Projector Changeover

[EllsworthBone]

I run the theater at Ellsworth AFB, SD. A few years ago, the old supervisor talked management into buying a 3-level platter. What a waste. We show a movie once, rarely twice. Like to get rid of that whale and its table. I assume you just opened the bulb compartment to show where it is cause to us, it is really obvious when the bulb is on.

[davidgrahamscott]

@EllsworthBone All be digital soon anyway...probably no projectionists left within a couple of years. Don't like the platters that much to be honest. Using a tower system and we have one digi proj on site.

[Trund27]

There is something quite beautiful about movie projectors. As a movie lover i lust over such things.

[BuckFiftyCutty]

Cool as hell!

[Dimension150]

The curtain closing at the end reminds me of the Admiral Theater in West Seattle in it's heyday! Thanks.

[AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Thanks for the posting.

I've been looking for the ABC Selly Oak were I used to work in the mid 1960's we had Wsetrex machines with Peerless arcs just like you're showing here.

The Oak Cinema was a 1500 seater and I can remember them having to stand at the back when we were packed but I can't find any trace of it on the net other than one 1920's picture. Boy I wish I'd taken some pictures of it all.

By the way, 41 years on and I can still flinch on the first cue. Kind Regards ...Andy

[profwaggstaff]

The film would go back to the distributors to use at other theaters, or to destroy if the film condition was bad.

[RecordGuy3434]

@Ibringthetruth

I think they would have a film vault for some of the films, and they might swap films with other theatres for them to use...

[Electron1944]

@RecordGuy3434  Films are hired from distributors and have to be returned.

[Ibringthetruth1]

nice vid

and what do you they do with the reels after the last showing? sell them? keep them?

[MovieTech]

@Ibringthetruth1 They get returned to the distributor.

[rotorznwingz]

Just curious, what's the point of verbally calling out "Cue" at the first dot as in this video?

[profwaggstaff]

@rotorznwingz - Really no point at all. This was 1987, I was younger and for some reason I thought I would point it out verbally. Rather pointless.

[profwaggstaff]

@rotorznwingz - Really no point at all. This was 1988, I was younger and for some reason I thought I would point it out verbally. Rather pointless.

[gogsy]

I did changeovers when I first started as a Projectionist at the Gaumont ,South Shields during the 80's ,I'm glad we got a tower in soon after!!!

[later66]

I am so glad I never have to do that haha.

[MANTLEBERG]

Done it got the tee shirt

[biografmand]

Those were the days, my friend.....

[jpardue]

Memories here, I struck many an arc in a Peerless Magnarc lamp house. Thanks for the post!

[Ampex196]

Just had a closer look. Are they Simplex??

[profwaggstaff]

Ampex196, Yes they are Simplex XL's installed in the 1950's, with RCA sound.

I really liked the Peerless. I rarely had to touch them.

Thanks for commenting!

[Ampex196]

Many thanks, SImplex are rarely seen in the UK but there is a pair very local to me that were last used in 1961. The Ritz, at Forest Hall is now bingo though most original cinema features are still intact. The Simplex mechs probably date from early 1940s, soundheads are BTP (British Talking Pictures).

You can see Peerless arcs in one of my posts, fitted to Philips DP75 (Norelco) mechs.

[Electron1944]

@profwaggstaff Fully agree about the Peerless, brilliant lamps and once the feed was set up correctly they would run without needing any adjustment. 12" negative and 18" positive carbons as I recall. We ran at 65 amps and had the best light at 190 foot throw in the County. This was the Playhouse, Dewsbury.

[thunderclapharry]

@Ampex196 I think they are Simplex, I worked on simplex in the late 60s

with the good old Peerless Magnarcs , the best !

[Ampex196]

Many thanks for posting.

I can't see all of the mechs, but I'm guessing that it's Century with RCA sound??

The Peerless Magnarc, on the other hand, is instantly familiar to me. Manufacture was lisenced out (many in the in the UK were made via J Frank Brockliss).

Until Nov. 2006 I was running a pair of very old Magnarcs made by J E Mc Auley of Chicago. I loved them! They both survive but are sadly no longer in use!

[yodaman0825]

That projector seems WAAAY more quiet than the ones in there now!

[DavidRayner1947]

I worked as a projectionist for many years on Kalee 12's with Peerless Magnarcs and took many thousands of changeovers in my time and it looked just like this. Brings back many memories. I should think that there are very few traditional cinemas with the two projector set up left now. They're all multiplexes with one projector per screen running off giant cakestand feeder systems (also known as towers).

[crazybobdj]

One night, back in the summer of 1984,

I had the pleasure and honor of having Jim Laymon give me a personal guided tour of the Strand & Moorlyn theatres. They were showing " Gremlins"

I worked as a projectionist at many Atlantic City area theatres & drive-ins from 1969 to 1988.

[yodaman0825]

Oh.. how that theater has been bastardized...

[GKSIMPLEX]

Fantastic Arc Carbons Peerless !! Great Job !