Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: US booths like Fort Knox

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Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 09-28-2003, 03:13 PM:

I have been a regular visitor to ShoWest for the
past six years. Everey time we (me and one of my
employees) also visit either New York or Los Angeles.
We have always looked forward to see as many theaters
as possible, and hopefully a visit to the booth and
a nice talk to the projectionist.

5 out of 10 times we were denied seeing the auditoriums
except if we bought tickets (wich we did mostly) But
getting into the projection booths seemed like trying to
get into Fort Knox, even though we explained who we were.

In New York we didn´t get in anywhere. They were even quite
unfriendly. At Sony´s theater (Lincoln Center?) they promised
to arrange a visit if we came back the next day. So we went
back, but the answer was NO - we couldn´t see the booth.

In Los Angeles we managed to see ONE booth at a megaplex and
Mann´s Chineese mainly because I simply opened the door and
walked in. The projectionist seemed quite shocked, but loosened
up a bit when I explained who I was.

So my question is: what mysterious secrets are kept behind
the closed doors of US booths? What´s in there that the rest
of the world hasn´t got?

We´ve been to Denmark, England, Holland, Italy. They gladly
show us their booths, as we do in Sweden as well. France is
also a problem. They understand english quite well up till
the point when you ask to see the booth - then they don´t
understand a word you say.

I really don´t mean to affend anyone, but frankly it has
been very dissapointing to be denied so many times. We
really looked forward to meet theater people in their
"natural environment" in the US.

Perhaps we just had bad luck, the wrong place at the wrong
time?

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 09-28-2003, 03:41 PM:

In some places you legally cannot allow anyone, aside from law enforcement officers, into a projection booth while it is running.

With deregulation / scrapping of licensing this is less common but may still exist in some places.

Personally, in some booths, if I don't have the time to babysit whoever comes into the booth and watch their every step, I won't let them up. It's not hard for somebody that's not used to a dark booth to trip over the takeup path to your platter and end up inserting an unplanned intermission in to your show.

Of course, if there's any possible way I can make time to let them up, I do.

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 09-28-2003, 03:48 PM:

You made the mistake of letting us into your booths, and we have copied them down to the lighting fixtures. We don't want you to know this, so we won't let you in the booth. [Big Grin]

If you wish to see American booth personal in their "natural enviroment", you should go to the local bar. [beer]

Sorry that you have had problems. Some people in this country are realy paranoid, either due to 9-11, or they just think everybody is trying to rip something off. Did you try asking for the general manager?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-28-2003, 04:02 PM:

There are a lot of reasons. Here are a few.

*Chain lawyers are overly paranoid. As such they go overboard with theater policies, thinking you are a private investigator of some sort trying to get some information on a law that is being broken in the booth or something overly dangerous up there that hurt their client. (You can vary that a little bit to fit the particular sueing situation.)

*The booth is a friggin' pigsty and they don't want you to see it in that condition. (Whether it ever looks decent or not.)

*The theater has had accidents in the past when people were permitted to look around the booth. (Such as tripping on a film, shutting down a show.)

*The projectionist/manager is mean.

*The projectionist cannot leave the "Gilligan's Island stationary bike" made out of bamboo sticks to keep the projector running.

*The Jack Valenti theory: a bootleg is currently in process out of a port window.

What makes booth tours even harder is when you bring a camera. Just TRY and get a tour when you have a camera in your hand. It's damn near impossible. Again, this goes back mostly to the paranoia over the sueing thing. This is why we have such a hard time getting new additions for the picture warehouse.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-28-2003, 04:18 PM:

I can't speak for American theatres, I've only been to one, and there I was invited up.

Over here it varies, my first visit to the 'box' was in 1963, aged six. I had been to see Disney's 'The Sword in the Stone'. I got my mother to ask if I could go up; I'm not sure if the regulations had been relaxed by that time, but they let me up anyway. I remember I was amased by it all, carbon arcs of course, glass bulb mercury rectifiers, liquid houselight dimmers all in a traditional outdoor box, with separate rewind room, dimmer room, rectifier room, non-sync room, battery room, film vault etc. and several operators.

