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Topic: A Drive-in Not To Be Missed

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-05-2000 06:56 AM

Screen Luminance for Drive-In Theatres is specified by SMPTE Recommended Practice RP 12-1997. Ideally, it should be 16 footlamberts +/- 2 footlamberts. Recognizing the challenge of lighting a huge outdoor screen, "when maximum compromise must be made", it should be no less than 4.5 footlamberts.

In general, use as much power as you can get. I recall burning 11 mm rotating carbons at 120 amperes and 65 volts, or about 7800 watts, to light a 100 x 42 foot screen. A "cold mirror" and water-cooled jaws and gate were mandatory.

I remember the effect of rain or moisture on the screen was like a "gain" surface. If the moisture was coated evenly, the luminance was brighter than on a dry screen. Usually, the rain caused uneven streaks, however.

Projecting on a foggy night was an experience! Likewise thunderstorms! Rats were a constant problem on the lot (discarded food), and occasionally in the booth.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

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Joseph Pandolfi
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 213
From: Milford, CT.
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-06-2000 05:05 PM

By the way I forgot to mention the projectionist told me, he is running 9000 watts at 150 amps at the Wellfleet drive-in and has a backup DC generator.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-06-2000 05:56 PM

If he is useing xenon at 150amps then it would be 6000 watts
If he was carbon that is in the ball park

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Colin Wiseley
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 123
From: Blacksburg, VA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 06-09-2000 06:25 PM

The Roanoke Times, the local paper in our area, had an article on the front page of the Entertainment section today about the Hull Drive-In. It had a picture from the inside the booth of Jim Boyd and one of the projectors. You don't see that on the front page of a newspaper section too often. You can read the article at:
http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story94962.html

Unfortunately they didn't post the picture too

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Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com

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Joe Smith
Film Handler

Posts: 56
From: Dale City, Va. USA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 06-09-2000 08:17 PM

For a few pics of the Hull's Drive-in in Lexington, Va., from Jun 2nd when Jim Boyd was there, check out the link below. Click on the message immediately below the picture of the Mid-Atlantic states about how to save a drive-in. Pic number 7 is of both projectors.

I'll have more pics for Brad to post as soon as I can pick out a few and send 'em, and hopefully some from their grand re-opening night which is still projected to be 30 Jun.
http://members.xoom.com/RKofVA/driveins/frames.htm

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Chris Erwin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 195
From: Olive Hill,KY
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 06-10-2000 09:35 AM

Tim,

Sorry so long for a reply! As far as I could tell,it's fixed. The surface looks almost brand new! The back screen is in good shape too.

--Chris

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 06-10-2000 12:54 PM

Chris:

COOL! Did they retain the white house shingles or completely resurface with something else?

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Better Projection Pays!

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Chris Erwin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 195
From: Olive Hill,KY
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 06-10-2000 11:53 PM

They kept the shingles. Looks good. I've gottta go see one there this summer. They're running mostly 2nd run,but once in a good while will open one. Hey,what can you can for $5 a carload always?

--Chris

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 09-19-2005 12:25 AM

It has been 1926 days since the last post.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-19-2005 12:25 AM

Bump.

I just spent a most enjoyable weekend shooting a short documentary about this drive-in. F-T member John Vincent and his employees were extremely friendly and helpful and both the drive-in and the adjacent indoor four-plex are beautifully maintained. This is a true quality operation.

(With any luck, I'll have the film edited in 6-12 months and, after it makes the festival circuit rounds, I'll make sure that Brad gets a copy to make available as a download.)

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Phil Blake
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 558
From: esperance western australia
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 09-20-2005 05:30 AM

Joseph I have my own personal web site attached to my server , Having started my projection career at the drive in some 30 years ago i am glad i captured some of the history on film .
david Kilderrys site is well worth having a look at.

I cannot post my site address here as it is not a stand alone site , if you search yahoo on pink lake drive in you will find a site hosted at westnet which is the home of my drive in history.

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Joseph Pandolfi
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 213
From: Milford, CT.
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 09-27-2005 07:45 PM

Thanks for the bump up on my article. Scott I do like to have a copy or view it at a Festival if in the Boston, MA. area. I try to visit one of the two remaining drive-in's left in CT on a yearly basis, but there is no comparison to the one up in Wellfleet. There is another drive-in I found in Milford, New Hamphsire that does an excellant presentation. They also have a web site. that explains everything of what goes on in the projection booth with lamphouse and projector diagrams in detail.

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