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Topic: Show your colors!

Richard C. Wolfe
Master Film Handler

Posts: 250
From: Northampton, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-18-2001 10:50 PM

I have had a National Anthem trailer for many many years. Back in the late 70s, the local marine corp reserves sent them to all the theatres in our area and ask us to use them for holidays etc. I have done that ever since. There was a time in the early 80s when I ran it every day, but had to discontinue that practice due to too many complaints... YES COMPLAINTS! People felt uncomfortable about not standing up, wondering what other people would think of them when they didn't stand, which many did not want to do. Many people continued to talk or move about the theatre during it. After that I only used it for national holidays.

Then came the Gulf War, and I put it on every day once again. I had Filmack make me a trailer to run before it which stated: "In support of our troops in the middle east, please rise for our national anthem". Everyone stood at every show. After that war it went back to "holidays only" as before.

Last Wednesday it went back on at the beginning of each show once again, but this time I have added something else. As our theatre has an American flag on either side of the proscenium arch at stage level, we now hit one of those flags with a white spot while the anthem trailer is playing on screen.

The reaction from our patrons has been most gratifying. I have had many very nice comments from people about it. I will continue to run with this policy for the duration.

By the way... from what I read here, I get the impression that American flags aren't in all theatre auditoriums these days. I'm curious to find out if that is the case or not, and if not... why not?

PS. Also, for those of you under 40, you probably don't know what a proscenium arch is. As a theatre employee, you should know all theatre terminology (even though theatres don't have them today). May I suggest as you homework project that you look it up in the dictionary.

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-18-2001 11:00 PM

I run sound and video for our church, and we used the following flag photo last Sunday morning for our church service. It was breathtaking to see it projected to a 40 foot video screen.
It also makes a great Windows desktop.
(I got this photo from www.webshots.com)

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Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-19-2001 12:03 AM

I don't think I've ever seen a flag in a theater auditorium ... and I've seen quite a few auditoriums. I have seen a few flying outside on a flagpole, though ... Goodrich Quality Theatres has a flagpole at each of their locations.

And I know what a proscenium is.

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 09-19-2001 12:26 AM

I am not exactly sure where irt was that I had read it (Here, or on r.a.m.t.) but some operator that was having problems with unruly crowds in his theatres had a screening of Rocky Horror, with uniformed police in attendance, and at the end of his trailer pack he had a NAtional Anthem trailer(foolhardy idea for the film he was playing IMO). When the anthem began, a large group of teens stood up, began giving Nazi salutes and chanting 'SEIG HEIL!'... The police tried to quiet the rowdies down, someone spit on a cop and the resulting riot ended this guys business forever.

Some people...

Aaron

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Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-19-2001 12:38 AM

Flags stay in our lobby near the door, 2 separate poles on the roof, and one in the auditorium. This past Sat. nite we did a patriotic sing along with the organ. It started with the Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful and God Bless America, all of which were sung lustily by the audience, the presentation was concluded with Stars and Stripes Forever on the Wurlitzer. There was a flag blowing in the wind and highlighted by a small spot high on one side. The crowd cheered, yelled, whistled for several minutes as the film started. After the patriotic show was over, an over aged left over hippy came out and decried the whole thing because someone from another country might be offended. He was told that they could follow him and he was give his two bucks back and taken to the sidewalk.

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-19-2001 08:49 AM

In my latest packaet of information from Filmack, I believe they still sell the National Anthem trailer. Wouldn't hurt to check?

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Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 09-19-2001 02:11 PM

I think Filmack carries it as " NATIONAL ANTHEM TRAILER/MUSIC - 8241 "

Here is a link to their website:
http://www.filmack.com/about.html

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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