Today, small, independant cinemas will often allow visits, multiplexes generally will not, except for organised visits such as those by the Cinema Theatre Association which I used to be a member of, and will get round to joining again sometime. Other places where I have been refused include the news theatre at Victoria railway station on its closing night, by then showing cartoons, which refused due to having a nitrate newsreel in the box, which was the last thing they ran. The National Film Theatre, probably due to being too busy, though they used to hold open days from time to time, and I did get in on one of those, and the Empire Leicester Square, which gave no reason.

Most other single screen and small cinemas have allowed visits, sometimes only by prior arrangement.

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 09-28-2003, 04:20 PM:

Bruce: We tried everything. If the manager was there
she/he was busy and we were mostly asked to come
back some other day. We didn´t feel very much like
doing that.

I would like to add that I have been a projectionist
for a very long time, and the employees that accompany
me on our trips are trained projectionists as well.
This we have always pointed out. We know what to do and
not to do when visiting booths.

One time in New York an usher(is that the right word?)
got an OK from the manager for us to see the booth.
He stopped the projectionist who came walking by us
and told him we would like to see the booth. The man
looked as if he´d been kicked by a horse, shook his
head, turned around and walked away from us.

The usher had an even longer face than we did.

Well, I guess it´s not the projectionists who makes
the rules, but people with ties who can´t even spell
the word theater. Still I think it´s a shame we can´t
meet at your "home".

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 09-28-2003, 04:42 PM:

On a visit to New York I was welcomed into the booth and spent about an hour chatting. It was the only show I'd asked at as I didn't want to spend my whole trip having a busman's holiday, but the welcome was warm and very enjoyable.

In the UK generally there's no problem, but with the increasing reliance on single manning, I've worked running 15 screens on my own, it's easy to understand why you may be refused.... they just don't have time to catch a breath!

Employers just don't want people to see the conditions some projectionists work under. Often over 12 hour shifts with no breaks. Nice idea that Working time directive thing.... when's it coming?

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-28-2003, 04:51 PM:

These days, with the main chains, it's probably a matter of corporate policy, but traditionally, the projection box was the chief's 'castle'; even the manager wouldn't enter without his permission.

As for photography, I've never been refused in any projection box which I was permitted to visit. This is often on a 'personal use only, not for publication' basis, and, obviously, flash photography is not permitted while there is an audience in the house.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 09-28-2003, 05:13 PM:

That is why we have the internet and websites like this. Next time you come to Los Angeles, let me know and I will hook you up with the right people to get into any booth you want.

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 09-28-2003, 07:15 PM:

FWIW, visit my booth anytime:) I can also get you into any of the other shoeboxes we have to offer up here.

Josh

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 09-28-2003, 10:33 PM:

Thomas, you didn't get in because you didn't give the password: "Film-Tech". [Big Grin]

Posted by Dean Kollet (Member # 1789) on 09-28-2003, 11:05 PM:

I'd let you in our booth.....the combination is...
1.....2.....3.....4....5

sorry, I just watched spaceballs [Smile]

Posted by Nicholas Roznovsky (Member # 861) on 09-28-2003, 11:36 PM:

That's incredible! That's the combination on my luggage! [Wink]

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 09-29-2003, 12:22 AM:

As others have stated here, it is probablly a matter of corporate policy, which I can understand. I was working for a large chain when the 9/11 incident happend. Shortly thereafter, we recieved an email that we were not to allow anyone that we did not personally know into the booth. I guess other chains have adopted similar polcies. After seeing a movie at another large chain, I explained to the manager who I was and asked for a toor of the booth, but politely said that he couldn't and explained why. At least he was polite about it. These policies are not an excuse to be rude.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-29-2003, 01:36 AM:

At the National Film Theatre/MOMI we were told not to on health and safety grounds - i.e. fear of legal action if some kid stuck his or her finger in a sprocket. Only one of the other cinemas I worked in had any set policy on this (box tours only with the duty manager's permission), and there no-one took any notice of it. In most places I would get a steady trickle of people - one every couple of months or so, I'd guess - asking to see the box and I'd always show them round if I had time.

I used to think that the NFT was a bit paranoid on the safety issue, until I started working for a company which, IMHO, had a recklessly stupid policy with regard to kids. This was that for the Saturday morning children's matinee, a child could come up to the projection box and start the film if it was their birthday. Most of them weren't tall enough to reach the buttons and douser anyway and their parent used to have to lift them up to do it. A lot of these children were as young as 4-5. If a xenon had blown up when they were standing next to the lamphouse (OK it couldn't actually hurt them but I'm sure their parents would have sued for 'psychological injury'), or they lost their balance and fallen against a moving part it could have been a serious incident. Furthermore in one of these sites there was a long flight of stairs up to the box and under company rules we were forbidden to carry out any first aid on members of the public. So the injured child would have been stuck up there without help until the ambulance arrived.

