Monaro? Banana fritters and cream? That is one we don't have but I would love to see it!

The two versions that we have are what we know as the "Chompy ads", as the first version (early 1970's) had a song and theme that went "chomp, chomp, munch munch etc".

I also remember the colour version of a drive-in ad with Holdens from the late 1950's.

Well, (thanks for remembering, btw) I plan on using it as advertising for my drive-in (and intermission) video series. Alas, I must upgrade my computer first, in order to finish the videos... which means extra $$$ I don't have at present. As soon as that happens, though, I will go forth in a big way.

Yes, the new drive-in book's very good. Incidentally, I sent Don Sanders about 70 photographs for that book, and he only used 2. How about you? He did use 4 of the 7 stories I sent him (two of which were credited to the people they were about).

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Better Projection Pays!

By the way their website is www.wellfleetdrivein.com

Last night the projectors were fired up for testing using the original Enarc lamps after having been used only once in 1999. Everything worked fine and the projectors were very quiet, but both had noticable ghosting on the screen that adjustments should cure. The flat and scope lens are still the originals and were stored in the booth year round protected only by a coke cup!

Jim Boyd of Van Wert, Ohio provided the booth expertise for the testing and will be doing the upgrades. He had never been in this booth before but it was obvious by watching that he knew the equipment and felt like he had been there for years.

Thanks for telling us about the book! I gotta get it!!! P.S. I was at the Sky-Vue a couple weeks ago. Screen had work on it recently. Looks great! Opened week before Memorial Day Weekend.

Ken,
I know a Single Screen D.I. that uses a Super-Lumex w/2,000w bulb on a pretty big screen. If you're on the sides,it's a little dim. From front and center,it'll do.

I would hope that the 3kw is temporary. For driveins you really should have a 4kw.

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There's a damaged spot right in the center of the screen that has to be repaired before opening, and sections of the screen aged differently since the original screen was for flat prints and scope wings were added later. In daylight the difference between the original portion and the add-on is very visible, (looks like some type of plywood or fibreboard backing in 4x8 sheets) but at night it only shows up on lighter background images. Not sure yet how much screen repairs will be done this year.

My personal preference would be to keep a change-over operation (and possibly adding a platter for occasional use with either projector) and upgrade the lamps to 4kw but I'm not on the decision-making committee (only the volunteer free-labor committee). My way of thinking is that it might be easier to teach someone to properly clean, thread and operate a change-over than to teach someone how to build-up and makedown prints every weekend since initially, the drive-in will only operate on Friday thru Sunday except for any special private showing during the week. Unfortunately there is not enough room in the booth to add a platter and still keep both projectors. The only way that could happen is to remove the existing mens restroom and expand the booth to take over that space (a possibility since the existing restroom is too small anyway. And the operations committee seems to be set in their opinion that it will take someone less specialized to operate the platter system than a change-over system. I'm not so sure. I think it might take more film handling expertise to do make-ups than to operate a change-over). Also, they seem intent on having the operator also help out where-ever he is needed (snackbar) grounds security, etc).

The second projector will be removed and preserved for possible re-use later and for spare parts to keep the primary one operational. The only maintenance techs currently available have to travel several hours from somewhere in North Carolina (Cinex?? possibly).

"Only a 3kw lamphouse for a drive-in? Must be a tiny screen."

From the pictures I took (about 60), if the screen backing is 4x8 sheets the screen would be about 36x82, and the throw was estimated to be about 200 feet, maybe a little more but it wasn't measured. I'm not sure about this but I understand there is a length setting on the scope lens that was initialy set for 200 feet when it was installed for testing.

The reflected light from the center of the screen using the original carbon-arc with minimal adjustments measured from the booth window was about 1.2 lamberts (if that's the correct term), and it dropped off to .8 or .9 at the edges. The light from the other projector (also still carbon-arc and minimal adjustments) measured close to 2.2 lamberts with very little drop-off at the edges, and this lamp had damage to the reflector. The image produced by both projectors had a soft focus.

Both of the flat lens had the glue that holds the elements failing and both were dirty and scratched. The provider of the lamphouse and platter will also provide a better quality lens than the ones currently there.We're told the combination of replacement 3kw xenon and better lens will provide noticably more light.