Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Booth Tours

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Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 01-05-2000, 03:36 PM:

How many of you folks give booth tours? I like to give them, not because I take pride in showing off the booth, but because I believe it _is_ the true movie magic experience. Over the years, I've had only one or two people ever ask to look in the booth, either before or after their show, but I've been approached by Boy and Girl Scout Troops about touring prior to a private screening on Saturday mornings.

Sometimes I iniciate the tour myself. Last night, a friend of mine returned home from living in Japan. I gave him and his girlfriend, Yuki, a tour upstairs. It was fairly tough explaining projectors to a girl who knows only the words "hello" and "good-bye"! Fortunately, my friend is a good translater. Anyway, how many tours do you give a year, who do you give them to, have you ever seen any tourist board with the booth? (I haven't!)

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-05-2000, 04:10 PM:

Yup, we give them pretty often. It started out as a training exercise when we opened the theatre. All the new guys whould have to explain the projectors to their families and friends during the opening night 'party'. (On opening night only families or friends could come if you gave them an invitation.) Theory is that you learn things better if you have to explain it to somebody else.

Now, if there's a private showing or a birthday party, etc. I pretty often end up giving a tour too. Mostly it's Girl Scout troops or schools. (It's kind of a fashionable thing for the Scouts) I like doing it. Plus it also gives people a better idea of what goes on upstairs. A lot less people get bent out of shape about minor problems if they've seen the booth and understand that there's not a 'guy' standing by every projector like in the 'old days'.

I keep a copy of Eyewitness Book of FILM and a zoetrope in the cabinet and some frame clips of old kid's trailers on hand just for the purpose.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-05-2000, 04:32 PM:

I rarely give them. We have district offices upstairs and having a bunch of strangers wandering around probably isn't the best idea. We did give them perhaps one a month at my last theater. Generally they were for: employee's family/friends or scout troops. The only time I would ever instigate a tour was with an irate customer telling me to "go hit the rewind button." It was always fun to watch their expression once they saw what really happens upstairs.

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 01-05-2000, 05:18 PM:

Hi, everybody!

Since this is my first post in this forum, I guess it's polite to at least say hello before replying to the subject at hand. I'm very pleased to meet you all.

I do give booth tours a couple of times a year, most of them more or less involuntary. Most of these tours happen when filmmakers visit the booth during the annual Göteborg Film Festival, to tell me that their films should play louder. (This is usually right before the patrons find their way out to complain about the volume...) The filmmakers almost invariably want to have a closer look at the equipment while they're visiting, and I usually comply.

There is a festival coming up at my theatre, the Draken in Göteborg, Sweden, at the end of this month so I will get my share of visits, I'm sure.

It does happen that a patron visits, too, out of interest or to complain about something. A nice middle-aged lady visited me during a film festival a couple of years ago, to ask me to please lift the screen a few feet higher before the next show. She admitted that she was a bit on the short side, but maintained that the screen was my responsibility. She also claimed that our "subtitling machine" didn't work because the last film she had watched was subtitled in French.

The second I heard the door close below the stairs, I collapsed, laughing.

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 01-05-2000, 05:50 PM:

I myself have given a few booth tours, mostly during the Boy/Girl Scouts visits like pretty much everyone here, as well as birthday parties, at one or two of the theatres the birthday child got to hit the "start" button. They usually get quite a kick out of that. Not hard to impress a 8yr old...

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-05-2000, 06:08 PM:

It is in the troopmaster's manual that every Boy/Girl/Cub scout troop MUST visit every single projection booth in the entire world! I get a lot of those. They are really never interested in anything except the movies that they can see playing through the portholes.

I used to work for UA and we had district office in the theatre and the home office corporate people were there all of the time as well. I have never given so many booth tours in my life! We had to tour everybody! Even John Tesh! Wow!

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 01-05-2000, 06:21 PM:

We let anyone with an interest in movies have a peek in the booth. I have shown all my friends,who are just amazed at what really goes on.

That's where I got started in this gig. Someone was nice enough to show me the booth and satisfy my curious nature. I'm glad for that, and never forget it when a kid comes up and wants to see the projector!

--Chris

Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 01-05-2000, 08:24 PM:

The company I last worked for set up a school programe which was to give kids and teachers an insight on how a cinema operates.This was usually arranged when the school came to see a movie.The company had speacial spool made up of a couple of old newsreels trls of old movies and old film ads etc which was shown to them before the tour or after.Its a good idea as it gives them an idea on how things are done usually the kids are more intrested in films that are running at the time rather than ask questions usually the teachers do all the asking of questions.As technical manager of the location at the time it was my task to conduct tours one day I had 8 goups of 25 come through in one morning it was a battle trying to keep them from steping on moveing film,I was glad to see them go that day.

