,oo0 theatres devoted to tn presentation of the illuminated dram in the United States and nearly twic that mapy men competent to hol their places behind the guns" Al most every day beautiful. costly me fion picture houses are being erect ed, throughout the country, thus ere ating openings for competent opera tors.
 There are about thirty operator now employed fin the theatres of tn. city and with few exceptions the oI erating booths are fully equipped wit the latest model projections machine 1ater-day inventions and appliance which arc aides to the down -to-tht minute operator enabling him to pei fcctly project the stupendous motto picture productions of the day. Years ago when the so-called stor shows (when stores were rente, soats put in, machines installed an the places labelled. 'Sicklet," 'Happ 4our," '-rhe Dream." etc; some (