Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Need some advice on restoring a single screen Drive In

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Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 05-26-2008, 06:43 PM:

Ok So I was just hired on to work a single screen Drive in. When I started on Friday I found out that they haven't actually had a projectionist for over 2 years. The one person threading and breaking down films just went in and figured it out one day. My first night I noticed all the prints were running on the platter (Alpha platter) soundtrack down and against the flow of platter rotation. I wanted to quit right there. The so called booth is in a closet in the middle of the snack bar. It only has 1 makeup table that is in poor condition and the no actual building bench.

They are always running 2 movies so there is only one free platter available to build when no movies are running. No real good light source. and no A/C. It is a complete mess. There is alot of work to be done.

Well to make a long story short I basically got placed in charge of the booth/closet. I'm have over 5 years experience in a booth but never as a head projectionist and there is still alot I have to learn before I feel I'm suited enough for the job. However right now I have to deal with this situation.

So my question is....If there are any tips that should be checking for right now. Or things that I should look into please let me know. What are things you would check if you walked into this problem? Or better yet if anybody knows someone in the North Georgia Area that would be willing to come and take a look without breaking our wallets please let me know.

Anything would be helpfull right now.

The projector is a Century SA and the platter system is a 3 stack Alpha

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-26-2008, 07:25 PM:

First of all, you need to make your topic header more descriptive.

Second, check the oil level in the intermittent and add a couple of drops to the sprocket shafts (there are oiling holes for this). Open the back of the machine and check how old the grease is on the gears. Clear away all old grease and replace it. Check drive belts for wear and general deterioration. Are they too loose? Too tight?

Check all rollers are rotating and clean them. Thread soundtrack up on the plate. Clean the inside of the Century. Clean the lenses. Clean the ports. Clean the cupboard. Build a make-up bench. Fix the make-up table. Run a Dolby loop and set levels correctly. Make sure extraction is working from the lamphouse and that it's got a good 'suck' happening. Clean the mirror and heat glass. Vacuum the inside of the lamphouse. Do not swallow charred and dried up moths while doing so. Install Kelmar Cleaner and FilmGuard.

Send info on the drive-in's website. No website? Build website. Read Film-Tech.

Have fun.

Oh, and welcome to Film-Tech. [thumbsup]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-26-2008, 07:31 PM:

Michael - in case you missed the very first part of John's rather overwhelming list, you need to change your thread title to something that tells exactly what the thread is about. (Hit the "Edit" button next to your opening post and you can edit your thread title.)

Suggestion: "Need tips to get a neglected drive-in booth back in shape"

Welcome to the forum! But take note that things here are pretty structured. To take full advantage of what's offered here, read the rules page first.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-26-2008, 07:32 PM:

quote: John Wilson
First of all, you need to make your topic header more descriptive.

That's damned good advice John!

Second he needs to read the rules if he wants to not get booted off of the forums.

Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 05-26-2008, 07:39 PM:

Ok sorry I changed the topic and I have read the rules. I hope I didn't offend anyone. or ruffle any feathers. Thanks for the advice so far though Its all been great I got a 2 page list so far.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 05-26-2008, 08:29 PM:

Well, first, I wouldn't let the soundtrack being down make me think of quitting... big deal... turn it around... it's fixed.

What you describe as a booth isn't unheard of in small, single screen Mom & Pops. Most of them were winging it when they built the places to begin with.

There's nothing wrong with a Century setup. Like John says... clean them up and make sure your lubrication is taken care of. The alpha platter is fine for a drive-in, and you don't need more than one makeup table for one platter.

I'd want to build a bench, assuming you can't get them to spring for a Kelmar. You can find manual rewinders around for inspection purposes and mount them on a sheet of melamine... done deal.

Hopefully, your lenses, lamphouse and sound system are decent. Past that, just clean the place up, keep it simple & have some fun. You'll develop a better plan to upgrade things, if necessary, after you've been around for awhile and learned what you the customers and owners will support

Get a film cleaner & Film Guard. Drive-ins are notoriously dusty. If you can't get the airflow filtered (most don't), this stuff will keep your film looking like new.

Congrats on your new job!

Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 05-26-2008, 08:43 PM:

Thank you for your input Jack. the only thing they have there is a blower that is mounted outside by the window it really doesn't do any justice. The theater itself is right in the middle of the woods in the foothills of the smokies. Saturday I had a beetle get past the blower and actual get caught in the film being wrapped up on the platter. That is something I have never seen before. Do they make a lens holder? For instance When were using Scope Our flat lens has to sit on a shelf next to the window and I'm just guessing here but im don't think thats good on the lense. Does century make any type of safe housings for the lenses when there not being used and if they do can you recommend where I can find them

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-26-2008, 08:51 PM:

You need a Neumade lens cabinet. It holds four lenses (or eight if you use the little "shelf" things that come with it, and your scope lenses aren't too long), plus aperture plates. Any theatre equipment supplier can order these and/or might have a used one lying around.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 05-27-2008, 02:48 AM:

I had a carpenter make a lens box for me. He did a great job....lined it with bright red microfiber felt. Sometimes you can get away with home-made, which sounds like that's the way this booth was put together.