------------------

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 01-05-2000, 09:25 PM:

While I have given a few booth tours, it happens very rarely. Sad to say, except to waving to little kids through the window, no one cares. Although one time when I was running "Temple of Doom," a father of a little kid came in. He said his kid was scared of the movie, and asked if he could bring his kid in to see the projectors and "prove" that it was just a movie- that there were no bad guys. The kid came in and looked, but I could see he was still skeptical.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-05-2000, 09:28 PM:

I never had the problem with kids wanting to look out the port windows. The scoutmasters (or whatever the parental figures are called) would always keep them away for fear they would see a nood scene.

I used to run the movies on the bottom 2 platters for planned kiddie tours. Otherwise they would try and grab a platter deck to pull themselves up to get a peek!!! Using the lower 2 decks, they could see everything.

Anyone else notice that even though ALL the prints look the same on the platter, all they're interestd in is "what's that movie"? By the way, cut up an old trailer and give them all a few feet. They go crazy over it. (But make sure they're all the same length! Otherwise an argument will ensue over who got the biggest piece.)

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-05-2000, 09:47 PM:

At least once a week I do tours of the Imax booth
It usually starts with a grop that has climbed up on the back row to look in the giant booth wide port

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-05-2000, 11:06 PM:

Yah I always cut up a trailer for the kiddies.

The IMAX out here is staffed by a**holes. They always deny booth tours. The projectionist says that he is "too busy" even though you can easilly see him sitting on his ass doing absolutely nothing! Therefore I have a very low opinion of IMAX.

Posted by Michael Cunningham (Member # 210) on 01-06-2000, 03:03 AM:

I only get a few of these a year, usually organized through a school or kiddie club. The only problem I have with doing them is that there isn't much you can tell an eight year old about the process. You show them the pictures on the film, how it moves from platter to projector and back, and how the light shines through to put the picture on the screen and that's about it. Fifteen minutes tops (although you can extend the excitement by handing out old trailer chunks as mentioned above)! This generally irritates the kiddie's supervisors who were expecting to kill a lot more time with no effort on their part. I suppose I could start yammering about the 1:1.85 screen ratio, 16 Footlamberts, 24 frames per second, the digital encoding matrix and so forth, but this usualy results in blank, glassy eyed stares.

-Mike

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 01-06-2000, 04:28 AM:

I have given many a brierf tour to anyone that was curious enough to want to know more about how the films were projected at our theatres... I would invite them in for a little booth tour and of course, answer any questions that they had...

Don't forget that in the late 60s and early 70s I too was a 'booth watcher' and i am merely returning the favor

-Aaron

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-06-2000, 06:17 AM:

Michael: To kill time just pull out all of your equipment manuals, gather the kiddies around and start reading to them word for word, pausing when there is an illustration to show everybody. You will never have another booth tour again!

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 01-06-2000, 01:30 PM:

I can sometimes be desperate... I'll go down into an auditorium and invite anyone who appears to have the slightest interest in the inkling of the idea that someone is up there in the booth. Mostly, it's been people I know. Does anyone have tips on how to most clearly demonstrate the operation of various mechanisms... projector, platter, analog sound? For example, I might remove the shutter housing on a Simplex (hand douser closed) to illustrate how the shutter and the intermittent work together.

Posted by Michael Cunningham (Member # 210) on 01-06-2000, 04:50 PM:

Hey Joe,

Thanks for the suggestion! Also, since I have all Strong equipment, the only illustrations in the manuals are grainy black-and-white photos. From a distance, they just look like grey blobs. Not a hint of interest to be found on this tour!!

One good way I have found to demonstrate platter operation Chris is to just grab the edge and let it wrap a couple times as the projector pulls. Of course, you'll want to do this with old trailers or something similar so as not to scratch a good print.

-Mike

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-06-2000, 06:36 PM:

I went to an IMAX and asked for a tour once. Now, being a projectionist myself, I regognize a guy's right to just say, 'no' if he doesn't want to but the treatment I got was piss-poor.

I called them up the day before and got a whole lot of run around. When I got there I got a big load of crap about it being a 'dust-free environment'. When the show started, there was this big tree branch doing flip-flops across the screen.

If only the guy whould have said no in the first place, I wouldn't have been so bent out of shape.

Posted by Stephen Brown (Member # 292) on 01-06-2000, 09:56 PM:

I was touring the USA in 1993 and was in LA. I was at the El Capitain seeing Beauty and the Beast (70mm) and Alladdin as a double feature. I really wanted to take some pictures of the foyer because of how lovely the place is. So I decided to do it officially by asking permision from the managment. Unfortunately he wouldn't let me take photos of the foyer, however he was more than kind enough to let me go into the booth and spend some time. I really thought I would have no chance seeing insode the booth but got a pleasant surprise..... So thanks to that manager and projectionist, whereever you are...

