Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: After 4.5 years I'm back....It's in my blood

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Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 04-30-2011, 12:52 AM:

Thats right folks, after 4.5 years away from the cinema, tonight I worked my first shift a usher/staff/manager tonight at the newly refurbished Humber Cinema is Toronto. Well almost refurbished.

I always felt that certain people would understand that you have to have theatre "in your blood" to want to do this type of thing. I worked my normal day shift today (7-3) at my full time job, as I then went to the Humber for my first night shift.

Let's just say that it was an amazing night.

First off, we were running 30 minutes late. We had debit, no credit...it was CASH only. Ticket prices were $12 and we had no point of sale system. We had no fountain pop so bottles had to do. Popcorn oil was coconut. It was like the old days, we were using rolled "Admit" one tickets.

The first show was to start at 7pm. We were not finished installing the seats, the lineup outside was forming and was like 40 people long. The theater was a closed 1940's cinema with a traditional downstairs theatre as well as well as an upstairs balcony. From the lineup outside, the customers in the line could see the seats being brought up the stairs to be installed right around the time the first show was to start. I was dispatched by the owner to go talk to the crowd....

I went out to the crowd to explain that we were running late, one of the crowd members mentioned that they could see the seats being brought up...It was funny, the final touches were being put on the one cinema that we were running. While mingling with the crowd which was now forming around the block "haha blockbuster" I discovered some diehard fans and a few interesting people. One such guy could tell me all the movies he saw and where...another was a rep from the Canadian distributor of Twilight and there were a bunch who were there with there kids.

Finally the doors were about to open, I was doing the ticket taking tonight. We now officially opened, the very first customer was a 12 year old boy with a skateboard. We had a brand new carpet, theatre doors without handles, freshly painted theatre floor with new lighting (the old wiing was ripped out of the walls)...the choice of concessions was popcorn and soda bottles..no candy or other stuff until ready.

On to the show

The auditorium is a nicely renovated cinema. It seats 300 people, its the formally converted balcony cinema...it has new seats and curved rows. The screen is about 35 feet. The best way to describe the theatre is kind of like a traditional IMAX theatre, really, really wide with a about 15 rows.

Just before the show I was asked by the owner to make an announcement to the crowd. I came in front of them and made it. I basically sushed them like Conan Obrien and said (not word-for-word) "Thank you for the being the very first audience tonight at the Humber. I remember seeing many movies here back in the day, I saw Point Break, Pure Luck, Apt Pupil, Shinning Through and Jingle all the Way...tonight you are going to Fast Five in real 35mm film, none of this digital cinema stuff, you are also going to hear Dolby Digital sound that has been carefully calibrated, you will hear the surrounds! Lastly, I want to point out the promotion that we are doing...blah, blah, blah"...I got a thunderous round of applause"

The Show Starts

Let me just say, the owner spared no expense (well maybe THX)...this was first rate 35mm projection and the sound was awesome. It was a little echoey but it was good. Sharp, clean and clear picture that was 35mm that was not stretched to the max...It was stunning

Interesting Stats

35 foot screen

Non cheap independent feel (this theatre will be finished well when up to speed)

1st show, 85 patrons, 2nd show 45 patrons

Dolby Digital Sound

CP Processor

Spared no expense projection booth

70mm mag option

Real colour backlit sign of new movies advertisment (like a poster but on the marquee NO LETTERS)

Old style urinals from the 70s (original)

Nice seats (not old)

Vintage Stuff

Emergency booth exit is an original sliding door from the 40s, 50s, 60s, or sometime

1970s authenic automation on the wall of the booth (not working, left for show)...it has cinema 1 status and cinema 2

1940's??? heating system where you add oil and set the pressure to heat the booth (not working, left for show)

Chain pulley to open the old 1940's glass window about 25 feet above the booth glass

Xenon power supply is 25 feet and three rooms away from the projector

1940's backrooms everywhere. Step to access rooms are made of wood and steps are only 6 inches

Old staff lockers, I have to go through them

There are pulley systems behind the main (unfinsished) screen

Cool stuff I found

I found a 10 year old faded washroom signed checklist

I found an advertisment of the when Cineplex Odeon promoted "Reel Mail" to your email

I found writing on the walls in the backrooms

I found a emergency fire hose underneath the main theatre (unfinished) screen

There are all kind of attics

1970s authenic automation on the wall of the booth (not working, left for show)

1940's??? heating system where you add oil and set the pressure to heat the booth (not working, left for show)

Out by the exit doors, there is a sign that says "No parking...thank you Cineplex Odeon Management" its all faded

Coolest feature

The upstairs theatre was a smoking cinema as I am told. Under the seats were vents (they look like landmines) that suck the cigarette smoke from the theatre so the downstairs patrons are not bothered. They are still there, newly painted, rusted inside but not working of course

It's in my blood

Folks, my heart is in the theatre. I have it in my blood, when I touched the 35mm film print of "Fast Five"....It felt special. I was so calm when I made the announcement to the crowd. The owner at one point had to tell me to relax and calm down because I was so hiper and excited.