I don't know if the company concerned still does that gimmick, but if so it's an accident waiting to happen.

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 09-29-2003, 05:01 AM:

If you ever make it to Seattle, WA. we'll show you any booth you want to see.
I really don't understand these replys at all!
I guess we're a bit more friendly here to people in the trade that some others.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-29-2003, 05:11 AM:

Hey Peter, got a camera? hint, hint [Wink]

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-29-2003, 06:52 AM:

Generally, I haven't had a problem getting into booths for a quick tour. The key seems to be a) only ask during slow periods...never on a weekend evening and b) avoid serious-looking managers and go for the boxoffice or concession attendant instead. Some managers will just refuse instead of asking the projectionist directly. If the request actually gets to the projectionist, though, there's usually no problem, and most are quite friendly and happy to give a quick tour. This is one of the few useful purposes of projectionist licensing, as I can show my license as a way to prove that I at least know enough not to do anything stupid while visiting the booth (though, by Mass. state law, visitors aren't officially permitted while shows are in progress).

Obviously, don't ask for a tour if there's been a major presentation problem with your show (no need to embarass the projectionist further), and be extra-polite to everyone at the theatre. Don't just walk into the booth without asking beforehand unless you personally know the operator. And don't ask when the projectionist is obviously busy (Thursday nights, 70mm shows, interlock shows, etc.; film festivals are sometimes OK, though, unless you are the director of the film currently being screened, in which case the booth is off limits for the duration of the screening!).

Sadly, this country is lawsuit-happy, and I can see why employees at large chains would be nervous about letting random people take pictures of their booth, even for an innocuous purpose like this site. It would be easy for someone to claim that pics are for "personal use" and then use them as "evidence" in a lawsuit about health and safety violations, etc.

Posted by Stephen Brown (Member # 292) on 09-29-2003, 07:03 AM:

Well the only time I've wanted to go up in a booth in the US, I got an invite to go straight in. I visited the El Capitan in Los Angeles and was talking to the shift manager, I asked if I could take some photos of the foyer/entrance, and he said no, not without Disneys permission, but he would let me into the booth if I wanted to. Got straight in....

Saw the El Capitan Pre-Show happen. They were running a double feature of Alladdin in Dolby Digital and Beauty and the Beast in 6 track mag 70MM. Very good afternoon, well spent

Steve Brown

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 09-29-2003, 09:34 AM:

In our 16 we always give booth tours as long as there's sufficient manpower to supervise the guest. We also give pre-arranged school tours and even hand out scraps of trailers as souvenirs to the kids. New York, well that IS a different story!

Posted by Steve Anderson (Member # 364) on 09-29-2003, 09:57 AM:

I always welcome people who would like to view the booth.

If they bring a toddler with them we put them on the top platter and in the make-up mode we give the little tikes a nice spin on the platter. [Wink]

Posted by Jim Spohn (Member # 1547) on 09-29-2003, 10:49 AM:

While visiting my booth, a guy who claimed to be a union spotlight operator, noticed the little mirror on the side of the lamphouse that shows the arc image on a target to adjust trim. I watched with horror when he recahed out and tweaked it. It all happened in slow motion, with no time to stop him!! Another time, a visiting projectionist noticed the port shutter release cord next to the door, and you guessed it, gave it a slight tug. Down came the fire shutters on all the ports and shut down power to the booth. Although I still take people into the booth, I'm very selective and allow no visitors while a show is running. ...Jim

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 09-29-2003, 11:17 AM:

I think the advice given above, to write, call or email in advance asking permission, and showing up with your license, union card or similar credentials in hand, will most often gain you admission. In New York, I used to ask an usher to show my card to the projectionist on duty and ask if I might visit the booth or speak to him on the intercom.

If you show up unannounced, wearing suits and ties, your visit might look like an official surprise inspection, or worse!

Once I welcomed a former student, who came up with a girlfriend who slung her heavy satchel handbag on the floor, tripping the changeover pedal, which stopped the show. After that, I usually limited visitors to one at a time, as I couldn't watch more plus the show simultaneously.

