This is topic survey - favorite equipment dealers in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-01-2000, 06:04 PM:
Traffic here seems to be getting a bit light, so I thought I'd offer this survey: What's your favorite theatre equipment dealer? I guess that most of the chains purchase parts and supplies in bulk and then re-distribute them to the individual theatres, but all the independents still have to buy their stuff from someone.
As for me, I can't say that I've bought much stuff from anyone, but I've had good experiences with Cardinal Sound in Baltimore and Boston Light & Sound here in Boston. Both of these places have been very helpful to me on the phone and (with BL&S) in person. Additionally, I've been very happy with the stuff that I've purchased from Brad ("Mr. Film-Guard" himself); he has great prices on lots of stuff.
I'm sure that there are other good dealers in other parts of the US and world, and I'll bet that the Film-Tech readers would be interested in hearing of them.
Posted by Mike Colley (Member # 327) on 03-01-2000, 06:51 PM:
In the past, I have had some very good experiences dealing with NCS in Englewood, CO. If there was some info I needed about a part that they didn't have, they would always call the manufacturer and call me back with an answer. Recently, they have closed operations in Englewood and I had to deal with the Tampa, FL office. I must say that the customer service was not at the same high level in Tampa. Overall, pretty good prices. Now that I am with Regal, I have no idea who they deal with for supplies, but through our tech, I have gotten some very good prices on Kelmar film cleaners and related supplies.
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-01-2000, 07:32 PM:
American Cinema Equipment in Portland Ore. works for me.
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-01-2000, 08:49 PM:
Yes, Scott Hicks' American Cinema Equipment in Portland, Oregon
There website is http://www.cinequip.com
Posted by Marc Jones (Member # 29) on 03-01-2000, 11:33 PM:
We have had good luck with Hadden Theatre Supply. Knowledgable, reasonably priced on equipment, especially Dolby.Marc Jones
Posted by Robb Johnston (Member # 239) on 03-01-2000, 11:40 PM:
I too use NCS, but I call the Cincinatti office. I nearly always deal with the same representative and get great customer service. prompt return of calls for info, and when she couldn't get me on the phone, she dropped me an email to make sure I got the info.
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-02-2000, 12:07 AM:
John Eikhoff at Northwest Theatre Equipment in Wendell, Idaho sells equipment and does our service too. (I think he's also lurking on this forum....come out and say something, John!) Good service, fair prices and he even buys me a beer now and then.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-02-2000, 01:47 AM:
Roy Lisenbee at ASC in Dallas is exceptional. This man can quote damn near any part number from memory!
Phone: 214/265-9303 ext 822I generally recommend to most people Ben Kehe at Motion Picture Projection Services in Oklahoma for the absolute best service. It is a smaller operation than most and great attention to individuals is given every time. Ben will spend the time to track down atypical items for you, has fair prices and will work with you through email if preferred.
Email: MPPSinc@aol.com
Phone: 918/355-1452
And of course, there's me too...but I don't carry everything. 
Thanks for the kind words Scott.
Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 03-02-2000, 04:48 AM:
Charlie & Perry Achee at National Cinema Service.
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-02-2000, 06:59 AM:
Entertainment Equipment Corporation in Buffalo. It's over thirty years ago that I first dealt with Jim Lavorato (Senior), when I picked up trailers, parts and carbons in person for the Grandview Drive-In in Angola NY. At the time, they also handled the National Screen Service franchise for trailers and promotional materials. I always enjoyed spending an hour or two with Jim, "talking shop".Jim Junior now runs the business, which has expanded into Hollywood and Toronto as well. They have some very good technical people working with them (including Film-Tech regular Gordon McLeod), and are active in presenting an annual technical seminar for their clients.
If you have a good dealer nearby, it's much more convenient when there's a problem --- if need be, service and parts are only a few hours away. The price might be lower if you shop around, but personal service is worth something too.
Companies that employ knowledgeable people who love the movie industry are the ones to support. If they're just a parts warehouse, all you'll get are parts.
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion 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 Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 03-02-2000, 04:13 PM:
The folks at GTS in Salt Lake City are a fine bunch.
Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 03-02-2000, 05:31 PM:
Good ones we have dealt with:Chapin Cutler at Boston Light & Sound-chapin@blsi.com and 617-787-3131;
Ross Krantz at Cinema Engineering Services in Alb., NM-505-281-5998; and,
Gary Stanley at Projection and Sound Services-bigcamera@ibm.net and 303-694-9132
Posted by Daryl Lund (Member # 356) on 03-02-2000, 05:42 PM:
I vote for Scott Hicks owner of American Cinema Equipment Potland OR and John Eikoff. The CHEHALIS THEATRE Chehalis, WA
Posted by Chris Trainor (Member # 9) on 03-02-2000, 08:39 PM:
Well, Mark from GTS set me up with the equipment I use in my personal screening room. Definately a good guy.Right now i'm dealing mostly with Cinema Service & Supply out of Peabody, Ma. Seems to be a good place, and they're the ones i've picked to help me rebuild a 3 screen theater here in RI.
--Chris
Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 03-02-2000, 10:48 PM:
Hadden gets my vote. Louis is great to talk to,full of good advice.--Chris
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 03-02-2000, 11:53 PM:
We occasionally go out of GTS in salt lake city, utah, but for the most part we use our own in house supply company, Media Active. Back in the days when Consolidated actually had a lot of theatres it was a good idea to have our own supplier, but with most of them closed due to OVER POPULATION by wiener film group (including ALL megaplexes), it seems to be more trouble than it is worth, too much accounting involved. ------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 03-03-2000, 02:02 PM:
We'll deal with whomever is cheapest and most efficient.For a long while now it's been Cinema Products International in Nashville... we seem to have a good relationship with them.
We tell them what we want... and we get what we want. A lot of times we'll tell our old dealer(s) what we needed and they'd send us too much or something WAAAYYY different than what we really wanted.
Our company has an odd way of fixing things... so when we SPECIFICALLY say that we want only HALF the parts to make the broken lamphouse work... then we want only HALF the parts to make the broken lamphouse work.
The rest of the parts are usually found in our cannibalized barn-o-equipment.
Posted by William Dickson (Member # 314) on 03-03-2000, 02:07 PM:
I have to give "props" to MTS West and in particular Johnny. Last weekend we had a bulb blow in a projector and I contacted Johnny on a Sunday and he made a special trip to the office to make sure they had the part in stock. He then drove about 70 miles one-way from Burbank to Fontana (near San Bernardino) to deliver the bulb. Because of him we only lost one show. Otherwise we probably would have lost Sunday and Monday beacause Monday was President's Day and they weren't open. Thanks again to Johnny and MTS West for helping me.