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Being a 20 plex, and quite often running both flat and scope double/mixed features on one screen, we did the following. We just set the slide projectors on all screens with the masking in the scope format. It looked good and was well centered. Of course we had to change masking between shows--did we have complaints--none that I can remember. Just be sure that the formats and masking are in the correct formats, otherwise you will have complaints!

As far as turrets. Personally, I do not like them, but they are here. I remembered Projectionists who removed lenses at the end of the day and put them into cases with moisture absorbing packs. How many of you use lens caps? Automatic turrets and aperture changers are a lazy way out and are a bunch of !

Sadly the local Multiplex Cinema where I am, built about 10 years ago had this problem and still lacks proper side masking only top!.

can't think anything worst than watching a movie in cinemascope with the main picture smaller than the ads & trailers, even the local Art House that I work for a while had top masking in the small screen, this was at a Theatre that claimed they were the best place to see a movie.

Good luck...

I am thinking, that if you have the C.E. FM-35 failsafe/cue detector, you are likely to have a bouple of unused cues hanging out on your system. That unit has 8 possible states:

0 - No cues. Normal running.
1 - Outboard cue only.
2 - Center cue only.
3 - Center and outboard cues.
4 - Inboard cue only.
5 - Inboard and outboard cues.
6 - Inboard and center cues.
7 - All three cues.

(I always think of them as if they were a 3-bit binary number.)

Usually, only three or four of them are being used and the others aren't even connected to anything. Assuming that your automation is 24v/low voltage, I'd think it'd be a simple matter to run wires from the cue detector out to the switches that manually control the masking. Just hook them in parallel. That way all you have to do is put cues on the film in the proper places.

Now for the strategy...
Make sure you tell the bosses that you CAN do this and ask for their permission before you do. Total up the cost of the wiring and connectors that you might need. Add a few bucks for good measure. If they know they have to spend money to do this they are likely to decide against it.
Use lots of words like "MODIFY" and "REWIRE". For instance, say, "Oh yeah! I can modify the projectors! All I have to do is rewire a few things." Those words are scary to people who don't understand machines.
Once you get their attention give them the "knockout punch"... Say, "All I have to do is retrain all of the people who run the projectors how to do it..."
Make like you are really eager to do this thing and go into a lot of detail about how you are going to do it.

We all know how bosses are. After you give them this "treatment" I am willing to bet they'll change their minds.

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One way to identify the lights that are shining on the screen is to get close to the screen and cast a shadow with a pole. Eliminate or reposition the lights until there are no shadows on the dark screen.

I've worked for Regal for three years. I opened a theatre last year, and the corporate trainer told us it is Regal policy (he never mentioned anything about CSM policy) to have the masking default back to flat after every show. I did not understand why, and he explained it is mainly for presentation reasons when the masking opens up when the show starts to make the screen wider. I defintely agree about not moving top masking, but I guess they just want to maintain a uniform polcy. (BTW, we had Strong CNA-150 automation, which was all digital and could be programmed to do just about everything except take a for you. It was just a matter of programming to keep the masking at scope or flat when it reads the show end cue.)

Some Regals have a slide manager from CSM come to the theatre every 2 weeks. At my current theatre, I am the slide manager, and I receive the slides by priority mail every 2 weeks. In either case, you should call them. They are very helpful. And I think you can order bulbs from them, too.