Posted by Andrew D'Vrey (Member # 285) on 01-07-2000, 03:04 AM:

In the state of Minnesota it is the law that you are permitted to freely inspect the kitchen of a restaurant before eating the food.

I love giving booth tours. Especially to children. In fact it is part of our birthday package for childrens parties we host.

------------------
"And the monkey flips the switch."
- Major Don West, "Lost In Space"

Andrew D'Vrey
IATSE Local 219

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 01-07-2000, 11:29 AM:

Stephen,
I guess you were quite lucky.
Several projectionist have been fired from Loews Cineplex for doing just that. It seemed they were publishing "trade secrets" to hear LCE put it. That funny... I thought all theatres used projectors. Guess little did they know they were in "black ops".

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-07-2000, 07:31 PM:

When I was about 10 years old, I was one of those kids who would 'go to the concession stand' and try to sneak up to the balcony and look at the projectors. I've probably been tossed out of the Warner Theatre about 9,000,000 times. One time at the Star Drive-In (Now, it's been plowed under and turned into a strip-mall

) I was peeking in the booth door and the guy finally got tired of tossing my ass out and let me in. He showed me how the projectors worked and gave me an old clip of film and a burned carbon stub. It was probably the coolest 10 minutes of my life. Then he said, "Well, intermission's over and you gotta' get outta' here.", and out I went, happy as a pig eating slop!

More than 20 years later, here I am running those machines at that very same Warner Theatre AND two other 'new' cinemas as well! When you get right down to it, I guess that's why I almost always give booth tours.

PS: My parents didn't believe me when they asked me where I got the film. My dad went to the booth and asked the guy if I was lying or not. He was pissed that I didn't bring back popcorn, too!

Posted by Kenneth H. Williams (Member # 286) on 01-07-2000, 10:23 PM:

Sorry to hear that you folks have had so much trouble attempting to tour IMAX booths. Personally I have never been refused at any theater that I've asked at. I don't know where any of you are located at so maybe the "local" situation is different there than it is here. I even took a group of about a dozen people on a tour of one IMAX booth once...arranged in advance with the projectionist, of course.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-08-2000, 12:19 AM:

Chris,

Showing ppl. how a proj works is all well and good. but MOST people are bored by it all. I simply say that the film goes in here, the light shines out here and goes through the film and out the lens.

If they are interested, they'll ask questions. Believe me, they'll ask!

My tricks are:

1) get this book, Eyewitness Book of Film -- it's a kids book with lots of pictures. It's good for adults too. You ought to be able to get it at any 1/2 decent bookstore with a kids dept. If you can, arrange it with your mgr. to get some passes and SWAP with the bookstore. Promise the bookstore mgr. you will tell people to come to his (her) store to get the book. The book retails for $12.95 (US) or something like that. Two passes ought to cover it. The little 'plug' ought to seal the deal, if the mgr. isn't stupid. -- I did that exact thing. I just tell all the kiddies to go to Barnes and Noble

2) Get a ZOETROPE and use that to demonstrate how movies 'work'. You can do the pass-swap thing if you want OR you can make your own out of a coffee can. I got one for Christmas one year so I dug it out of the closet. Now, I keep it and the book 'locked up' in the booth.

With these two 'tricks' I can entertain 20 kids at a time. I once had to do 100, in groups of course! -- Really!

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-08-2000, 01:58 AM:

Anyone from the forum who would like to have a look around our IMAX projection room is more than welcome.

I should point out that it's in Sydney, Australia but as everyone (yes, everyone) from around the world will be in Sydney for the Olympics this year (If you can believe the Olympic press dudes) then you can tour while you're here.

I always say yes to booth tours wherever I'm working. If someone has the curiosity, I've got the time.

PS. Sydney HAD to get the 2000 Olympics...Sydney 2000 is our Zip Code.

------------------
John

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-08-2000, 02:03 AM:

A picture's worth a thousand words. How about sending us some pics for posting on the site???

Posted by Reeve Byrne (Member # 295) on 01-08-2000, 02:49 AM:

We have a couple of tours a year but the managers usually give them. They don't want to scare the cutomers by letting them run into the projectonist.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-08-2000, 03:27 AM:

You want PICTURES? Does that mean you won't be coming?

Hmmm... I really should take some I suppose.
When I do I'll send them te ye.

ARRRRGGG!

(sorry)

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 01-08-2000, 02:00 PM:

Since I had peered into many booths from afar as a child, and given multitudes of excuses why I couldn't come inside for a better look (I was even cursed at and chased away by one senile old projectionist in '72); I vowed to let MY booth be open to anyone who wanted to see, when that day came.