Posted by Alan Plester (Member # 852) on 09-29-2003, 12:19 PM:

The manager would always knock before entering our box in Banbury and ask if it was o k to enter. Regarding anybody who wanted to view, it was always the Manager who would bring the person up and ask on their behalf, never turned anyone away as far as I remember.

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 09-29-2003, 12:24 PM:

Yes Leo City Screen still do that stupid policy... along with many others. It's fine until something happens and then the shit hits the fan!

NO ONE was allowed up to my projection room unless the duty manager phoned first and asked if it was a suitable time. The duty projectionist had the last word and I would always stand by them. I would go nuts if people suddenly appeard without clearing it first.

Why so coy about saying City Screen [Big Grin]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-29-2003, 12:47 PM:

quote:
If they bring a toddler with them we put them on the top platter and in the make-up mode we give the little tikes a nice spin on the platter.

I am sure you know how to properly set up the platter MUT, but as soon as you said this I had visions of the MUT being left with the speed up and the makeup switch off. What came to my mind was putting the toddler on the top platter, then flipping the switch to makeup so that the deck could be turned on, but instead launching the kid across the room.

I don't think that is a good idea at all. If for whatever reason something went wrong, even if it was a MUT cable that had a short in it causing the platter to pop into motion, you would be messing with that kid's life. I don't think many infants would survive the trip.

Different, but very bad as well, I can see a kid playing around with a MUT. Imagine a Christie mut for example where the kid had the speed turned up and the kid had his fingers in between the reel shaft and drive shaft, then fiddling with the switches producing an "instant on" to high speed. It would take entire fingers off.

If children must come into the booth for a scout trip tour or something, I will only do it in groups of 2 or 3. No more. The parents don't know what kind of danger exists up there, so only you know what to be watching the kids for.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-29-2003, 12:55 PM:

Brad, it's much worse than that, you might damage the projector. [Eek!]

I have visions of a platter suddenly speeding up to several hundred rpm, and a minute child desparately trying to hang on!

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 09-29-2003, 12:59 PM:

Robins used to have that daft Saturday morning matninee thing going on too. Toddlers and G21's is not a good mixture.......

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-29-2003, 03:01 PM:

That platter/tykes/spin/MUT thing sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 09-29-2003, 03:03 PM:

ok, i'm pretty sure that baby-on-a-platter was just a joke.

i did show some "film"-makers who were location scouting around our booth and recommended other booths in the area where they might find changeover projection if that's what they were looking for. i wasn't reprimanded exactly, but was told that wasn't such a good idea, although it seemed pretty harmless. probably just paranoia.

i do think it's funny that some theaters don't lock their booths at all (but do lock the janitor's closet!). it makes it easier to find a projectionist when there's a problem though.

carl

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 09-29-2003, 03:03 PM:

As "strangers in town" we had no idea at all what
theaters was worth looking at, so we simply drove
around LA and mostly walked in NY, and dropped in at
places that looked interesting, and finally ANY place
that would let us in. That´s why we couldn´t announce
our arrival, which ofcourse would have been a good idea.

However, after reading all replys I can understand
there are difficulties, and I respect that. Thank you
for explaining.

And thank you very much for all invitations!!! We will
be most happy to visit you if we get there. If you ever come
to Sweden, you´re more than welcome to visit us.

In all fairness I must say, that our visits to the USA
are the No 1 event of the year for us. Most theaters we
have seen are great, and the presentations definately OK.
If I should name a favorite it must be the CineramaDome
in Los Angeles. Too bad it´s such a long trip to make, but
I would really have wanted to see Mad Mad World next month.

Posted by Steve Anderson (Member # 364) on 09-29-2003, 04:32 PM:

Good Lord!!!!!!!!

It was a joke. [Eek!]

I can't believe you thought someone would do that.

P.S On special days we play a game with the audience "catch the old Xenon bulb" [thumbsup]

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 09-29-2003, 04:44 PM:

quote:
I can't believe you thought someone would do that.

Dumber things have been suggested. Like having a news crew come into the cramped booth to do a story on the technicians changing the 15K lamps in a 3D Imax projector. [uhoh]

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 09-29-2003, 04:46 PM:

Can't understand why anyone would want to look in the projection room anyway! After all everyone knows we just inseert a tape and press play! I had the BBC in for two days doing some filming and they were taken back as to what was in the projection room.

