While you may be correct in some people 'assuming' that we can just 'rewind the film' (i get 'rewind the VCR or Laser Disc' question more often, however) I feel that it would be better to use a *VINTAGE* (a word I should have used in the previous post) projector with a converted carbon-arc lamp (like a Strong X-16-no 'modern looking' xenon lamps) with a lobby card or poster nearby explaining that this is how it *used to be done* (this might eliminate *some* of the 'assumptions' that we still use reels and have an option to rewind). As far as the issue of having to rewind and rethread 6000' reels and hampering the operator's efficiency, there's two ways to overcome this: Use two 6000' trailer reels and as one runs out, change it out with the second reel and go upstairs and rewind the first one, etc etc... or train someone on the floor staff (or management-especially if its someone that 'wants to learn' projection but you wouldn't get them within 1000' of the 'real' booth) to thread and clean the vintage machine as part of their duties when they are free to do so, Unless you are running a 30-plex with 5 minute staggered showtimes just about any projectionist should be able to handle running both the multiplex booth and the trailer projector. Anyways, first impression notwithstanding, platters and 'modern'projection equipment look pretty dull, at least the vintage machine does have the 'antique' flair to it. We plan on doing just that once we get a place with enough lobby space to make it possible.

Just a thought...

Aaron

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Some Regal theatres do this, although it's usually a rear-projection setup, with the actual equipment (usually a Simplex XL or Brenkert, with regular platter and 1kw lamp) in the regular booth.

The idea of having the equipment in the lobby itself is pretty intriguing, actually, if it can be positioned so that curious and annoying customers can't walk right up to it and start playing with it (or so that annoying people like me won't be tempted to fix focus or framing!).

The "vintage" idea is a good one and is probably a great way to re-cycle some older equpiment that wouldn't be appropriate for the "real" booth. There could be several 6000' reels which could be changed as required (and a simple automation system with just and "end of show" cue to cut the sound and close the changeover before the tail runs through. This would take up less space than a platter system and the reels could be rewound in the regular booth to avoid the "why can't you rewind the _regular_ movies?" question.

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The Kinoton uses delrin skates and pad so the filth associated with conventional gates isn't there...also on reverse the gate pulls back to the tension isn't there. Lastly, Kinoton has a custom bracket for the Kinetronic's film cleaner so the film would be clean twice per showing.

It is the best system out there.

Steve

Platters may be a bit more difficult for people to learn how to operate, but platters do not scratch film, careless or unskilled projectionists do.

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Would that theatre with the projectors on the platform have been an old Mid-States built in the mid 70's? There was one in Columbus, and the prints were always filthy. They had some kind of space-age automation console that never worked attached.

This theatre even ran 70mm in the open. Smoke and popcorn grease were just sucked over to the film.

Mark Lensenmayer
(Apologies for being off topic.)

You know how you usually find little problems right while you are threading? With c/o's you have time to stop threading and fix, clean, adjust, or whatever. With platters, often there's little time between shows for maintaince.

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