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Author Topic: Janitors in the Projection Booth Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-22-2002 10:00 AM                     I don't think it is a good idea. Unfortunately, many booths were not designed with security in mind. Some of ours were like that. Janitors have to enter the booth to turn on the cleaning lights, and some janitors like to turn the sound systems on so they can listen to music. Several theatres I have been associated with used the "panic" facility of the house light dimmers for cleaning lights because the theatre was never equipped with cleaning lights. Some of the theatres have suffered from broken buttons or brightness controls moved beyond their mechanical limits in the dimmers, and some sound equipment was damaged because of improper start-up procedures for one reason or another. Other things have happened as well, such as missing tools, flashlights, and other supplies.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 11-22-2002 10:55 AM                        The last cinema company I worked for had (at all the sites I saw) cleaners' lights that were operated from a switch in the auditorium, precisely so that cleaners did not have to go in the box. The problem was that ushers would switch them on during the credits (while customers were still watching them) to start cleaning the auditoria. In one site it got to the stage where I was having to switch them off at the breaker in the projection box during the day, and of course if you forgot to switch the breaker on again before going home, then next morning the cleaners were screwed.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 11-22-2002 11:25 AM                        Our cleaning lights are in the booth. We turn them on before we leave for the night and turn them back off when we arrive ready to begin a fresh new day of fabulous movies and exciting adventures!  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-22-2002 12:30 PM                     The manager at one of the theaters I worked at thought it would be a good idea to have the janitors wax the floors upstairs. Sounds like there's no harm in that, right? The next morining, the booth smelled of stale smoke, there were cigarette butts on the floor, the lower deck of one of the platters had a dent in the side, and any foreign particles that were left on the floor (hair, film frames, etc.) were waxed right into it!! Another incident happened at my friend's theater that threaded their prints overnight for the next day. They also kept some cleaning supply stock in the booth. The result? A half-assed cleaning job by the janitors and an unscheduled 4:30am show of one of the prints. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Jennifer Osborne Film Handler Posts: 27 From: Columbus, IN, USA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 11-22-2002 12:38 PM                     Recently our manager decided taht it would be a good idea to have the floor in our booth re-waxed. Apparently the janitors didn't have very good control of the machine that they were using, because the next day I found one of the projectors and the platter next to it had been moved. So the projector showed the image |------------| that far off the screen. They must have really hit the projector hard in order to move it, because it was a pain to move it back. . . and where is the manager at this time?? No where to be found.  |  IP: Logged Ken McFall Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 615 From: Haringey, London. Registered: Apr 2001 posted 11-22-2002 03:27 PM                     We used to have the same problem with the cleaners lights being turned on by the front of house staff during the end crdits.... So my solution was to change the switch to a two way switch, box and rear auditorium and to make the auditorium a key switch. NONE of the front of house have a key, only the managers. The cleaners have keys for the switches of course. Woe betide ANY manager that turns the lights on whilst a picture is still on screen.... As for the department being very secure, yes it is. Visitors must be admitted personally and not given a code. If the code is given out then I change it!! If the managers need to bring anyone to the box they MUST phone up first. The last thing I need is people milling about if I have a problem. It works well because I'm given the trust, respect and support to run my department. That way the only people who are in there are trained and responsible. Not that front of house staff are irrisponsible... As for carpet, I'm all in favour of it. Do you have any idea how long it takes to vacume, mop and then polish a 170' long projection room?  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-22-2002 03:58 PM                        Janitors don't belong in the booth, plain and simple. In older theatres, that may not be possible, but in modern 'plexes nearly all the closets/controlls they need to get to are made available downstairs. My janitorial crew (who has worked for us for many years) have the ability to go upstairs and turn the master switch on our Christie consoles in order to give them a little more light to clean with. Amazing that in the design layout, some houses (100 or so seats) only have ONE 400W MH cleanup light in the ceiling. And then, it's not even on center.... I guess the guys who drew the plans never worked in a theatre....  |  IP: Logged Ken McFall Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 615 From: Haringey, London. Registered: Apr 2001 posted 11-22-2002 05:24 PM                     Now if we're gonna have a go at designers.... may I be first in line. The building I work in has won many awards for design... apparently. However, for a user friendly building they must have come last!! What planet do these guys, and gals, live on?  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-22-2002 05:54 PM                     I think it's just about unanimous! Speaking of janitors in strange places, how about a Cinemark theater having the janitors clean concession at the end of the night? I'm talking food service equipment and popcorn kettle! And probably right after s/he cleans the toilet.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-22-2002 06:21 PM                     Adam, I don't know about Cinemarks vs. Regal or anyone else, but I think it depends on the actual staff of a given location as to whether that is a good idea or not. Some cleaning crews I would say would do a hundred times better job than the concessionists, while other theaters may have a good concession staff and sloppy janitors.  |  IP: Logged Gerard S. Cohen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 975 From: Forest Hills, NY, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 11-22-2002 10:02 PM                     I worked a 14-plex where the booth floor was cleaned while the projectionists were on duty. During a break between the matinee and evening shows, a team of four maintenance workers, walking abreast, pushed dry-mops the length of the 150 yard long booth. They returned with wet-mops, and did a thorough job on the tiled floor. Needless to say, the booth was spotless and there were no security problems.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-23-2002 12:34 AM                     Professional janitors rarely create any problems. They do the job fast and when they are done, it really looks good. Most professional services like that are licensed and bonded as far as I know. But...the people hired off the street are the ones who create the problems. You get what you pay for.  |  IP: Logged Demetris Thoupis Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1240 From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus Registered: Apr 2001 posted 11-23-2002 01:47 AM                     Well, Actually, in my opinion I don't think anyone else, not even the manager, should have access to the projection booth. NOONE can be trusted besides the projectionist. WHAT IS THERE TO BE CLEANED anyway since we are all "perfect" projectionists and our leaders never touch the floor  |  IP: Logged

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