The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-21
SLOT MOVIES
ARE CATCHING ON
Film Goes Round And Round
And Regular Film
Guys Worry
Rv HEAVY

HOLLYWOOD, April 20. -P-I
You put a nickel in here and the
music comes out there and the film
goes round and round.
And if the film goes round often
enough-say about 800 times a week
in each machine-the nickels pile
IN and before long a million dollars
worth of nickels ..,
And the public, for Its jitneys,
not only hears a two-and-a-half min
ute musical recording but sees the
orchestra as well and presumably
is overcome with delight.
The prediction, as made by the
boys who are interested in these
portable movie theatres, is very rosy.
The outlook, like the neonic decor
of their instruments, positively
gIows.
The nickel-in-the.slot movie is just
around the corner. In fact, two COM
panies have similar machines and
if things go the way they're sup
posed to, 10000 of them will be
adjoining the nations cocktail bars
and saloons and hotel lobbies within
the next u months.
Naturally opposition has arisen.
Exhibitors, with big investments in
theatres, say they see real compe-
tition. Organized protests, in some
middle-western cities, already are
under way.
In Hollywood, one hears talk
about cheap movies harming major
pictures" but few believe barroom
movies will keep people from at,
tending the regular theatres.
James Roosevelt, the Presidents
matchmaking son, will produce
films for a Chicago novelty com.
pany which expects to have Is, ZOO
machines completed within a year,
Roosevelt's company will film 81
different two-and-a-half minute sub,
jects a year. Six will be on each
reel; it'll cost You a nickel per sub,
ject.
Another firm, formed here by
agent, Frank Orsatti and Producer
Sam Sax, is ready with a COMPETE
tive machine. This company will
film its W pictures. The Orsatti.
Sax film box resembles an diversified
record player, with the screen -
about IS by "a inches-in the face.
The machine the Mills company is
making to play the Roosevelt films
is similar in appearance, except its
screen is on the top Of the box.
The pictures will be on .16 MILL
meter film. The screens are SO
shielded that, even at a distance of
so feet and in ordinary light, the
pictures are quite easy to see.
Roosevelt says his films will be
visible to persons as far as 10 feet
away.
The protector is not unlike those
used for home movies. Mechanically,
the operation is different; the pro
jector is in the bottom of the box
and the picture is put onto the back
of the screen by means of mirrors,
The sound, of course, IS on a track
attached to the film. The box also
contains a cooling system.
Exhibitors told Roosevelt in Chi
cago recently that salacious films
were bound to get into some of the
machines. Roosevelt said he didn't
believe that that was much of g
problem; that police and censors
would soon put a stop to it.
81 suppose there will be some OBJ
jectionable films" he said here the
other day. Il hear YOU can buy
dirty movies now for stag parties
if you want them
Producer Sax says he'll keep in
decent films out of his machines in
this way: We'll put it in our con
tracts that if any Objectionable films
are put into III machines, vel.
take EN- back"