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Author
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Topic: Who the HECK are you??
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Mike Blakesley
Film God
Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 07-24-2000 06:07 PM
I'm Mike Blakesley, owner/projectionist/manager/whatever of the Roxy Theatre in Forsyth, Montana.
I started showing movies when I was about 12. My grandfather posessed a 16mm sound projector and I somehow stumbled upon a film catalog from Modern Talking Picture Service. I used to book films in the name of my dad's auto parts store, and had a "theatre" set up in my bedroom where I would beg, cajole and trick people ("victims") into watching such blockbuster hits as "Adventure in Hawaii" (sponsored by United Airlines), and the like.
In '74 at age 17, I started working with a friend of mine at the now-defunct drive-in theatre here in town. (His parents owned it.) It had the world's worst equipment, but we had a lot of fun and it was good training. In 1975 I went to work as a projectionist at the only indoor theatre in town, the Roxy, for $4 a night. I later got a raise to $5 a night. (Never get in it for the money, folks!)
In '79, the owners of the Roxy decided to retire and I bought the theatre along with my brother in law. We commenced remodeling and upgrading the hell out of the theatre (which continues to this day). I bought him out in '92 and have been here since. I still work in the above-mentioned auto parts store in the bookkeeping dept. during the day. Just got married in June 2000 and things are great (at least until they stop making movie film in favor of digital projectors that we can't afford).
[ 07-26-2003, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: Mike Blakesley ]
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Bill Enos
Film God
Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 07-24-2000 09:50 PM
I've been at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, Va for 20 years as "Head Projectionist" a title which allows me to do projection as well as repairs and maintenance on everything from booth equipment to the hvac, the organ, plumbing, and whatever else doesn't work. The Byrd is a 95% original 1928 movie palace so there is rarely a day when something isn't busted. It's a pretty good place to work with an easy going management.
Spent 27 years as an office machine tech. Started out on mechanical calculators, IBM Selectric typewriters, ended up on
printers, fax, computers. Was the company customer relations guy, I smoothed out problems caused by other techs and the sales people. Left that in '03.
[ 12-23-2007, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Bill Enos ]
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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 07-25-2000 09:47 AM
uPDATED:I am Barry Floyd of Lebanon, Tennessee (25 miles east of Nashville). Currently I do not work in a theatre, but I do have a barn, garage and utility building full of projectors, platters, sound racks and concessions equipment.
My wife Dawn & I are in the process of opening a twin screen drive-in theatre in Watertown, Tennessee (pop. 1305). I have a degree in Architecture, and am currently employeed with a local Engineering firm as the network & CADD administrator in Nashville. Since 1984, I have owned and operated a mobile DJ & Karaoke service in the Nashville area - primarily caterering to the thriving Wedding market in this area. I have been married to my lovely wife Dawn for five years. She puts up with my "drive-in" stuff - although she frowns upon the fact that I used the kitchen sink as a parts washer for my RCA soundheads. I am also the proud father of my two boys, a two and a half year old, and a 3 week old. Film-Tech has been a valuable resource to me and my efforts to edge my way into this market. The manuals have been priceless!!
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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork
Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 07-25-2000 11:12 PM
I am Scott Neff - Assistant District Manager of Cinema West Theatres.Aaron was kind enough to introduce me earlier in the thread, a post that he kindly omitted the true facts of what a mean and irrational guy I am. At any rate - I've been working for Cinema West for FIVE years now... and been working in a movie theatre for SIX. I worked my way up from usher at an old nasty 5-plex to the wonderful position I'm in now. I'm in charge of operations for 40 screens in 10 locations, soon to be 11, 12, 13 and maybe even 14. (YIKES) In my spare time I run the Fairfax Theatre 4 in beautiful Fairfax CA (West Marin County) Check out the pics in the warehouse. Part of my duties include maintaining our web-site (which I'm still learning), I maintain our Ticketing Systems, Audit the Theatres, monitor our uniform program, I do the recordings for all of our theatres.... the list goes on and on and on. But hey --- thanks for giving me the opportunity to rant about my endless tasks.  ------------------
Scott D. Neff
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www.cinema-west.com
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Harry Robinson
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 155
From: Franklin Tennessee
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 07-26-2000 10:07 AM
I am Harry Robinson.After spending 30 years in the music business as guitarist and bandleader for various country acts (Dolly Parton, Lee Greenwood, etc.) I retired in 1993. I went back to college and earned a degree in religion with an emphasis in church music (yes, you really can get a degree in that). I now am employed as director of music and arts at a medium-sized Methodist church in Franklin TN. I have been a serious film buff all of my life. The equipment has been as much an appeal to me as the films themselves. My parents say that when I was 4 years old the neighbors would get out their home movie projector and I would become transfixed. To this day I am fascinated and filled with wonder at the illusion of reality on a big screen in a darkened room. Last Labor Day I went to the New Neon Cinema in Dayton OH, on a weekend quest to see Cinerama one more time. I got to know a few people there, and I was surprised to find out that many of them had 35mm and even 70mm in their homes. I asked around. I had conversations with John Harvey, the Cinerama Guru, and decided I was going to pursue this interest. Mark Lensenmeyer happened to be sitting next to me in the theater. We got to talking, and he told me about Film-Tech. Well, as many regulars here know by now, I got my hands on a Super Simplex, I rebuilt my own RCA1040 Sound head, and I'm completely obsessed. My wife thinks I'm a little crazy (no change from before) and my friends have no idea what's gotten into me. But this hobby fills a void that that used to be taken up by performing 6 nights a week and traveling on the road 300 days a year. And you guys have been very welcoming and helpful. I look forward to a long and enjoyable relationship with all of you.
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