Just to explain they were filming for a comedy show where they were watching an audience, with infa red cameras, talking thru the film. The film would stop without notice and a video insert was projected with two 'Super hero's" pointing fingers saying "there's too much talking going on....." The Hero's would then run into the auditorium and attack.... sorry interview the audience..... Not seen it broadcast yet so I'm sure it will be much funnier on the night than it was to work it!

They had no idea what was involved with showing a film in a cinema. I was asked to stop, rewind, don't show the ads & trailers.... then yes, show the ads & trailers. They were really shocked to find that once remove from a show things could not so easily be inserted again! Talk about living on another planet.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 09-29-2003, 05:06 PM:

Gee Adam, when I put kids on a platter for a ride, I ALWAYS remove the center ring/payout and replace it with a special "single-prong" holder. When you sit them down on that, they don't fall off.

>>> Phil

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 09-29-2003, 09:34 PM:

quote:
If you ever make it to Seattle, WA.....
I guess we're a bit more friendly here to people in the trade that some others.

Peter makes a good point. I haven't been anywhere near the Seattle or Tacoma locals since 1978, and I haven't had any trouble visiting any booth I was ever interested in seeing.

...Matter of fact, my daughter and I once were allowed to repair a small problem at a trade screening at the Seattle Cinerama, where the platter had decided to toss the last 1/4 of "Pearl Harbor". Granted, it's unlikely it would have happened if the projectionist hadn't been out of town, but I wouldn't have been totally surprised if they hadn't just shut the screening down rather than let an "out of towner" in their booth.

... on the other hand... it did have two of the decks tied up... guess it was better to chance it than dump a show or two until they could get someone in there to fix it.

Over the years, we've been as accommodating as possible at our theatres... especially when kids are involved. Today's generation can literally grow up without ever seeing motion picture film, now that there's none of it in the classroom. I used to be able to relate the workings of the booth to a classroom projector by explaining that everything was pretty much the same... just bigger. Now, I find it really wakes people up to see that we really don't just plug in a DVD and hit the play button. It actually helps us relate the cost of a ticket to what it takes to run a theatre. As for the PR value of a booth tour... just look at Mom & Dad's faces as their kid leaves the booth with a foot or two of an old trailer. For that matter, give them a chunk of it as you send them out the door. Even better, let one of them hit the "start" button at showtime and explain to them what they just did. I've had adults mention these visits to me, some years after I showed them our "engine room".

Personally, even some 8 or 9 years later, I remain impressed that the chief engineers of a couple of our State ferry boats have let me downstairs to see their engine & control rooms, even though the the doors all say "crew only".

If you have the time, the inclination and your company policy allows... these things can work for you.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-29-2003, 10:28 PM:

years ago in an old Carbon house the manager used to give kiddy booth tours so I would always leave the peerless door onpen on a light arc facing the booth door to create a discouragement [evil]

I still have the boss bring tours of 30 + people into the Imax booth usually as I am shifting a print and that is a small room

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 09-29-2003, 11:16 PM:

quote:
I visited the El Capitan in Los Angeles...

I was at the El Cap in 1998 when they had 'Hercules' there, and after the show, I tried to get a booth tour, spoke to 3 people, showed business cards and everything, and the last guy I spoke to said that it was 'union regulations' prohibiting anyone from entering the booth (a total load of [bs]

, I know of many union shops that have let me in no questions asked)... One of these days, I'll get in [Smile]

If anyone is in the area of any of the Cinema West theatres and wishes a tour, just let me know and I will escort you through...

-Aaron

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-29-2003, 11:41 PM:

I don't mind giving tours in a booth. Never have worried about it. But now, it is no more than two people at a time since it is a small booth.

Some big corporates are not as forgiving as most people are when it comes to a booth tour.

I know Cinemaorgazmasmelleyplex in my area is so stiff-lipped about it that you would think you are asking for a gallon of blood to see their junkhouses.

Jack said:

quote:
Personally, even some 8 or 9 years later, I remain impressed that the chief engineers of a couple of our State ferry boats have let me downstairs to see their engine & control rooms, even though the the doors all say "crew only".

Absolutely!!!!

