the change over cue marks were in the upper right hand corner of the screen, they are still there, no matter what type of projector is used. you can even see them on tv sometimes. worked like a charm.
That's what I'm talking about - great video! I remember spending a lot of time in the projection booth in 1977-79 in my father's theater and then running the projectors in 1987 in another of his theaters.
Been there, done that! Not in Tx But I worked projectors in a drive in in WV when I was 19. One Friday night about 11:30 I was getting ready for a changeover when I noticed smoke coming out of the back room where the motor-generator (DC power for the arcs) was! Whole friggin booth filled with smoke and started spilling out the vents. Owner saw it from the concession stand at the back and just about freaked! Those were fun times for sure!
A little ways away from where I was... Montgomery/Charleston area. My father owned a theater back in 1977-79 and we'd travel to pick up movies as they were coming off the last showing.
Small world! I used to be the Altec sound service man for the drive-ins at Weston (Jane Lew), Grafton, and Middlebrook (I think that was the town... had the Ellis Restaurant on the property - there was a great old timer there who was projectionist, one of the best I've ever seen in 35 years). I worked with Jim Henderson, Gray Barker, Mrs. Lovett, and the fellow at The Park d/i, which was off of Rt. 20, near Clarksburg. It's long gone now, though.
I don't know... not when I knew him he didn't (1987-ish last time I saw him). He ran the Grafton D/I, the Manos Theatre, and the Capri Pizza Parlor, all in Grafton, where he also lived.
Ellis Restaurant and drive in was Bridgeport, WV. All gone now. Would be fun to bring back the drive in with high output digital projection and wireless surround sound, maybe HD radio receivers! But that kind of real estate is too valuable near most towns today! You would have to put in video games in the snack bar to make it pay!
I had to look it up. The Ellis was actually in Meadowbrook. The landlady lived in the screen tower & the restaurant served as the concession stand, which was actually out on Rt. 19. Like several WV D/Is, the Ellis had steel canopies over several ramps, so you could watch the movie in the rain without having to run your windshield wipers. The entrance was strange, too, in that you drove in underneath the projection beam to the screen. Good memories. Btw, it's still there on Mapquest satellite.
In fact, I'm thinking it may have been called the Meadowbrook Drive-In, and the Ellis Restaurant happened to be out front/next door (which had a rear entrance for theatre patrons and was used as the concession stand). I have photos I took of the place from back then, gotta dig those out sometime.
CORRECTION! Okay, I've got it, now. It was the Sunset D/I, on Route 19&20, in Meadowbrook - halfway between Shinnston and Clarksburg. There is an Ellis Restaurant out front at the highway.
The Ellis Drive-In listed on Drive-insdotcom as being in Bridgeport must have been another theatre, because I don't recognize the pictures. But it's not the one in Meadowbrook.
That's the one I remember. The Ellis Brothers had several restaurants. The original drive in was behind the restaurant on what locals called "Bridgeport Hill" between Clarksburg and Bridgeport. The road in front was US Route 50. It was actually one of the better area restaurants in the area at the time. I vaguely remember the Sunset Drive-in at Meadowbrook. In those days they were a ways apart, although now with I77 it would only be 5 minutes!
THIS is what I would have done for a living if I had been born 30 years earlier. Carbon arcs and 2000 ft. reel changeovers. When xenon lamps and platters came along, I lost interest. Glad to see some theaters are keeping this art alive. Big thanks for posting this!
Pana Illinois which is in central Illinois where I grew up. every time I go home I visit Bill in the projection booth. He gets the carbons from China but he don't like them
Wow, Strong Moguls still in operation! Where IS this theatre? Where are they getting carbon?
Bet it's been a while since they've been able to get parts for those lamps, too! I think Wolk's been out for several years.
Nice booth compliment: Century C projectors, and looks like RCA 1040 soundheads (although those are kinda crappy at this late date - can't beat the Century's, though). Thanks for posting.
Taking a changeover soon becomes second nature - you don't even think about it! If you're nervous you're more likely to make a mistake, (though any operator who claims to have never missed a motor cue is probably telling a porkie)!
the change over cue marks were in the upper right hand corner of the screen, they are still there, no matter what type of projector is used. you can even see them on tv sometimes. worked like a charm.
tundratomo 1 year ago
Is there something on the picture when it tells the projectionist to switch? For a 1940's projector, what format is it in? 16:9? 1.33:1?
Rlotpir1972 1 year ago
cool.. my 13 year old son is now learning the trade in a 1930 theatre with projectors the same era that burn carbon rods for light.. fascinating ....
fjbutch 1 year ago
That's what I'm talking about - great video! I remember spending a lot of time in the projection booth in 1977-79 in my father's theater and then running the projectors in 1987 in another of his theaters.
EETech 3 years ago
Many thanks - it's always great to see film projected the 'proper' way.
Marble Double Eagle projection carbons are still widely available (made in Japan). Carbons aren't dead yet!!
