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Topic: Scale Model of Working Theater

Bruce Cloutier
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 161
From: Gibsonia, PA, USA
Registered: Aug 2016

posted 08-31-2019 07:51 AM

Well I jumped on the idea of supporting a modeling effort perhaps for the obvious reason that it would be a fun project to automate with the JNIOR. There is somewhat of a new market there for the JNIOR. It can be very useful in model railroading for instance. We already have units out in a few museums automating displays. It's just not a well-known product in that space, and, well, we spend next to nothing on actually marketing the thing. Our only real marketing expenditure is CinemaCon now.

The modelers are excited by the idea of creating something new. Nearly all of their work is in replicating in scale the past. The real issue that comes to light here is that the present and the extrapolation of the future from this point are just not exciting... almost depressing. 50 years ago models of the future we exciting things to see. I can barely remember but did visit the 1964 World's Fair in NYC. I think it was 1964? A lot of it was about the future. So where are the flying cars?

I have difficulty getting over the feeling that in almost everything that we have passed its peak and are generally in a downward spiral. It is also my nature to jump on every problem seeking a solution. So it is hard to turn away defeated.

There is still the idea of saving an existing model from neglect by introducing some automation and additional functionality and then to let our industry see it. But that just might need to wait until we trip on a treasure that is in danger of being lost.

The Internet and technology started out being a real benefit to society and our future. Quickly it has turned out to be a detriment. My feeling is that the vector turned south sometime in the late 90s maybe when the dot com bubble burst. Greed has hijacked it all from us.

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Martin Brooks
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 900
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 09-05-2019 11:27 PM

There's a model of the Roxy at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens.

I have to say that I'm a little puzzled as to what value a scale model of a modern working theater actually provides unless it's an especially beautiful and well-designed theater. Most theaters today are just a bunch of boxes with seats in them. It might be mildly interesting to see that the projection room is for multiple theaters and see all the service hallways (if there are any) that the public doesn't ordinarily see, but that's all pretty minimal IMO. It's not like the days of the movie palaces where there's a ton of interesting architectural design.

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