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Author Topic: How old were you when you wanted to become a projectionist? Richard P. May Expert Film Handler Posts: 243 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Jan 2006 posted 10-26-2008 02:43 PM                     During junior high school, at about 14. Started with 16mm classroom films, and the school had 35mm Motiograph projectors, used in the auditorium during lunch in bad weather.  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-26-2008 04:21 PM                        Did AV Geek work in 6th Grade. Got a job as an usher my senior year of HS. Started working as a relief projectionist for Local 224 in DC/VA/MD in 1976 a few months before my 19th birthday. Moved to Montgomery in 1985 to run the Capri Theatre, so more of a projectionist emeritus these days;>  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-26-2008 08:06 PM                     When I was in the 6th grade and saw Sound Of Music in Todd-AO.  |  IP: Logged David Mann Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Bakersfield, Ca. USA Registered: Aug 2008 posted 10-26-2008 08:43 PM                     My folks bought an old Fox Theatre when I was seven.It had Magnarc Type G lamps with a generator, Simplex E-7's and SH-1000 sound heads. Simplex mono sound and Ampex 4 track mag stereo. I was a pain in Dad's butt for about 7 years wanting to run the booth. At 14, about 1978, Dad turned the booth over to me. Way too much fun. David  |  IP: Logged Tyler Potts Expert Film Handler Posts: 159 From: Anderson, SC, USA Registered: Sep 2008 posted 10-26-2008 11:39 PM                       I read Fight Club back in 8th grade before it came out (yes, I'm a young'un), finally having a cool character with the name Tyler made me want to.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 10-27-2008 08:15 AM                       My interest in the "mystery" behind the dancing beam of light was there from the very beginning - probably 4 years old - in 1965 or '66. When I consciously said, 'this is what I want to do'... I was probably 11, because after looking in through portholes at area drive-ins and studying intently for a good while (just like in Cinema Paradiso), and after sitting-in with a couple of operators on two distinct occasions, I finally made my first changeover at age 12, on 9/7/74. Big barrel Century C's on 9030s, running 6k reels (believe it or not), with (Ashcraft) RCA Dyn-Arcs behind them burning an 11mm trim. Never will forget it.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 10-27-2008 10:48 AM                        I remember watching Empire Strikes Back when I was 8 or however old I was when it came out. I noticed the beam of light coming from the booth going to the screen. When the movie was over, credits rolling and I was exiting, I noticed the beam of light was coming from a different projector than when it had started. I was all like "LOL WTF? I didn't notice them switchin' projectors on me. What kind of scam are they trying to pull here? I must solve this mystery." I getting pretty close to putting a lid on the case, too. I ended up being a projectionist at that very theater, but we only used one projector. There was a gutted tank-like one sitting next to it which was made by the same company who shaves my face. Interesting indeed!  |  IP: Logged Joe Tommassello Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 547 From: Coatesville, PA, USA Registered: Jan 2008 posted 10-27-2008 11:09 AM                  At six years old (1966 or '67) I realized there were changeovers occurring and that someone was up there running the show. Soon I started collecting 8mm and Super 8...silent at first then sound.` Started collecting 16mm in '78 or so. Added a 35mm booth with Super Simplex ('38) and RCA Soundhead in '95 and a Super Platter (?) acquired used from AMC in '97 or '98. The serial number on the platter was 38. About the same time (early '97) I was asked by a friend to fill in as a part time projectionist at the GCC Franklin Mills (original 10-screen location) and stayed with them for four years and two more theaters. I'd still be doing it if I didn't need enough money for both food AND shelter.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 10-27-2008 12:10 PM                    Around age 6 or 7 I had a Super 8mm projector, and I was hooked immediately. I even lugged that thing into my 3rd grade class a couple of times to show the digest versions of Empire Strikes Back, Jaws, and The Black Hole. I was the A/V kid in elementary school up through high school where I worked with 16mm. I worked with 16mm & 35mm in college for the one semester I was there (I flunked out because I spent too much time at the theater & the radio station). Then I went to AMC in 1989 at age 18 and was a projectionist within a year or so. Two years later I was helping the engineers setup booths for new theaters.  |  IP: Logged Ed Alvarado Film Handler Posts: 60 From: Fort Worth, TX,usa Registered: Oct 2004 posted 10-28-2008 04:47 AM                        ahh the booth I love the booth I started when I was 20yrs and this was back in 2001.