Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Apr 2 Nitrate booth fire at the Stanford, Palo Alto

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Topic: Apr 2 Nitrate booth fire at the Stanford, Palo Alto

Tony L. Hernandez
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 158
From: Windsor, CO, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 04-17-2009 06:00 AM

Stephen: I understand and appreciate your concern. No, I have never seen a reel of nitrate burn however I have seen pictures of nitrate fires and even burned half a foot of it myself. My comment "everything went perfectly" simply reflected and summarized how that one isolated showing went. And it did go perfectly...that time, at least. I would be a fool to say that I believe or believed that if I fire broke out, that myself or the building would be perfectly safe....fires of any kind are most often devastating. However, my choice, be it wise or unwise, was based on the condition of the print, (which showed no signs of deterioration), the length of the print (10 minutes, 1k feet) and the resources I had on hand. At the time I decided that it was a gamble but a remarkably small one. I imagine that will be the last time I encounter a nitrate print and will not really mind if it is...I do take the risks and precautions at hand quite seriously.
I am grateful for your concern but I hope I have correctly expressed my thought process, be it correct or incorrect. It is often hard to clearly express things in witting.

Phil: I have been told, even by close friends, that my witting style is arrogant. I am not an arrogant person (quite a laid back and open minded person at that) but I believe my writting may reflect that as when I write, I state both facts and my personal beliefs in a very dry, matter-of-fact way. If you were to meet me in person or talk to me on the phone, I'm sure I would come across quite differently to you or anyone else reading this, just as I'm sure you would to me. That's why I made the comment about you knowing nothing about me...frankly, forums and emails suck when it comes to getting to know someone or their true thoughts on a subject.

Let me state to everyone once and for all: I do not shun or disregard the dangers of nitrate or the precautions and equipment necessary to run it. I do think there is a little too much hype about these dangers at times and by some individuals, however I am aware and concerned about these dangers none the less..
I appreciate the concern but I hope I have made my side somewhat clear. I also appreciate the tips and will remember some of them for the future.

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Rick Raskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Manassas Virginia
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 04-17-2009 07:49 AM

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-17-2009 08:34 AM

And Rick has the last word!

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Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-17-2009 09:03 AM

Is that the AFI Lady From Shanghi fire?

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Rick Raskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Manassas Virginia
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 04-17-2009 09:36 AM

It is. In the words of the late great business agent Leonard Sanford, "the night Sidney Herwood and Rick Raskin tried to burn the AFI down".

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Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-17-2009 09:51 AM

The scortch marks were still in the booth as a warning when I showed the nitrate print of the Claude Raines Phantom of the Opera in the 80's. And it did look really good. Of course, Carl smoking cigars in the booth kept me nervous the whole time;>

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-17-2009 09:54 AM

And even after that fire (at the AFI/Kennedy Center)...the theatre continued to run. It was not the end of the world though it was for that magazine.

Steve

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 04-17-2009 09:56 AM

If I were running a 10 minute reel of nitrate under similar conditions, I would have also "taken the risk." (small fire if one at all.) Louis

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Sam D. Chavez
Film God

Posts: 2153
From: Martinez, CA USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 04-17-2009 10:11 AM

This post has gone on for a while. Sort of like moths to a flame, no?

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-17-2009 10:15 AM

Ha... exactly what I've been thinking Sam.... This is just a best case example that you never ever run ANY valualable film no matter what!!

Mark

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Rick Raskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Manassas Virginia
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 04-17-2009 10:57 AM

quote: Martin McCaffery
Carl smoking cigars in the booth kept me nervous the whole time

Those guys are all gone now. They were the pioneers in the business and you & I are are among the last of the guys who grew up knowing and working with them.

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 04-18-2009 12:38 AM

quote: Louis Bornwasser
If I were running a 10 minute reel of nitrate under similar conditions, I would have also "taken the risk." (small fire if one at all.) Louis

One of the best comments in this thread yet... except of course for mine:

quote: ME
I am currently working with a film archive lab and they handle and project nitrate a lot..it's NOT that big of a deal. Use some common sense and take precautions and you'll be fine. Most important thing is to carefully inspect the film for torn perfs or bad splices, run the lowest wattage on your lamps top get an acceptable image, make sure the gate and trap are spotlessly clean so no buildup of emulsion, etc. can cause issues..and stay right at the machine at all times.

We all have to keep in mind that for many years, nitrate was the ONLY game in town...and yes there were tragic accidents, but there were also hundreds or even thousands of shows WHERE NOTHING WENT WRONG. And there have been cinema fires and accidents (although not because of the film) since.

quote: Sam D. Chavez
This post has gone on for a while. Sort of like moths to a flame, no?

Or the film "Titanic" on a platter. [Big Grin]

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 03-27-2012 04:30 PM

It has been 1074 days since the last post.

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Sean Weitzel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 619
From: Vacaville, CA (1790 miles west of Rockwall)
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-27-2012 04:30 PM

Does anyone know if the Stanford has resumed screening nitrate prints or are they still in a nitrate moratorium?

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