Incidentally: 'Strong' manufactured the famous 'Super Trouper' carbon-arc follow spot; made even more famous by ABBA. Happy days !
Ampex196 3 years ago
Been there, done that! Not in Tx But I worked projectors in a drive in in WV when I was 19. One Friday night about 11:30 I was getting ready for a changeover when I noticed smoke coming out of the back room where the motor-generator (DC power for the arcs) was! Whole friggin booth filled with smoke and started spilling out the vents. Owner saw it from the concession stand at the back and just about freaked! Those were fun times for sure!
strong1235 3 years ago
What drive in? Went to many of them back in the day.
EETech 3 years ago
Skyline Drive in in Clarksburg, WV. Long gone to the developers!
strong1235 3 years ago
A little ways away from where I was... Montgomery/Charleston area. My father owned a theater back in 1977-79 and we'd travel to pick up movies as they were coming off the last showing.
EETech 3 years ago
Small world! I used to be the Altec sound service man for the drive-ins at Weston (Jane Lew), Grafton, and Middlebrook (I think that was the town... had the Ellis Restaurant on the property - there was a great old timer there who was projectionist, one of the best I've ever seen in 35 years). I worked with Jim Henderson, Gray Barker, Mrs. Lovett, and the fellow at The Park d/i, which was off of Rt. 20, near Clarksburg. It's long gone now, though.
pegbars 3 years ago
Jim Henderson? Wasn't the same guy who had the 7th Heaven in Cheylan was it?
EETech 3 years ago
I don't know... not when I knew him he didn't (1987-ish last time I saw him). He ran the Grafton D/I, the Manos Theatre, and the Capri Pizza Parlor, all in Grafton, where he also lived.
pegbars 3 years ago
Ellis Restaurant and drive in was Bridgeport, WV. All gone now. Would be fun to bring back the drive in with high output digital projection and wireless surround sound, maybe HD radio receivers! But that kind of real estate is too valuable near most towns today! You would have to put in video games in the snack bar to make it pay!
strong1235 3 years ago
I had to look it up. The Ellis was actually in Meadowbrook. The landlady lived in the screen tower & the restaurant served as the concession stand, which was actually out on Rt. 19. Like several WV D/Is, the Ellis had steel canopies over several ramps, so you could watch the movie in the rain without having to run your windshield wipers. The entrance was strange, too, in that you drove in underneath the projection beam to the screen. Good memories. Btw, it's still there on Mapquest satellite.
pegbars 3 years ago
In fact, I'm thinking it may have been called the Meadowbrook Drive-In, and the Ellis Restaurant happened to be out front/next door (which had a rear entrance for theatre patrons and was used as the concession stand). I have photos I took of the place from back then, gotta dig those out sometime.
pegbars 3 years ago
CORRECTION! Okay, I've got it, now. It was the Sunset D/I, on Route 19&20, in Meadowbrook - halfway between Shinnston and Clarksburg. There is an Ellis Restaurant out front at the highway.
The Ellis Drive-In listed on Drive-insdotcom as being in Bridgeport must have been another theatre, because I don't recognize the pictures. But it's not the one in Meadowbrook.
pegbars 3 years ago
That's the one I remember. The Ellis Brothers had several restaurants. The original drive in was behind the restaurant on what locals called "Bridgeport Hill" between Clarksburg and Bridgeport. The road in front was US Route 50. It was actually one of the better area restaurants in the area at the time. I vaguely remember the Sunset Drive-in at Meadowbrook. In those days they were a ways apart, although now with I77 it would only be 5 minutes!
strong1235 3 years ago
THIS is what I would have done for a living if I had been born 30 years earlier. Carbon arcs and 2000 ft. reel changeovers. When xenon lamps and platters came along, I lost interest. Glad to see some theaters are keeping this art alive. Big thanks for posting this!
steverabb 3 years ago
I kinda see why Bill wants to do it this way...doesn't have to splice the film and having a second projector in case of failure.
southjk 3 years ago
checkout the other video showing Bill thread the film
southjk 3 years ago
Pana Illinois which is in central Illinois where I grew up. every time I go home I visit Bill in the projection booth. He gets the carbons from China but he don't like them
southjk 3 years ago
Wow, Strong Moguls still in operation! Where IS this theatre? Where are they getting carbon?
Bet it's been a while since they've been able to get parts for those lamps, too! I think Wolk's been out for several years.
Nice booth compliment: Century C projectors, and looks like RCA 1040 soundheads (although those are kinda crappy at this late date - can't beat the Century's, though). Thanks for posting.
pegbars 3 years ago
I'll love to pay Texas and you all a visit sometime.
jefferyb304 3 years ago
It's amazing to think how many times he's looked for the changeover warning dots on so many movies.
retrochad 3 years ago
Taking a changeover soon becomes second nature - you don't even think about it! If you're nervous you're more likely to make a mistake, (though any operator who claims to have never missed a motor cue is probably telling a porkie)!
Ampex196 3 years ago