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Author Topic: Famous Projectionists Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 08-05-2000 02:34 PM                       While watching a show about Laurel and Hardy, I realized that Oliver Hardy had once been a projectionist. How many other projectionists can you recall, went on to become stars or personalities? Here's two more: Gene Autry Bill Girdler (director of "The Manitou", "Abby" and "Grizzly") ------------------ Better Projection Pays!  |  IP: Logged David Johnson Film Handler Posts: 54 From: Melbourne Vict Australia Registered: Oct 1999 posted 08-05-2000 06:02 PM                     What about Peter Sellers in the "Smallest show on earth" David  |  IP: Logged Rick Long Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 759 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Nov 1999 posted 08-05-2000 11:01 PM                     When you think about it, what better job could there be for an aspiring actor, director or cameraman than to begin as a projectionist? It gives one the opportunity to study the "experts" at work. In addittion it gives the succeeding artist a better understanding of how the finished product he or she makes will look on the screen, as well as a more complete understanding of the motion-picture process as a whole.  |  IP: Logged Tyler Skinner Expert Film Handler Posts: 115 From: Pa Registered: Nov 1999 posted 08-05-2000 11:37 PM                     David Fincher was a projectionist for a while.  |  IP: Logged Gordon H. Bell Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Long Beach CA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-06-2000 03:01 AM                        Marlon Brando for a couple of years did exactly as Rick Long suggests. Did you point him in the right direction when he was starting out Rick? Gordon Bell  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 08-06-2000 08:57 AM                     Of course, Buster Keaton in "Sherlock Jr." Well, I don't think he every had a projectionist job, but he was pretty techinal-minded, so I guess he could have been. No wonder Brando got fat. It was from eating at the local fast food places while projecting....  |  IP: Logged Gordon H. Bell Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Long Beach CA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-06-2000 10:13 AM                        OOPS! I pulled out the wrong name, I was actually referring to Orson Welles. Sorry. Now where did I put Reel 3? Gordon Bell  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 08-06-2000 12:46 PM                       Not people who played projectionists. I meant celebrities who had been real-life projectionists. (You guys!) ------------------ Better Projection Pays!  |  IP: Logged Martin Frandsen Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: Denmark, Europe Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-06-2000 01:52 PM                     Can you remember the projectionist in Kremlin who projected film for Stalin and parti-leaders? There was made a movie about him, do i can't remember if it was for television only. I beleave it was a true story, about a poor guy who was permitted entrance into the walls of Kremlin because he was a projectionist, if i remember correct the guy became good friends with Stalin.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-06-2000 05:48 PM                     Probably the most famous was the Head projectionist at Radio City Music Hall. Ben Olevesky. The second most famous would of course be the second in charge there, Bill NaFash. I don't know if either of these two are still around now though. Imagine having your screen replaced at least twice a year......and getting at least several cream of the crop lab prints to pick from(back when they used to know how to make prints!). Had to be a pretty cool job! Mark  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 08-06-2000 09:44 PM                       quote: Probably the most famous was the Head projectionist at Radio City Music Hall. Ben Olevesky What was he in? Was he a character actor? ------------------ Better Projection Pays!  |  IP: Logged Mike Heenan Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1896 From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 08-06-2000 09:59 PM                     The guy who was Stifler in American Pie, and also was in Road Trip, said on Jay Leno that he worked revisouly in a theatre in his hometown ,and ran the projectors, and did the popcorn job too. Not the most famous, but hes in a few movies so far.  |  IP: Logged Michael West Film Handler Posts: 67 From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Registered: Apr 2000 posted 08-06-2000 10:42 PM                        martin frandsen: i believe the film was called “the inner circle” - a really good film, i think so. and just to add to this topic the inventor of the century projector was a projectionist.  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-07-2000 08:14 AM                     I met Ben Olevsky in 1969. He retired about 1971 and was replaced by Bill Nafash who died about a year later. He was replaced by Bob Endres who stayed at RCMH until last year. I believe Olevsky died about 20 years ago. ------------------ Bob Throop  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-07-2000 11:17 AM                     Tim, I think you could say that back then Ben and Bill made the stars............ Mark  |  IP: Logged

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