Along about 1982, with the onslaught of VCRs, the public's wonder about projection booths diminished. Some even expressed contempt for theatres in general (I'm sure many of you will remember this transistion period).

During this period, I was working the top union job in my town, where I was strictly prohibited from receiving visitors. However, on one mid-show trip to the concession for a drink, a man with a small boy literally BEGGED me to show them the booth. After relating that, as much as I would like to, I (a) was forbidden to do so and, (b) if anything happened and the boy did something to shut the show down, it would take at least 5 minutes (because of a particular lamp I had) to get it started again. He assured me he would watch his son like a hawk, and keep the child's hands at bay.

Well, you guessed it. No sooner had his feet touched the linoleum, did the boy stick his hand out, grab the takeup reel and kill the show! I sank. If this got back to the local, I could be in deep trouble; there were plenty of other guys in line who wanted that job!

To top it off, instead of being apologetic, the guy actually got cocky with me!!! I announced the tour was over and ordered him to leave immediately. He seemed to be proud his son had stopped a show being viewed by several hundred people. The guy was pathetically giggling walking back downstairs!

I did not even entertain the idea of giving booth tours, for many years after that incident.

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 01-08-2000, 06:29 PM:

It's interesting and a bit scary to read about projectionists getting fired because of a booth tour. None of the various companies I've worked for ever threatened me with something like that. Quite the contrary, in fact. It's always been me that wants to minimize the number of tours, not them.

But, as someone pointed out earlier in this thread, giving a booth tour is like returning a favor. I once wanted one, too, so I can't really deny anyone a tour.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 01-08-2000, 06:56 PM:

I was around 10 or so back around 1966. The drive-in was running Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines in glorous 4" speaker mono. I was bored and pissed because I didn't get to have the speaker beside me in the back seat.

I asked to go to the consession stand to get food and use the toilet, which was an experience of its own. (No doors, wooden floor, no regular cleanings)

I detoured around to the side door marked employees only, opened the door, heard the projector running, stepped inside, and was about to close the door when I heard a loud crash of a shovel hitting the floor about 2 feet from me, and a voice screaming "GET THE F*CK OUT OF HERE!

I ran back to the car. I didn't tell Dad what happened till later, but I did get him to go back to the same drive-in later and go with me up to the door and knock. The same guy was there. This time, I got to see everything up close, and before I left, I got to do a changeover by stepping on the pedal with my toe! I have no idea what we saw, that night. I was too busy thinking about all that neet equipment, the smell of the carbons, and the sound and look of the film running through the projector.

Look what I grew up doing as a hobby. FILM. Who'da guessed?

Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 01-08-2000, 07:04 PM:

Come to think of it in the days before the multiplex came on the scene I allways showed people around if they asked.At the drive-ins I worked at, they had a large window that looked in to the projection room and before and at intermission kids always gathered at the window to watch the assistant projectionist show the slides,often I would bring them in,it made their night to the drive-in complete .Just another point how many of you remember the assistant projectionist?and John Wilson I will take up your offer next time I'm in Sydney.

------------------

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-14-2000, 01:04 AM:

I have given several dozen tours of my booths in the last six months since I started here at Podunk Theaters Incorporated (sarcasm). I love it and people really get into just how much i love to talk about how it all works. I let them touch the machines and they just feel like they have been part of something magical. Of course we all know just how much tedious work it is but to know we put on a hell of a show is all worthwhile, that is until we have to clean crap off of seats and screwdriver the gum out of our shoes.

I haven't given a tour in the last few weeks as I have been out with a case of satanic flu. I swear to god thats what it was.

------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"

Posted by Chris Wootten (Member # 283) on 01-21-2000, 07:57 AM:

I will give a booth tour to anyone who asks. I am proud of my chosen profession, and if someone wants a peek I let em. I was told by the grey-haired teacher who taught me, many moons ago, that we have a duty to our customers to whisk em away to a fantasyland for an hour or two, then bring em back gently to the here and now. I have always strived to ensure that anyone coming into my cinema gets the best possible experience, I can provide.

If we dont give tours, where will the next generation of operators come from ????

Posted by Martin Frandsen (Member # 74) on 01-21-2000, 08:54 AM:

I would love to work as a film operator, but i make more money with the job i have now wich has nothing to do with film.

I think i'll stick to being a filmcollector + all the theaters were i live dont give a damm about a good presentation anyway.

I would love to visit the US and see the theaters were you nice people run film, maybe you will give me a booth tour. huh!

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 01-21-2000, 04:52 PM:

>>"If we dont give tours, where will the next generation of operators come from ????"<<

McDonald's. Or so it feels when I go to the large multiplexes of today and see the similarities between today's film handlers and the McDonald's folks. When I'm really down, I fear that the whole film handling business is already dead. We're merely seeing ghosts.