Most of the engineers are great people. There are three of them that are good friends of mine. I spent many-a-hours in the engine and control rooms of the ferries over the years. I can say I only ran across one of the whole bunch that was a complete dork. And other engineers agreed with me, too.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 09-29-2003, 11:50 PM:

I'm in venues where I'm running relief or a special event show. I tell folks (or management) that I'm very busy, & that I can't handle distractions or sudden problems. Especially if running 2000 foot changeovers &/or carbon arc in a booth that must be put back up to speed mechanically. No visitors during the show or in the 1/2 hour before, but they're very welcome afterwards.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-29-2003, 11:55 PM:

I think most of the independents that are community orientated and are in touch with the community with an idea of providing a service will allow booth tours if they are arranged in advance.

Posted by Ron Keillor (Member # 1790) on 09-30-2003, 12:20 AM:

The lousy employee relations of at least one company so terrifies them that they almost actively discourage attendance at their theatres by ex-projectionists and -managers for fear of sabotage. This is highly unlikely, the ex-es want nothing to do with the company anymore and are quite happy to see it waste money on inefficiencies and inability to do routine maintenance because of neophyte, entry-level wage staffing.

Posted by Bob Peticolas (Member # 328) on 09-30-2003, 01:45 PM:

Since we are a Film Society, we activitly encourage booth tours. It's a great way to get new members. If they have kids, I'll give them a full tour and description of how it works. Then, if they're still up there at show time, I'll have the kid(s) turn on the light, start the projector, and dim the house lights. (This is all on three close together controls, so it's no problem for even the youngest to do it.) As our booth window is rather large, they can see the screen and exactly what is happening. The smiles on their faces are worth it!! [Smile]

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 09-30-2003, 07:11 PM:

I've only been bitched at once for unauthorized people up in the booth with me. As it turned out the kid was a former employee of the theatre in question, but nobody on staff worked here back in those days except me. He just simply wandered up looking for me but ran into a manager coming out of the office with a handful of change. I'm sure that was kinda scary for the manager. I think Paul is right on when he says independents booths are more easily accessable due to the fact that we are more community oriented.

In terms of how old one must be to gain access to the booth, I'd say no younger than junior high. Just this summer we did a tour for pre-school kids and it was a joke. Those little bastards had no clue where they were or what they were even looking at. Another operator conducted the tour while I did make-ups (thats right . . . Friday morning [Mad]

). Anyway, two three-year-olds ran over to see what I was doing, getting right up eye level with the Potts table as it was rewinding a reel at full speed. It was an accident waiting to happen, and the dumb-shit chaperon had no idea of the danger either [Roll Eyes]

.

Many of my close friends are also friends with the management crew and are permitted to vist me upstairs at any point so long as they tell the box office person they are there. When I give booth tours to scout troops, or youth groups the manager just locks the office door and its no problem. One thing I do joke about is both access points to the booth are guarded by cameras, the doors are bugged with alarms, and motion detectors hang throughout . . . talk about working for NORAD [Big Grin]

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 09-30-2003, 09:34 PM:

quote:
One thing I do joke about is both access points to the booth are guarded by cameras, the doors are bugged with alarms, and motion detectors hang throughout . . . talk about working for NORAD

Could it be that the owners might be concerned about the theft of some useable audio equipment? Those amplifiers can be used for lots of neat things... and there are plenty of stories about amps, processors and even stage speakers being gone for some time before anyone notices. Aside from the studios' dire warnings about print security, that's reason enough for me to have all those NORAD gizmoes in my booth. Just before I did that install, some lowlife stole my boxoffice ticketing computer & a real nice touch-screen monitor.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-30-2003, 09:47 PM:

Jack, There is always some sleazy low-life bastard that wants to steal things that does not belong to them. Alot of it might be "inside jobs."

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 10-02-2003, 12:40 AM:

Our projection room is always open. It is a side that they wonder about but never see. They seem to be intrigued by the chatter of film thru the projector, the bright light, and the size of the machines.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 10-03-2003, 10:52 PM:

quote:
Could it be the owners are concerned about the theft of useable equipment such as amps, stage speakers, etc. etc.

Yes, and also like most modern multiplexes our nerve center for operations is also upstairs. I don't have a problem with the owners concern, but instead remember the days when the booth was wide open and a hell of a lot easy to access with a hangover [Razz]