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 10-28-2008 07:47 AM                     In elementary school I was fascinated by the windows at the back of the auditorium and why they were at different heights. Saw my first real booth at age 12. Was A/V geek in Jr./Sr. High. Threaded up XLs at age 15 when a local operator taught me how. Ran my first shows at 18.  |  IP: Logged Hans Van Der Vlist Film Handler Posts: 16 From: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Registered: Aug 2005 posted 10-28-2008 08:48 AM                     At the age of 12 I was allowed a look into the booth of the local CINEAC theatre ( which showed ,non stop, 50 minute programs of newsreels) and was hooked right away. I was about 14 years when I bought my first 8mm camera and an EUMIG 8mm projector. From that moment on I knew I wanted "to be in pictures". At the age of 16 I was allowed to become "volunteer apprentice projectionist" at the Thalia Theatre in Rotterdam. After being a 16mm and 35mm projectionist during my military service I got a job as salesman/technician with a filmshop that specialized in Super8 and 16mm. equipment. But my father wanted me to come and work with him in his drugstore where I've set up a Super 8 rental department. I am still working in the same place...only the Super 8 rental has since long gone. Still wanting to " be in film" I set up my own 35mm home cinema. Now I run a MEO5XB (Czech) 35 projector equiped with a 500 watt xenon running 6k reels. With my CP50 I can run now Dolby Stereo/ surround, Dolby SR and DTS. For 16mm. I use a BAUER P8 T400 with the powerful HTI lamp.( one never can have too much light). I also can run my DVD's with a Sanyo PLV-Z4 beamer but as you know the quality stays far behind 35mm quality ( it's really not 'FILM'). So now you know! Hans.  |  IP: Logged Damien Taylor Master Film Handler Posts: 493 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2007 posted 10-28-2008 09:37 AM                     I always wanted a job where I could barely afford to survive, work my ass off in 4000 degree rooms for little thanks, and clean with chemicals that make you sterile. So of course I was delighted when I found out such a job existed. I immediately applied, and when I went for an interview... well the interview went a little like this. Manager: You Damien? Me: Yes Manager: This is how you strike the lamp, thread the projector and work the lights. Ready to do it yourself? Not joking. This was all the way back in February 2008 when I was 21. Its been 8 months, and beside marquee night(formerly known as Wednesday), where I get to either A. Climb a 20 foot painters ladder to spell out BURN AFTER READ1NG or; B. Try to catch perspex letters in a milk crate, not square in the face. The job is pretty awesome. I think I'm glad that I work in at least a partly existent deco palace, rather than a hyper-plex. I now have Jedi-like reflexes for repairing failed lab splices mid movie and calming a buzzing rectifier with a swift booting. Very awesome job! My theater rocks Oh, and I've collected films and projectors for years.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 10-28-2008 10:46 AM                     When I was very, young - maybe 6 or 7 years old, I caught a glimpse of a projection room through the open door at the local theater. The big machines with turning reels and sputtering arc lamps held an immediate fascination for me. I don't know why, but I was 'hooked' I went to a Catholic school. The nuns used to give out little rosararies or prayer cards if it was your birthday. So, one year on my birtday I was presented with several prayer cards to pick from as my gift. I had it narrowed down to two cards- one showed a young boy driving a big steam locomotive, and one showed a young boy running a film projector. (Both accompanied by an ever-present Guardian Angel) This is the card I picked on that birthday in 1960. Who knows; if I'd picked the other card, mabye today I'd be driving a train! I began working (off the books)in 1968 for a projectionist who I'd befriended who had two jobs. He'd sneak me into the booth and pay me a few bucks to run the movies while he napped through most of the evening shift. That booth was equipped with Motiograph AA projectors and SH-7500 soundheads, Peerless Magnarc carbon-arc lamphouses powered by mercury-vapor tungar tube rectifiers and a Motiograph vacuum tube optical-magnetic sound systems. I was able to get into the union (Local 640 in NY) about 2 years later. The first films I remember running 'professionally' were "Funny Girl" and "Oliver" - both in 4track mag sound, which was still in use back then. I have a friend who is a professional magician. I summed up our respective carreers one day by telling him that "The only difference between us is that you do your magic at one end of a theater, and I do mine at the other" It's still magic to me.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 10-28-2008 03:03 PM                     Ahh good times... I was obsessed with film, movies, and projection every since I realized it wasn't a TV at the theater (maybe 8 or so?). When I was 16 I hung around with some pals that worked at a local theater and talked them into letting me learn to thread. Fell in love with the business then. First movie I built up was: The Banger Sisters  |  IP: Logged

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