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Author Topic: Old Timers Gary Crawford Expert Film Handler Posts: 200 From: Neptune NJ USA Registered: Nov 2003 posted 11-25-2003 12:19 PM                     Since I'm new here, I thought I'd inquire as to the oldtimers in residence. I started in 1972 (at 17 years of age) as the relief projectionist in the Asbury Park NJ area. We had 13 theatres in our IATSE jurisdiction (plus 3 more in the next local's area I worked). They were ALL single-screen, two-projector, arc lamp operations. A few were circa 1929, the last updates were Western Electric sound systems. Some of the places were old palaces from the 1920-1930s, balconies, full stages, etc., plus 3 drive-ins. As relief man I got to work in all of them before being assigned my "own" booth. Wouldn't trade those days away for anything.  |  IP: Logged Gordon Bachlund Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 696 From: Monrovia, CA, USA Registered: Aug 1999 posted 11-25-2003 12:26 PM                        Gary, I started in much the same way in the 1950s, and continued working relief through my college days and for a while thereafter. Then, in 1972, a friend and I re-opened two closed neighborhood houses and ran them successfully for several years, finally closing down in 1976. Both had carbon arc changeover booths. Those were the days!  |  IP: Logged Gary Crawford Expert Film Handler Posts: 200 From: Neptune NJ USA Registered: Nov 2003 posted 11-25-2003 12:54 PM                     Yessir Gordon, I miss those days! We had 2 in the area that still had 3 projectors. Run the cartoons and coming attractions on #3. They also had effects machines that STILL WORKED! One place was an atmospheric and the two Brenographs still worked and we projected moving clouds on the ceiling. Every last one of the places (except for the drive-ins of course) had working curtains. Something about presenting a SHOW (as opposed to just showing a movie) in those old barns! Those old places had charm. We have a modern Loew's monster-plex near here that I visited to pick up a print. I was not impressed. That place had all the charm of an airport terminal.  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 11-25-2003 02:49 PM                     Started in '45 as an usher and "Marquee Boy" at the California theatre (later named the UA) in Pomona, California where my dad was projectionist. Became a union operator (I.A. Local 577 San Bernardino, CA) and got my own booth at the State theatre in that same city in '50. After service in the Air Force I chose to work as a relief operator for various locals up and down the west coast from Long Beach, CA to Santa Maria, Sacramento, San Jose, Seattle and Everett in both drive-ins and hardtops. Operated just about every brand of projector and lamphouse you can name. All were carbon arc/changeover two machine operations except the Crest in Sacto which had three machines. I used the third for trailers and shorts. Left the booth in '70 but occasionally worked and kept abreast of the changes in the industry through trade journals. Currently planning to re-inter the field by opening theatres in rural and small town areas.  |  IP: Logged Paul Goulet Master Film Handler Posts: 347 From: Rhode Island Registered: Jan 2000 posted 11-26-2003 12:48 PM                        HEY OLD-TIMERS! How about posting this in the "WHo the Heck Are you Thread"?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-26-2003 12:55 PM                     Yes, please do. Thread closed  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-26-2003 04:43 PM                     You mean, 'The "WHO THE HECK ARE YOU??" guy...' with NO MEMBER PHOTO!  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-26-2003 06:03 PM                     Yup, that's the guy. Clearly an evil fellow.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 11-26-2003 06:37 PM                        I think he should send in a member photo, or we delete his thread.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-26-2003 09:10 PM                     Hey, that's a good idea. What does everyone else think?  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-26-2003 09:28 PM                        I think we should make the forums run slower for people who don't have member pics.  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-26-2003 09:45 PM                     We should re-institute the member pic requirement for the chatroom.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-26-2003 09:47 PM                        That won't annoy people that don't go in the chatroom though.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-26-2003 10:46 PM                     Who's for throttling the bandwidth down to about 5kbps for anyone without a member picture?  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-26-2003 11:10 PM                     Everyone should experience 300 baud at least once in their lifetime. No, wait. Members without photos should only be able to access the site with Lynx. Or ... we should make them browse the forums with this color scheme:  |  IP: Logged

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