I know very well that there are good projectionists working at the multiplexes, but the profession as I know it is about to disappear, and it always makes me sad. (No insult intended.)

So yes; you're right. We really should give more booth tours to those that want it. While there still is time.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-22-2000, 02:33 AM:

I seriously doubt that the future booth staff will be from McDonalds. The bean counters of today's cinemas would never be so choosy.

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 01-22-2000, 05:58 PM:

Key to remember with kids in the booth....
Tell them these projectors are not toys like VCR's.

Touch them in the wrong place they can hurt you! (understatement-but I want the kids to not FEAR the equipment,merely RESPECT it) I follow that with there's no need to be afraid as long as you're not touching anything without my ok. That leads into questions "Why" and "How" can the equipment be dangerous. You can strech the tour this way if that's what the scout leaders or whoever wants. And lead into how the sprockets work.

--Chris

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-23-2000, 05:45 PM:

I just gave a tour to an engineer last night. He kept giving suggestions on improvements to our SPECO platters, etc. When I fully explained how they work and why these modifications would never work, he was in awe. It really does make you feel damn special when you can take one of these college boys through the sprockets (oh if only you could). Makes you wonder who the hell designs these things anyway. Nothing ever works right until a talented projectionist makes it work right.

If the art ever dies and we lose film projection, I will never visit another movie house again.

Give those tours and spread the magic.

------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"

Posted by Megan Penmann (Member # 233) on 01-26-2000, 01:27 AM:

When I started working at my most recent theater, the booth tech told us that tours were absolutely forbidden unless they were pre-approved by him first. Then he told us about a guy he knew that lost a finger in a projector during a tour (the booth operator was fired that day). Another of our projectionists told us about a tour they had given at her previous theater and a little girl with long hair leaned in a little too close and got her hair caught in the projector. (ouch!)

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-26-2000, 02:08 PM:

OUCH! What the hell equipment you got there? Slice O matic 2000?

I have tried to kill a couple of projectionists and even a few customers by shoving them into the system but these damn simplex's and speco platters just wont do any damage. I need some of that dangerous equipment you have there.

------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 01-26-2000, 07:48 PM:

Seriously, what *did* happen to make someone lose a finger? I know that a moving Simplex upper feed sprocket can hurt like hell...

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 03-01-2000, 06:43 PM:

I simply had to revive this thread... I'm not a big friend of booth tours but I had one yesterday that, for once, was really gratifying.

An about 10-year old kid and his dad (who liked to show his son that he knew everything there is to know about projection equipment by nodding and agreeing with me in what he hoped would be the correct places) visited the booth. The kid studied the 35/70mm Favorit70's with some sort of awed silence, checked out the sound racks with growingly HUGE eyes, and watched intently when I threaded one of the Favorit70 projectors, explaining as I went along what I did and why.

After a couple of minutes, the dad decided that they had had enough, thanked me for my time, and motioned the kid to follow him down the stairs. They whispered to each other on their way down, but the last thing I heard before the door closed were two heartfelt "wows", from both of them.

Made my day.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-01-2000, 08:05 PM:

This doesn't have a lot to do with booth tours, but...
When I was 6 or 7 years old one of the neighborhood fathers took me and two other of my playmates to a small local observatory. I saw my first real telescope and got to look through it at the moon. I was amazed and awestruck and have never forgotten it. I can say honestly that it changed my life. Who knows what or how you guys might change a kids life by what you show him or her, or what you might say. You may have an enormous influence on them and their future. Just somethin to think about.

Posted by Daryl Lund (Member # 356) on 03-02-2000, 05:59 PM:

I have given many tours ,also ones during the day that included the whole theatre,with some history about the theatre and early day projection. I loved to show the people the carbon arc lamps. the kids would love it when I would throw the big knife switch and strike the arc.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-02-2000, 02:02 PM:

Well we have just introduced a unique plan for booth tours at Ontario Place
We are starting to sell tickets to tour the Imax booth as well as other technical areas of the park
This is being sold as the tech tour pass and will allow the bearer through the Imax booth with a tour and explanation (even if it delays shows) through the Simulator ride and other back stage areas
Is this a first?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-02-2000, 03:44 PM:

I hope it's the last!!!

Can you imagine the box office selling tickets to tour the booth? Selling tickets implies a right to go into the booth, and no longer becomes something where the operator can say "no" if he feels it is not a good idea with those particular customers or at a good time.

Let's go into the land of make-believe: A busy Friday night and a family of 8 comes by the theater with kids under 5 years old, complete with popcorn butter who simply MUST TOUCH EVERYTHING tours your booth? Of course, the parents will be the type who let their kids run around screaming at the top of their lungs doing whatever they want to, tripping over the film on platters, sticking their fingers into the turning reels on changeover systems, flashing their hands in front of the lenses (of course touching them as well), turning random knobs, etc.

