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BTW, does your theatre get recent 35mm prints, or are they well worn or 16mm or video? What booth equipment?

I recall that Entertainment Equipment Corporation (Gordon McLeod) has designed and installed several theatres for the US Navy.

I started out in this business almost 6 years ago (I'm 20) at Gloucester Cinema (a small 3 theater). I was there a little over 5 years, I started at concessions and made my way up to projectionist/manager.

Now I work at Museum Place Cinema (Patriot)as general manager/projectionist. It's a really nice "last" run theater (that's what the people around here call it) and the locals love it because it is only $1.50.

I'm very proud of my theater and the employees that work for me, they do a great job and we wouldn't have the jobs we have without them (no, I'm not sucking up to anyone).

My fiance Anthony Gilardi, works at the Gloucester Theater (he's not registered yet, tsk tsk). He is the Vice President/projectionist (don't ask). And, wouldn't you know, I GOT HIM THE JOB! Oh, the agony and pain (hehe).

My name is Peter Berrett and I'm a Public Servant (researcher) here in Melbourne Australia. Although my work does not involve the film industry I have written film reviews under my pseudonym "Fuzzy Rodent" for in-house publications at my work.

I have an interest in Drive-In Theatres and have just prepared an application to the National Trust of Victoria seeking to have the former Wantirna Drive-in site classified by the National Trust. It would be great if a major cinema chain here in Australia could buy the site and re-open the drive-in. It would be a guaranteed money-spinner as we have lots of young families in the far eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It is a pain having to drive to Coburg (a triple drive-in or Dromana ( a country double drive-in) which are both some distance from my home. Wantirna by contrast is 5 minutes up the road. With Dromana and Coburg doing good business you'd think someone would consider the venture worth the investment.

I love drive-ins and frequent them often. I also have my own web page at
http://www.drivein.ws

devoted to researching the subject of drive-in theatres in the south pacific islands. Yes there are/were drive-in theatres in these far flung islands.

Enjoy

cheers Peter

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If film can survive being left outside in a dumpster, then washed in a bathtub with soap and water, then dried in a clothes dryer before being wound up on a homemade set of rewinds, it's even more durable than I thought! Just think if you had the proper equipment.

BTW, Kodak does specify a special "rewash" process RW-1 just for the purpose of cleaning damaged film and healing minor emulsion side scratches:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/processing/operating7.shtml#rewashing

Since you are in Oklahoma, you've probably heard the phrase, "Get in... Sit down... Shut up and hang on!" Well that's about the size of things, except for the "shut up" part.

Creepy huh?

To make this quick, here goes:

1. Started running 16mm projectors in 4th grade in 1950.
2. Saw my very first 35mm booth in 1952. Capitol Theater, Manitowoc WI. Machines were taller than I was. Immediate obsession took place. Said to myself, "Somehow, somewhere, I'm going to learn how to run these things."
3. In 1956, Learned how to run the 16mm carbon-arc projector in Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, WI. Also was member of the Movie Projector Club in high school.
4. Worked at a radio station in 1957-1958 on Sundays setting and doing a remote broadcast from one of the churches in town.
5. Graduated from high school in 1958, joined the US Navy.
6. In 1967, I went to the Navy Motion Picture Projectionist's school in San Diego, Ca. My mentors were EMC John Frazer and EMC Charlie Fonner. Broke the school's record with a 98.25 average. Wash-out rate was about 50 to 60%. Lost track of my mentors. Anyone know them?
7. In 1968, local union invited me to become a member. I accepted the offer. Ran indoors and outdoors until I was transferred to the USS Orisany (CVA-34) in 1970.
8. Ran relief operator for Oakland Local while we were in port.
9. Returned to area in 1973, continued to run indoor and out-door theaters until 1980. Became local union president and initiated a merger with the Bellingham Local during that time.
10. Retired from the navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1977.
11. In 1980, I went to work for MTS-Northwest Sound as a field service engineer. The very first booth I saw as a kid of 12 years old was now on my service route.
13. Left MTS-NW Sound in 1983.
14. Returned to area, designed and built a 5-plex booth in Mount Vernon, WA. Ran that booth until the theater was purchased by Island Cinemas. Continued to run that booth and service other theaters belonging to Island Cinemas, in addition, designing and building the booth for our new theater in Port Orchard, WA.
15. In 1985, I became a Chief Engineer of a local radio station.
16. In 1990, Plitt bought us. After 6 months, I told management I would sooner eat out of a garbage can that to continue employment with them.
17. In 1991, ran the booth in Port Orchard. (One of the orginal owners of Island Cinemas owned that theater).
18. In 1995, Regal's Enema bought us. I got along with the District manager and his buddy (the new theater manager) like cats and dogs. Six months later, I walked out on them. Also, in 1995, the local radio station was sold to another local radio station, so I became the Chief Engineer for two radio stations.
19. Fell out of the loop in the motion picture industry for the next two years.
20. In 1997, the manager from the orginal gang in Port Orchard purchased a theater, and is presently gradually building a small theater chain, which I am presently involved with.

I guess this is as short and point blank as I can get. Once this industry gets its claws into you, there is no escape. Doesn't pay worth a crap, but it is fun!

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I am now 20 - YIKES! Have nearly 3 years experience in cinemas, and am the proud Chief Projectionist of the Film Centre, Bridgwater, Somerset, UNITED KINGDOM!