Thing is, once you get some shows under your belt, you'll get yourself a list of items that you need and things that need maintenance attention. When you've got a good list, tell the owners that they need to purchase the stuff on the list and most importantly, they need to call in a qualified tech to do a yearly preventative maintenance and alignment. Even if you've got the place running and there aren't any super serious problems, you will want a tech to come in anyway.

You will want him to do a thorough sound system alignment so everything is to spec. My guess is that probably hasn't been done since the red reader was installed, and even that might be questionable.

He needs to make sure the lot is getting good radio transmission strength at all car positions and that sound is balanced in both left and right channels as its heard IN AN FM RECEIVER.

The lamphouse especially should be thoroughly, properly aligned to make sure that you are getting the most light out of it as is possible. Light on a DI screen is gold and you can't afford to loose not a single lumen of it.

Let him check the anamorphic lens focus and preset alignment. You don't want to take the lens out only to find that when you put it back it isn't properly preset. You will want him to check the front distance adjustment ring to make sure the focus is a good as it can be on your scope films. I suggest you read the instructions in the TIPS section of this forum Focusing Anamorphics. Your tech should perform this alignement. If you see him just looking at the footage markings on the lens barrel and he doesn't do a check on the screen with a target film as per the Film-Tech instructions (you'll have them printed out and ready to hand to him), hand him the printout and ask him politely if he wouldn't mind doing it as per the instructions. The procedure in the TIPS is the best way to get as perfect a focus as you can with an anamorphic lens, which is very critical to begin with.

And yah, best of luck to you. You'll make changes in the booth, get everything so you feel comfortable with it and before you know it, it will be YOUR booth.

Oh, PS. I have found the BEST way to get owners to actually purchase the stuff you need, rather than just telling them and expecting them to follow through, a better way is to make a list of all your items and next to each item, put all the information the owner will need to place an order with a simple phone call. Give the item name, part number or identifier, list the vendor for the item, their contact information - phone number, website, etc., the item's price and how many/much you need. In other words, do the footwork yourself. If you're able to hand the owner a list that allows him to just place the order or orders without needing to do research himself, there is a much better chance that items will be ordered in a timely manner.

We have just such a consumable product/vendor list which we keep adding to as the need for items comes up -- keep it as a database in the computer. Everything from splicing tape to lens cleaner to hold-down artist tape is listed. When the time comes, you just fill in the number of pieces that you need of any item on the list and hand it to the owner. Oh yah, and next to each item we also have a box that can be checked: [ ] Urgently needed/Time sensitive. I find using this comsumabls/vendor's list works better than any other method that I have tried in the past.

[ 05-27-2008, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Frank Angel ]

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 05-27-2008, 10:06 AM:

Download a copy of the manuals for the projector, lamphouse, sound system, and platter. Alot of the previous answers assume you have this information, but I bet they aren't anywhere in the booth. Then familiarize yourself with them. They exist to make your regular maintenance and troubleshooting much easier

Good luck.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 05-27-2008, 04:19 PM:

I also run a single screen drive-in (in addition to a 5 screen indoor). In addition to what's already been mentioned, I would check the state of your bulb. Getting enough light on the screen may be one of the bigger issues in terms of satisfying the customers. We put in a new reflector last year and our picture is probably 20% brighter.

If your sound is broadcast over an FM frequency, you might want to check the frequency when everything is turned off to make sure it's still clear. If not, look into changing to a different frequency.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 05-27-2008, 10:38 PM:

Justin, what was the reflector you put in? Was it that Techni something (I can't recall the exact name of the company), but supposedly they modify lamphouses, mostly it's the new mirror and they claim a dramatic increase in light thru-put. But I also have heard conflicting reports of how this magic is achieved or if it's just allot of hype and slight of hand.

I am running 4500w in our outdoor "Walk-In" on a 55ft scope screen. The light is nice enough -- haven't measured it yet, but I would guess it's around 12 - 14 ftl -- but if I could get and extra 20% more with nothing more than this upgrade and still be able to keep the same lamphouse and rectifier, and allow them to start a little earlier, I think they would be interested in such an upgrade. We always have the same battle every show. I say it's too light to start, they say constantly pester me to go up, "Come on, Frankie, why can't we start?!" And every show I have to make up stuff like, "Just give me a few minutes guys -- there is something wrong with the light." Under my breath: "Yah, the freakin SUNLIGHT, you dumbasses -- it hasn't even set yet!"