EGAD! I can see it now, and all too vividly because I gave a similar "tour" to a bunch of cub scouts a few years back. The parents thought it was cute and did nothing to stop them! I got complaints from customers about the screaming kids echoing through the port windows, their hand puppets, the kids were touching the film while it was running and when one kid actually tripped a failsafe I think the parents then got the hint (despite my directly telling them to get out) that they needed to GET THE HELL OUT!

I'll bet with selling tickets it would take some kid actually sticking his fingers in a turning projector and getting hurt before the money boys would even consider the consequences of their greed.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-02-2000, 04:08 PM:

Well I am just waiting for one of the 190lb reels (open platters) of Imax film that standaround the perimiter of the booth to get flipped over on a kid hurting them and trashing a $30,000. print.
You just can't tell them anything

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 04-02-2000, 08:02 PM:

Hurting them? You bet! I hope your company's insurance is paid up for these tours. It sounds like they're gonna need it at some point very soon.

Those things would squash me, let alone a small child!

The booth is not a freak show and shouldn't be treated lightly by anyone giving or organising a tour. There's all sorts of nasty shit that can happen. The speed IMAX runs at, a touch of the film path by anyone can put you off screen for the whole day. Then we'd find out the real value of selling tickets to the booth.

Print costs...projector repairs...ohhhhh, my head is acheing just thinking about it.

Gordon, are you running 3D or 2D at your cinema?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-03-2000, 09:15 AM:

Well we are 2d in fact the first permanent Imax theatre 1970
Pictures are in the warehouse
An accident is the only way things change here a case in point
2 weeks ago a Imax print had to be shipped out. The only acces to the booth not via stairs is a ramp down the outside of the building.
The print in its case 300lbs is moved by yourself on a flat cart.
I slipped on some Ice on the ramp and landed on top of the case that accelerated down the ramp and crashed through the plate glass doors of the theatre and imbedded itself in the concrete
It was not a pretty site.
The interesting point was there was very little concern expressed over the bruised shoulded that bent the door frame on impact but the $5,000 to replace the doors and frame
Now a directive all films are moved with 2 people and no public present
FYI we usually give tours when the machine isn't running and we are not shifting prints we run about 6 different titles a day
So any filmtecher is in the area drop buy the coffe is usually on call first to insure we are open 416 314 9943

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-03-2000, 04:24 PM:

If they sold tickets to tour my booth, I would just tell everybody "Sorry, it's sold out".

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 04-03-2000, 09:24 PM:

Since I started this thread and it is now two pages, I think ticket sales to get a behind-the-scenes look is a novel idea, but not one I'm too fond of. I like giving tours, however, like many of you, I prefer to give them when I HAVE TIME, AND TO WORTH WHILE AUDIENCES. The Scouts and other groups I've hosted are very courteous. 13-year-olds who come to see Leo DiCaprio films are not. I'll be damned if they'll get a tour of my booth, weather they buy a "booth tour ticket" or not. Not like they'll learn anything anyway. My opinion: This won't last!

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 04-04-2000, 12:16 AM:

Im all for building booths that have large windows facing the lobby area. This way people can observe the operation without getting in the way. You could tie it up to an atuomated tour type system or museum type
display with graphics, etc...it only takes money! Of course, for the reel projectionists out there, a dark corner out of sight and soundproofed will have to be built in so the
results of difficulties will not be seen or heard by the public!!!

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 04-04-2000, 01:15 PM:

This past Friday Tinseltown hosted another field trip for the local elementary school. Basically we had 100 second graders take a tour of the whole theatre.

What we do is split them up into 4 or 5 groups...

1) Goes to Box Office.
2) Goes to Concession Stand.
3) Goes to Auditorium.
4) Goes to Booth.

The box office Mgr. will pretend to sell them tickets and explain about MPAA ratings, etc. The concession Mgr. shows them how to pop popcorn, etc. The usher Mgr. pretends to take their tickets and explains what else ushers have to do. (Cleaning up other people's messes! ) I give them the booth tour.

I've done it so many times I can do it by heart. Usually, it takes me about 15-20 minutes to give my lecture. It takes about 60-90 minutes to rotate 100 kids (and teachers) through all 4 places.

Right before I take them upstairs I tell them that I have 2 rules:
1) "There's nothing upstairs that you can get hurt by IF you don't touch anything unless I tell you it's okay."
2) "I like to answer questions but not if everybody's talking all at once. Raise your hands and I'll call on you."

As far as the content of the tour, I think it's about the same as most other people... Explain how stuff works, thread up a projector and "start" it. (Just motor the leader through, they don't know the difference.) Show them how to splice film. Answer questions and give them a film clip as a souvineer, then send them on their way.

