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Author Topic: Who uses platters? Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-25-2002 06:50 PM                        Specifically, which screening rooms and single-screen theatres use platters? Why? When did they convert (if previously a c/o house) and is the second projector still in place? (We can assume that the vast majority of multi-screen theatres use platters, so don't reply to comment about multiplexes, please. I'm only asking about single-screen houses and screening rooms. Thanks.)  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 12-25-2002 07:42 PM                     Why the fabulous Film-Tech Screening Room has a platter! I could easily name at least ten thousand screens with platters, but since you ONLY want to hear about screening rooms and single screens, let me think... Granada Greenville in Dallas had a demon platter from hell, but it's now closed. The Lakewood Theater in Dallas also uses a platter. That's about it, but then there are no single screens in Dallas other than these two.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 12-25-2002 08:11 PM                        The "historic" single-screen McDonald Theatre in downtown Eugene ran on a platter since at least circa 1995, until it was "repurposed" about 1 1/2 years ago as a live concert venue. I'm not sure about prior to 1995; however since Act III was running the McDonald as well as other multiplexes in Eugene, it would make sense for all their screens in the area to be plattered so they could shuttle prints around. I'm thinking the newspaper reported that Regal sold all the projection equipment to the new operators, but I'm not positive about that. At least after Act III renovated it in 1995, there was only 1 projector in the booth. (Act III installed all 3 digital sound formats there in 1995, and the big grand-reopening after the renovation was "Pocahontas" in SR-D. They also tried to get it THX-certified but the balcony made it very problematic).  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-25-2002 08:28 PM                        The Continental in Denver which used to be a single screen eventually began to use a platter. Not sure exactly when. But awhile after that the theater was converted into a 6 plex. No, they did not slice up the big auditorium into 6 smaller ones, they built 5 new auditoriums around the original 90 foot (or is it 95? Not sure) big screen. It used to have 2 Norelco AA2's. One is still there. But a Christie 35GPS is used instead as the Norelco collects dust. I don't know what they did with the other Norelco.  |  IP: Logged Jesse Skeen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1517 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 12-25-2002 08:36 PM                     Davis had one single-screen that was slated to close when the new 6-plex opened 13 years ago, but ended up being closed for a few months and re-opening with remodeling in the auditoruim but not much in the booth. It opened with changeovers in 1968 and had a platter installed in 1979 (I belive the platter there was a Christie 50th Anniversary edition!) When I started working at the 6-plex, they had the projectionist there run about 2 blocks down to the single screen to thread up the show, which was then started with a downstairs start button. Complaints about the trailers being loud caused management to have the projectionist start the show there manually, adjusting the volume for the trailers, though the schedule didn't always allow time to do this so often it was just started from upstairs then the projectionist would run back to the other theater to start another show in 5 minutes! That was one of the funnest parts (for me, not anyone else who worked there) of working there- when they finally gave up and closed the single-screen in 1999 (after building a new 5-screen elsewhere in town) they started using a second person there and having the projectionist at the 6-plex just stay there.  |  IP: Logged John Westlund Expert Film Handler Posts: 204 From: Burney, CA, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 12-25-2002 09:04 PM                     The Mt. Burney Theatre (that I work at) is a single screen that uses a Christie AW3R.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-25-2002 09:23 PM                     Joe said....."I don't know what they did with the other Norelco." I believe it went to Casper Wyoming!! Casper is home to more DP-70's than any other town(except L.A. perhaps)in the U.S. Don't remember how many screens are in town, but all have DP-70's on them. What a fun place to go service!!! If you're ever in Casper and have never seen a DP-70 in action this is the place....... Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Bernie Anderson Jr Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: Woodbridge, New Jersey Registered: Apr 2000 posted 12-25-2002 09:58 PM                        As a operator that has worked in many single screen theatres, what would be the purpose of one projector? Why? Let's say you have a sold out show of a 1000 people and you strip a gear or the lamp doesn't light. Now you're screwed! But, if you had another machine you wouldn't loose the show. The Bethlehem Drive In in PA is a prime example. At that time we were running two features (3 shows a night: 8:30, 10:30 & 12:30-you saw the sun rise at this theatre at the end of the shift) we were running BX100s on RCA sound with Core-lites. One of the machines went down on Friday night. The place was packed. Well, although you had a lot of little intermissions (we got our threading time down to 45sec. a reel) the show went on and we finished up the night without giving out one pass or money back. Single screens and single projectors just don't make sense.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-25-2002 10:00 PM                        My single-screener has a platter (Christie AW3). We converted in 1980. There are two other single-screens within 100 miles of here, both with platters...the Montana Theatre in Miles City, and the Centre Cinema in Hardin. Both were converted in the last two years or so. The Centre has a Big Sky platter, don't know about the Montana.  |  IP: Logged Ray Brown Expert Film Handler Posts: 111 From: Dayton, WA, USA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 12-25-2002 10:51 PM                        The Liberty Theater in Dayton (where I spend alot of time) has a AW3R. Single screen, 150 seats.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-25-2002 11:17 PM                     Its pretty easy to know who uses platters and who doesn't. Just subtract all the theatres that were listed in the Change Over House Thread from all the rest of the theatres in the US and those are the ones that use platters....there will be a few big reel transports dispersed in there too but probably less than 3%. Mark  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-25-2002 11:49 PM                        What is the difference between AA2 and DP70? Same thing? Everyone always called the projector(s) and the Continental "Norelco AA2's".  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-26-2002 12:53 AM                     Philips manufactured the DP-70 which became the Universal 70/35 and then the Norelco (North American Philips) AA-II after a few improvements and being the first projector to receive an Academy Award for the year 1962. Visit Thomas Hauerslev's www.dp70.com for information overload.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-26-2002 07:49 AM                     Not so fast there Mark G. Nobody claimed the theatres listed in the C/O thread were comprehensive...For instance, there is the North Carolina School for the Arts...their theatres are open to the public, there are three screens, all changeover and all 20-minute reels on 35mm. They are also 16 and 70mm capable. I just thought about the screens for about 30 seconds and let it go at that. Steve  |  IP: Logged Bernie Anderson Jr Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: Woodbridge, New Jersey Registered: Apr 2000 posted 12-26-2002 07:57 AM                        Still, no one has mentioned why their single switched over to a platter and blew out the other machine.  |  IP: Logged

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