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Author Topic: Car Fire INSIDE the Drive-In! Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 08-31-2003 05:24 PM                     Paul, that is a good point you brought up. I'll have to remember that one. I think I will pass that along to some volunteer fire departments just in case they are not aware of the possibility.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-01-2003 11:21 AM                        Scott, good point. We did, in fact, have slides prepared years ago when we used to do the closed circuit fight transmissions. That crowd was one rowdy and, quite frankly, one dangerous bunch. And in those days before the fights from Vegas were done pay-per-view, the only places to see them were in sites that the producers set up in various theatres like ours. They were always full houses. One of the major problems ALWAYS was not having the front doors crashed by some drunk's pickup truck or not having the building set on fire or bombed by the irate fans who couldn't get in. They started off on the wrong foot even before anything even hit the screen. They were the most nerve-racking gigs we ever did. And we did quite a number of them; we all hated doing them, but the money was WAY too tempting for a non-profit to resist. The technology in the early 80s was iffy at best. The very first ones we did were transmitted over land lines. At any time the sound and/or the picture could drop out, and did....a lot! Later satelite transmissions were not much better. Picture or sound or both would go out and the crowd would go bizzerk. I realized very early on that I'd better have something ready to sooth the savage beast. I had slides made up that basically said "Due to technical difficulties, the fight has been temporarily interupted at all locations but will be restored momentarily." second slide: "This is NOT a problem with our equipment but with the transmission equipment at the fight." Then, "Please be patient -- the fight will resume as soon as possible." The last slide stayed up on the screen, basically to prevent them from ripping apart our theatre....hopefully. I also recorded a tape loop of the crowd noise during lulls in the announcer's descriptions; in those day we didn't have computers or .MPG or .WAV files etc. -- you spliced a length of tape together that went round and round in your tape deck, and to make sure the audience didn't hear repetition, you had to run a long loop that usually ran out to a tape roller guide a couple of feet away from the deck. I had the tape always running so if the fight sound dropped out, I could just fad up the tape so there was some sound. I got pretty good at it too....an audience of 2500 stomping their feet could never tell they were listening to a loop. If the picture went out, the slides were ready and immediately on the screen via a remote control that I had right next to my console. Even if only the picture went out, but the site was still transmitting sound, I learned quickly NOT to play the live sound but to play my crowd noise loop because if the audience heard the site announcer describe some exciting fight action and all they saw was a slide basically saying It's not our fault, they would go crazy....kicking the seats, stomping on the floor, looking for a usher to tear apart, etc. Did you ever hear what 2500 angry Brooklyn fight fans sound like stomping all together and kicking the seatbacks? Luckily for me, I was in a soundproof booth (metal fire doors LOCKED) five stories above the orchestra floor. The union insisted they provide a projectionist for the broadcasts; HE was sitting behind a three gun CTR projector IN THE MIDDLE OF ORCHESTRA!! heh heh....for once I was happy to let the union into my theatre! For general safety we have cartridge tapes and players situated back stage, in front-of-house office and in the booth that could be activated in case of any emergency. We decided that even a professional announcer, let alone a stage manager or a front of house manager, in an emergency would not be able to make an announcement where his/her voice would not convey fright and nervousness, something the audience would surely pick up. So the tapes were made before-hand by a professional in a deep, calming, reassuring voice. They gave only enough information to get the people moving out of the theatre but not to actually say -- RUN FOR YOUR FREAKIN LIVES, as one might do if standing next to the fire backstage, for example. It said something like, "A sensor has detected a problem. It is likely a false reading (notice we don't say the word "alarm") but for everyone's safety and to conform to city ordinances, we ask that you please walk quickly and orderly to the nearest exit. Please do not run. House ushers will assist you. You will be instructed to return when the problem is corrected." (unless the building burns down first...hehe.) Naturally this being recorded in a studio, there wasn't any nervousness in his voice. I learned this the hard way in a theatre fire at the old Loews Kings theatre in Brooklyn