After everybody is done, sometimes the kids all pack into the auditorium to watch whatever kid's movie there is. (Pre-negotiated price for the group)

Of course, this is all done early, before the theatre opens. I wouldn't have that many kids in the booth during run-time.

If you lay down the law right at the beginning, you shouldn't have trouble. I've only had one group get out of hand in all the times I've done this. I just cut the tour off and sent them downstairs. When the kids in all the other groups showed them their film clips they were all upset that they didn't get any!

I have a lot of fun doing this and it gives me a couple of extra hours so I don't mind as long as I can get some advance notice. (To clean the place up a little! )

Posted by David Miller (Member # 412) on 04-05-2000, 03:37 AM:

Booth tours are a kick. Usually I wait for someone to request one. In between shows I usually prop the booth door open since the booth is enclosed within the theatre. During special screenings and such this is a security issue so I use my best judgement. Most of the time the curious ones will stop in and just peer through the door, with an invite they are excited but cautious about entering the booth.

Most people are curious as to why we have three machines in the booth for a single screen. Actually there are five because of the two side booths. It is fun to explain how the machines run different formats of film. In addition, special care was taken last year in restoring the theater to be historically correct, so it is exciting to explain why we have the Norelco AAII and the Kineton FP-75 for 35 and 70. Basically, from what I understand, the Norelco was used for Cinerama 70. It is especially fun to show off the three Cinerama machines that have been restored to perfect condition after coming out of a closed down theater in Peru and being all rusted up.

Tourists are common at the Cinerama and quite a few projectionist who ran Cinerama stop in. It is exciting to see their reactions to the machines and how everything is put together today. It is also fun to hear their stories from the days of Cinerama.

Booth tours are great. It is fun to show someone the history of the different types of film.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-05-2000, 06:28 AM:

David Miller:

A few of us from Kodak are driving to Dayton Ohio this weekend to see "Seven Wonders of the World" and "How the West Was Won" in 3-Strip Cinerama at John Harvey's New Neon theatre. Would love to tour your booth when you open 3-strip in Seattle later this year. Please keep all of us on Film Forum up to date on the plans and schedule. Any chance new prints are being made?
http://www.neonmovies.com
http://www.seattlecinerama.com

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-05-2000, 11:06 AM:

Another reason NOT to give booth tours (at least not during operating hours):

Recently, one of my theatres at Boca Raton gave a tour to a Girl Scout troop while the shows were going on. One of the little girls leaned over to peer out the projector port and her hair got caught in the motor. It quickly ripped out a big hunk of her scalp.

This was a foolish, foolish idea on the part of the theatre. I haven't heard the latest, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that a sobering lawsuit was pending.

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Posted by Stephen Winner (Member # 8) on 04-05-2000, 08:40 PM:

We welcome people to take a look at our vintage equipment here. I guess it's part of the "Historic Landmark" status. In fact there's a sign on the booth door that says "Please knock and wait for the projectionist to answer if you want to see the booth". We also have a few 8X10 pictures of the booth down in the lobby (how many theaters have that)
Our single-screen booth is a little tight for a whole scout troop, so we have about 4-5 come up at a time. The other kids get to go look at the organ loft, or the swimming pool (spring) in the basement. All in all though, I have only had a few visitors come up.
Mostly adults, outside of scout troops (including my own, I gotta toot my own horn!) and maybe a few kids come up. The old-timers really enjoy seeing the vintage tube amps, and carbon arc's. The kids think the lighting console looks like something out of a horror movie. One even asked if they filmed one there before!

I enjoy showing off the equipment, it's something I'm very proud of. I got a booth tour of this theater when I was 19 years old, and was just as fascinated, if not more, as a 6 year old. I was asking seriously technical questions too! This is what got me interested in film handling, collecting, and this part-time fun job!

I HAVE LONG HAIR, AND HAVE NEVER GOTTEN IT CAUGHT IN A PROJECTOR, OR OTHER FILM-HANDLING DEVICE!!!

Posted by Stephen Winner (Member # 8) on 04-05-2000, 08:50 PM:

The IMAX dome at the Science Museum of Virginia (right down the road) has a neat setup.

You enter the theater from the bottom floor. While you wait to enter, there are benches in the room, The opposite wall has glass windows into the booth. While you are waiting for the show to start, you can watch the projectionist threading up, and the projector, which is mounted on an elevator, raise up into the center for projection. The platter stays on the floor, and long ribbons of film follow it up to the projecting position. After that, the ushers open the doors, and let everyone in.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 04-05-2000, 10:35 PM:

A few weeks ago I was with some friends at the Mall of America. We finnished up walking around the mall a little earlier than planned so I convinced my friends a booth tour of the General Cinema would be fun. I'd hear a lot about this place and was looking forward to it. While they ate in the foodcourt I went up to the theater to see if I could get the tour pre-arranged, not actually expecting any trouble getting one. It must be noted before I go on that it was 3:15 on a Wednesday afternoon.