20% brighter would be a good thing.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 05-27-2008, 11:26 PM:

I'll have to find out. We have a Christie 4K lamp house. The reflector looked like the one I took out, but there was definitely a noticeable increase in the light output. The reflector was purchased through Harrah's Theatre Equipment - the contact info is on the Film Guard authorized dealers list.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 05-28-2008, 12:00 AM:

It's not a Technilite, then.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-28-2008, 07:24 AM:

Actually if your Drive In is related to the Redwood here in SLC and others in southern CA and Arizona, and GA then you do have a Technilite converted lamphouse as they converted the entire Drive Inn chain over to Technilite about three years ago. It IS also VERY POSSIBLE that Harrah's has been certified by Robert as other dealers have been to install Technilite conversions and they may either stock the spare reflectors or just drop ship them from Robert to you. The easiest way to tell is that it would have been a Glass Reflector mounted in a Christie 4kw Lamphouse.

Cheers!
Mark

[ 05-28-2008, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: Mark Gulbrandsen ]

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 05-28-2008, 07:48 AM:

This is an independent drive-in. I don't really know the history of the equipment before I took over about 3 years ago. However, I'm fairly certain it's been the same projection setup for at least 15 years - since whenever they stopped using carbon arcs.

I'm fairly certain they had speaker pole because I've come across a small servicing kit for the speakers, but there are no other traces. I know there has been an FM transmitter in place for quite a few years and the AM transmitter is practically an antique. The drive-in opened around 1975 and I don't really know much of the history prior to about 1997.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 05-28-2008, 11:07 AM:

From everything I'm seeing here, I'd go slow on the owners. You don't want to scare them with a big list of items, when they've been happily chugging along with what they've got for years. Pick your items carefully, starting with the ones that will make the biggest noticeable difference to the owners and their customers. That will build your credibility and make it easier to get "detail" items down the road.

Lens cabinets are great... but won't make much difference on the screen. For now, clean the lenses you have , put them in a secure corner away from that window and put a clean cloth or something on top of them to keep the dust off. You can always get a decent cabinet at a swap meet, if your owners are really cheap. It won't be a Neumade, but it'll do pretty much the same thing.

Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 05-28-2008, 11:52 AM:

Jack I couldn't agree more. I actually went to the owners already with a huge list and I thought he was going to have a heart attack. So then I asked him about having a tech come out and check everything. That didn't go so well either. So I guess I just start off one small thing at atime. The projector itself is very noisy so I think Friday I'm going to go ahead and grease and oil everything and check the belts if that works it will be alot quieter and I know he will notice that. What are some other things don't dont really cost anything I can do now to build my credibility?

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 05-28-2008, 02:21 PM:

Michael you should try to get all the old grease off the gears before putting new grease on. Clean the gears all up nice and new looking and then put a thin coat of new grease on everything don't glump it on just a nice even coat. As to the oil just add new oil but try not to over oil the units! Century's don't take a lot of oil so just add till it doesn't need it anymore. Easy to see on the intermittent not so easy on the other points just oil till it wont take more! After you are sure you have enough oil in them it is just a few drops a day.

Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 05-28-2008, 03:06 PM:

Thankyou for that. Now It has been a couple of years since I worked on Century I'm used to Christies. Coreect me if I'm wrong but the oil window on the intermittent when the projector is not running should look full. When the projector is running it should look 1/2 empty. If that is correct then this one definetly needs it. right now it looks 1/2 empty when off and looks completely empty when running. It has been awhile and I want to make sure that I have it right!

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 05-28-2008, 03:10 PM:

According to century books half full when off is correct I tend to run a wee bit more than half full if you have to much it just throws it out the back and uses it in the rest of the machine. You can usually see just a tad of oil at the bottom of window when the unit is running!

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-29-2008, 10:20 PM:

There are lines on the oil window to show you where the oil level should be when stopped. Pick the line that most aligns with the rake of the projector and you're away.

The window should look empty when running the motor.

Posted by Paul J. Neuhaus (Member # 3205) on 06-01-2008, 10:59 AM:

First of all congratulations on your new venture!

As a prior theatre manager and as a Marine now I am always sent to places with problems and things to fix. This is a good thing.

In my outside opinion you were hired based on your experience to come in and make a positive difference. Don't start by damning those before you. Like mentioned before in this post lots of these operations are just held together with bailing wire and duct tape. Making the best out of what is available with limited knowledge and funds.

Take this as an opportunity to shine! Fix things up and make the changes to make this a premier booth.

You're not at a multiplex or huge operation. You will have to get creative in some approaches. You will have a shortage on equipment and you will probably have to learn to rebuild things instead of just replacing them. This just makes you better rounded and aware that expenditures on equipment do affect the bottom line.

Search these forums and read all you can you CAN make a positive difference!