that was opened for a gala performance a number of years ago. I still have the recording of the producer getting on the mic and telling about 1500 big wigs in gowns and tuxes that there was a fire in the booth (smoke bellowing out of the opened followspot window) and to leave the theatre. The terror in his voice would have made anyone jump over each other in panic to get to an exit. Even years later when I listen to it I get chills. As for those fight gigs, I am sure glad we don't do them anymore! Our accountant isn't. Frank  |  IP: Logged Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 09-01-2003 01:07 PM                     When I was managing a drive-in I put the word out that admission was free for police, fire personnel, etc. Most nights there was at least one cop, a few firemen and usually the local paramedics. This came in handy one night when a lady had a seizure in the concession stand - the paramedics were there in about 30 seconds. The cops came in handy with crowd control - funny how quiet everything was with a state patrol car sitting in the 5th row. Tony  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-01-2003 02:11 PM                     I was doing a little research on car fires. Sometime if you get a chance, just do a search on "engine Fires" and "car fires" - you will hit the jackpot. Sounds like many car fires are due to crappy design and inferior parts. Some of GM's engine fires was due to a PLASTIC intake manifold fracturing if the engine backfired on startup. Fuel tanks, faulty ignition switches, mis-routed wires, ruptured rubber hoses, you name it. It seems to a growing problem with all manufacturers, not just GM or Ford. I am glad Jack posted his experience at the drive-in. It keyed my memory about how hot the casting gets that surrounds the signal light/shift selector of the steering column. It sometimes gets too touch. As a matter of fact, it has burned the paint off some spots of the casting. Yesterday, I ripped the steering wheel off the truck to investigate. I have to do a little more dismantling (not much, though) to extract the wiring harness in the steering column for inspection. I'll post what I find. Now I have to defend the rear wheel drive Fords, GM's, and Chrysler. Some people complain that in event of a rear-end collision, the fuel tank explodes. Well, if someone plows into the back of your rear-wheel drive car at 75mph like they tested the Crown Victoria, you damn right it's gonna blow! It probvably will on any car that has the fuel tank between the rear bumper and rear axle. Where else are they supposed to put the fuel tank???  |  IP: Logged Sam Hunter Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 779 From: West Monroe, LA, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 09-01-2003 05:55 PM                     Years ago there was a car at the Drive in my Dad worked at where someone was in a Ford Pinto and the starter cable was rubbing the Exhaust and shorted and the thing went up. This happened before the show started and my dad used an fire extinguisher in the booth to put it out. Don't remeber what else hapened after that but the fire dept finally showed up and sprayed under the hood just for show and left. In defense of Chevrolet I know of a lot of Fords that became flames on wheels due to a defect in the fuel line connections under the hood.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-01-2003 09:00 PM                     I think my next vehicle will be an import. I am really fed up with the cars made by the "Big Three...." After reading about all the recalls and other safety and equipment defects from plastic manifolds to uninstalled bolts to hold that junk together, I have "Had it" with them.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-01-2003 10:15 PM                     Paul, Get a Mazda 626, or whatever they are calling it nowadays. It's virtually the same car as the Ford Probe. Ford bought the design from Mazda and "Americanized" it. I traded in my old Neon for a Mazda. I'm glad I did. Practically, all I have ever done to it is put gas and oil into it. I'm on my tird year of ownership and it's only used up one set of tires. It has yet to go through a set of brake pads. (It's a 5-speed.) Most Mazdas have more American parts content than their US counterparts do, anyways. (According to federal regulations, they have tell you the percentage of parts that have a country of origin outside the USA.)  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 09-02-2003 01:30 AM                     quote: 1. Go to the Wishy-Washy and keep the engine and engine compartment clean! It also makes them easier to work on if the need arises. Unfortunately, this practice is now illegal in certain states and/or municipalities. Something about the wastewater becoming contaminated with grease and oil and flowing into waterways. But you are right, a clean engine compartment did make working on the car a LOT nicer. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-02-2003 01:09 PM                     This is off the subject, but here goes: Jeeze, Aaron...Is is illegal to fart in public in California, too? Grease and oil in the waste water....What's that streak in the middle of the wheel tracks on the highways and city streats? If there is a dip in the road, the streak gets heavier. Something you don't want to drive over with a motorcycle. About 3 years ago, the maintenance crews decided to oil the road in the vicinity of Highway 20. They forgot to check with the weatherman. The next day it rained cats and dogs. That stretch of highway became an ice skating rink. Cars and tractor-trailers were scattered everywhere. It looked like a junkyard out there. Luckly, nobody was seriously hurt. Randy, I just ran a search on Mazda 626 cars. CAS (Center for Auto Safety) cites complaints of brake problems, seat belt failure, fires, transmission problems, engine failure, unintended acceleration and airbag defects. Other major DOT investigations into Mazda defects include an inadvertent door opening on 1988-1991 626's and 929's. CAS has received complaints about transmission problems ranging from slipping and vibration to unintended shifting resulting in expensive repairs and premature replacement. Mazda has issued numerous Technical Service Bulletins on transmission defects including a rebuild program for Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmissions (EC-AT) on 1982-90 models. What the Mazdas are like today, I don't know. But one thing can be assured: I will not buy a very late model car for two reasons: They are junk, and if you see a pre-owned one on a used car lot the first question that comes to mind is, "Why is it there?" The General Motors Saturn: (supposedly one of the best cars made today. I would consider owning one.) It has it's problems, too. Service bulletins issued by Saturn document dozens of problems, including engine, transaxle, and other components. Manual transaxles may pop out of fifth gear, and automatics have a harsh or erratic upshift. On SC models, using the horn can cause the headlights to pop up. The engine can miss, surge, backfire, lack power on acceleration, or stall after start-up. Saturn notified about 1,800 owners of 1991 models that their engines had incorrect coolant supplied by Texaco and that they would get new cars. Engine problems continue to plague Saturn with 1991-97 models needing new cylinder heads due to coolant mixing with the oil. Saturn extended the warranty to 6 years/100,000 miles in June 1999, only for 1994-96s with 1.9L SOHC engines.  |  IP: Logged Robert Golding Film Handler Posts: 65 From: Sutter, CA, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 09-05-2003 02:13 AM                     I had a rather funny experience a few years ago. We had just finished our evening shows (drive in theatre), when four of the cutest girls walked up. They thought they had a dead bat. and could we help them. I went over to the car and it wouldn't start, so I tried to open the hood. It wouldn't open so I turn on my flashlight to find a spot burn into the hood. I asked if anyone had been sitting on the hood, to which they said everyone had during the evening. I asked if anyone had felt any heat to which one girl said she burnt her butt. Needless to say, they had welded the bat. to the hood. They had to have it towed as the hood would not opening without a crowbar.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-05-2003 09:52 AM                     Paul, I have the 2001 model with 5-speed trans. (You probably won't ever see me driving a car with automatic unless it's borrowed/rented.) The main problems with the 2001 Mazda 626 are associated with the air bags and seat belts. Air bags don't go off when people think they are supposed to. Seat belts don't retract sometimes. There are the odd problems with the engine control computer and electrical stuff. The computers report false error codes. My old Neon was ALWAYS reporting false codes. The problems in the Mazda are a lot less severe and far less frequent. There have been a few instances of keyless entry systems triggering at seemingly random times. All of the problems with transmissions are in automatics so that's a moot point for me. From my homework I have found no recalls or safety investigations on the 2001 Mazda 626. There have been no crashes caused by equipment failures. I couldn't find any reports of the 2001 Mazda where the cars have caught fire unless there was another cause. The only problem I have with my car is the air conditioning. The compressor doesn't run. I think it's a faulty relay. Air conditioning was on the car when I got it but it's a feature I didn't specifically want. I prefer to use the 4-50 air. (4 windows down and 50 miles per hour.! ) I only ever used it, maybe a half-dozen times. I might get it fixed some day but I don't need A/C that much. It's just money I don't need to spend. Frankly, I don't care much. I'm really happy with the car and would recommend it to anybody. OTOH, I know opinions about cars are like ass holes... Everybody's got one and they all stink!  |  IP: Logged

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