I approached the box office and the gentleman there was very polite. He told me to go into the theater and talk to the doorperson about locating a manager. I got into the theater and was greeted by a friendly albeit obviouly bored ticket taker. I told that I was interested in taking tour of their projection booth. She attempted to get a manager on her headset but couldn't. She then called over a floor manager and this is where things got bad. As the floor manager was walking over to the ticket lady he made some rude comment about not being able to hear her till he got closer. When he got there he said in a gruff voice to her, "What do you want." She said I could tell him, which I did. "He gave me a reproachfull look and in a cocky demeening voice said, "What for?" I explained it was professional interest and he just shook his head and said, "No, they're (the manager) busy right now," and walked away.

Ok, 3:15 on a Wednesday afternoon. No one standing at the box office (the guy in there was reading a book), no patrons in the lobby, no movies opening that day (nothing to tear down then), and the manager is too busy to even give me a 5 minute glimpse of their booth? Not too mention the way the jerk treated me (you really had to be there to understand how rude he was).

General Cinema Mall of America-2 thumbs down for customer service.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-06-2000, 06:43 AM:

Dustin:

Sorry to hear of your bad experience at the GCC Mall of America. Unfortunately, the floor staff in theatres often fears letting "strangers" up to see the booth. They are responsible for security, after all. Having a business card from your own theatre, or some proof that you are indeed a fellow projectionist, sometimes helps (unless you are a competitor).

The good news is that the MOM's projectionist Andrew D'Vrey is a regular here on Film-Tech Forum. So maybe next time, you'll have an invite.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-06-2000, 09:43 AM:

Dustin, yes, call ahead of time and with some indication that you are who you say you are. You just dropped in on them and, with all due respect, they did the right thing by not letting you in (albeit not very tactfully). For all they knew, you could've been there to rob them. Give them the benefit of the doubt.

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Posted by David Miller (Member # 412) on 04-06-2000, 03:43 PM:

John Pytlak:

Exciting to hear you are driving to Dayton this weekend to see the Cinerama films. I wish I would have had a chance to get out there. John Harvey was in Seattle when we installed the Cinerama machines in November of last year. He supplied some of the test film we ran.

From what I have heard, just to keep everyone posted, we will be running Cinerama sometime during May. Exact dates have not been mentioned yet. I am not sure if we will have new prints, but probably not. Certain 'political' issues are still being hammered out before we will see any new prints. I am not that close to the matter so I don't want to spread rumors.

As for booth tours, anyone is welcome when they are in Seattle. I am normally there evenings and weekends, and if not the management is great about giving tours if they have time.

David Miller
Projectionist, Seattle Cinerama
millerdk@plu.edu

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 04-06-2000, 07:16 PM:

Tim,

It is not the fact I was denied a tour. That is their right. It is the fact I was treated so rudely. The floor manager treated his staff (the ticket taker) as rudely as he did me. The lame excuse about being busy just took the cake.

Another thing too, if I was going to rob them, I wouldn't come in trying to get a booth tour, that would garuantee they'd recall my face so a sketch artist could accuratley draw it. If I was going to rob them I'd buy a ticket for a film (whats 5 bucks when your about to steal a couple thousand?) and wait for an appropriately dead time to come out and make my demands.

Not that I've ever thought about anything like that .

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-07-2000, 08:47 AM:

Yes, he needed to be taught some manners, it sounds like. I don't disagree with you there.

However, criminals are stupid and will do ANYTHING. So you can't be too careful. After all, they didn't care that anyone saw their faces, when they robbed a Pompano Beach theatre here in the 70s. The crooks intended to KILL everyone with a bullet in the back of the head, after they'd tied them up, face down, in the office...

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-07-2000, 09:05 AM:

Kinda makes you feel good about those "no handgun" policies, eh? What I mean is "legally", if the theater has an employee sign a piece of paper stating it is against company policy to carry a concealed weapon, then it is ILLEGAL by law for them to do so while on premesis. However, since I've never been to a theater that actually conforms to the state guidelines on just how large the "no handgun" signs are required to be, it is perfectly legal for a person with a permit to visit them fully loaded and ready to go.

I don't have the law handy to quote, but I do remember a couple of the guidelines on it such as "minimum 1 inch high letters", "complete contrasting colors, meaning "black letters on white background" or vice versa and such a sign must be posted at "every possible entrance to the building". I've never seen a theater comply with those and all of the other rules, hence feel free to go to the movies packin' heat...it's perfectly legal! A good thing the employees cannot protect themselves.

(Those are based on Texas concealed handgun laws. It probably varies from state to state.)