my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Community   » Film-Yak   » Projectionist memoirs (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Projectionist memoirs Brent Francis Film Handler Posts: 84 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Nov 2008 posted 07-09-2010 07:37 AM                        Hi. Anybody know of good books about being a projectionist? I just read the imcomparable "Sleazoid Express" about working in the old Times Square exploitation theatres (tip - NEVER use the washrooms!) It was hysterically funny, and judging from some of these posts, people should be writing more stuff like that for us future booth heads.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 07-09-2010 09:12 AM                     There is a book titled "The Reel Mose". LC catalog #86-062367 ISBN: 0-9617510-0-2. Written by Earl Moseley it is subtitled "The autobiography of a motion picture theater projectionist".  |  IP: Logged Jim Bedford Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 597 From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer) Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-10-2010 11:56 AM                        How about Joe Redifer's "I Came, I Showed, I Left."  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-10-2010 12:40 PM                     Jim...that was not....ahem...about being a "projectionist"....per say.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-10-2010 01:48 PM                     Do a search for and get two books from the old days: James R Cameron's (no not the director) "Motion Picture Projection" (there are several editions) and also Robert A. Mitchell's Manual of Practical Projection. Both books were given to me by a deceased colleague and are full of valuable information (including optical theory) that still applies today.  |  IP: Logged Greg Anderson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 766 From: Ogden Valley, Utah Registered: Nov 1999 posted 07-10-2010 05:55 PM                        quote: Tony Bandiera Jr Both books were given to me by a deceased colleague... I don't mean to make light of your friend's death, but I sure hope he wasn't giving you gifts after he died. That's just wild!  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-10-2010 08:34 PM                     LOL Greg, believe me I am not offended and neither would my colleague be...I have stories from him involving undertakers, false teeth, a transgender person and the ongoing speculation of pre/post operation, his days running massage parlors and more. He was a great guy, very knowledgeable, fun to be around and would give you the shirt off his back. A valuable friend, and resource of information (and parts and equipment) and is missed by a lot of people. He could give Phil a run for his money in "coot" points. I would not be surprised if Phil and he knew each other.  |  IP: Logged Brent Francis Film Handler Posts: 84 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Nov 2008 posted 07-15-2010 03:08 PM                        Thanks.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 07-15-2010 09:23 PM                     I have a 1922 and a 1943 edition of Cameron's books. The silent era book is full of interesting history and facts on how projection began to that section of the presentation era. An interesting potiental product that was tried, but as always, didn't make it to the masses. It was a split reel that rested horizontally on top of the projector where the film was fed through the middle. The takeup reel was the same style-to be split apart to be used right back again on top of the proector. A nifty method of no rewinding film. First inceptions of our present day platter system-no rewinding film. The 1943 edition has three chapters on "Fantasound" - from inception to presentation. Plus the stuff on a new Simplex E7 with the dbl shutter-how it gives out more light than the conventional shutter and against Motiograph's barrel shutter. It's great reading..-Monte  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 07-15-2010 09:59 PM                     quote: Monte L Fullmer It was a split reel that rested horizontally on top of the projector where the film was fed through the middle. The takeup reel was the same style-to be split apart to be used right back again on top of the proector. A nifty method of no rewinding film. Is there a picture of this contraption?  |  IP: Logged Jack Theakston Master Film Handler Posts: 411 From: New York, USA Registered: Sep 2007 posted 07-16-2010 01:12 AM                     I thought I had linked to this here previously, but I guess not. The contraption was called the Feaster No-Rewind, although it wasn't the first invention of its kind (nor was it the last). http://www.thephotoplayer.com/feaster1.jpg http://www.thephotoplayer.com/feaster2.jpg http://www.thephotoplayer.com/feaster3.jpg Ultimately, what probably killed this idea time and time again was the brittleness of nitrate stock, even at the time.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 07-16-2010 01:19 AM                     Very interesting, but this forum requires all images be uploaded to the site, rather than linked to so that the archives can be preserved. Otherwise, sooner or later, that link will cease to work and that will destroy this part of the discussion.  |  IP: Logged Eric Robinson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 538 From: Santa Rosa, CA Registered: Jan 2005 posted 07-16-2010 01:28 AM                     I wonder what "Feaster people" look like  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-16-2010 06:27 AM                     I've seen a "PanOram" with a device like that...only it was for 16mm.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-16-2010 12:08 PM                     Wow, the first known use of the platter concept...(think about it folks before shooting off that it isn't.) Film fed from the center and wound in such a way to reload it still feeding from the center. quote: Steve Guttag I've seen a "PanOram" with a device like that...only it was for 16mm. I just dealt with one like it at the Orange County Museum of Art here in So Cal, they had a short film in 16mm on endless projection. The real shocker was that the device (which was a series of rollers sandwiched between smoked plexiglass) cost them $1,500.00 !!  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.