This was such a fun night, there is something about the experience of being in a movie theatre that not too many places can replicate.

My second shift is Saturday night.

The theatre is where I want to be...

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 04-30-2011, 01:01 AM:

Personal preference: Cocoanut oil is the best oil for theater popcorn.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 04-30-2011, 01:05 AM:

Nice Story, glad your back in the game.

side note though...any reason you've double and triple posted some of the stuff? I didn't really pay much attention after I reread the same stuff twice.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 04-30-2011, 01:08 AM:

Hey kurt. I cut and pasted from word. Some glitch I think, trying to fix it.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-30-2011, 02:19 AM:

quote: Tom Petrov
CP Processor

Woooowww! A real CP?

quote: Tom Petrov
Old style urinals from the 70s (original)

You list this as a "feature"? Was pissing more exciting in the 70's or something?

quote: Tom Petrov

Xenon power supply is 25 feet and three rooms away from the projector

That will make troubleshooting really fun.

Question: Why are you running shows when the place isn't even finished? You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 04-30-2011, 04:52 AM:

I was going to ask this as well Joe, but I don't know. Something told me not to.

Like I said before, glad your back in the game. But it really was a bad move opening before you even had seats in the place. Then your first show was late to start. Not a good first impression for sure. Would like to see some pictures of this place.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 04-30-2011, 08:23 AM:

That CP should read, CP500

When I pay the bills for the place, then I woudl be able to tell you why the power supply was 25 feet away.

As for opening when the seats were not installed yet, well it was advertised everywhere that the theatre was opening, it would be worse to not open after the opening was advertisted.

The seats were the final thing, remember, this is independent........what has the corporate world done to everyone

I will have some pictures soon.

Posted by Alan Plester (Member # 852) on 04-30-2011, 08:36 AM:

read it and drooled congratulations

Posted by Bajsic Bojan (Member # 4928) on 04-30-2011, 09:10 AM:

first off, congrats for the opening, glad you like to be in the game.

otoh, you are happy that you got 85 people in a 300 seat auditorium on the opening night of the theater? is this all your target audience? how big is the town?

every time we opened, reopened or when i attended an opening, it was considered an epic failure to not get at least 90% of the seats full.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 04-30-2011, 11:30 AM:

From your post it doesnt sound like the seats were the final thing, you had a semi no operable concession stand. No credit system or a even a POS to track sales. While no one here is trying to rain on our parade, we're just wondering what happened to make it not fully ready? Sounds like the owner had a set date to open, why wern't these things finished in time. More all day all night shifts to get it open? Judging from your post the owner trusts you to be the face of his theatre if he's not willing to go out and talk to the first crowd or give the first announcment. So thats why your getting these questions Tom. Its also not "What has the Corporate world done to everyone" Everyone here should be about ultimate presentation this jus doesn't sound that great.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 04-30-2011, 11:58 AM:

I agree Kurt...they were NOT ready to open and would have been better off postponing a day or two to get things finalized. I do wonder how many people would have really shown up, but perhaps saw the "parade of seats" and turned away and left.

One part of me thinks this thread was just another "Hey look at me, I'm Tom Petrov" attention grab. [Roll Eyes]

I will say that overall though it is always good to hear of a theatre that has been saved and re-opened so there is some credit due for that in any event.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 04-30-2011, 12:43 PM:

quote: Tom Petrov
sound was awesome. It was a little echoey but it was good.

Well...that's *almost* THX, I guess...

And please do make sure we get a shot of those urinals in the warehouse...please.

Posted by Jeff Arellano (Member # 3249) on 04-30-2011, 01:23 PM:

Its in my blood too. After just over 8 years out of the industry, I got back in. Had to. I missed it. It feels great to be back. Even though I'm at a very slow theater for the moment, we have been gaining momentum as summer is approaching, and last night experienced our busiest day ever, even adding a 2nd late show.

Im happy.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-30-2011, 04:26 PM:

quote: Kurt Zupin was the last to post
The seats were the final thing

Aside from what Kurt mentioned, you yourself also said:

quote: Tom Petrov

There are pulley systems behind the main (unfinsished) screen

The screen itself is unfinished!

Posted by Todd Cornwall (Member # 2205) on 04-30-2011, 08:20 PM:

I don't understand why people put unrealistic deadlines on things like this. What made you say THAT was the day that you had to be open? People and the town are going to remember their first experience there...and it didn't sound 100%.

On the other hand, I completely understand your excitement about being back in the business. Congratulations.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-30-2011, 08:44 PM:

quote: Todd Cornwall
I don't understand why people put unrealistic deadlines on things like this.

Film bookings.

OMG we have to be open for Tentpole Movie II: The Sequel.

We can't open the week before, because nothing big opens that week and we don't want to have disappointing grosses for the opening weekend.

We can't open the week after, because then we miss the big opening weekend.

If we can't open by Tentpole Movie II: The Sequel, then we might as well give up and wait for the holiday release of Big Movie IV, but by then we will have so much invested in the property that we won't want it just sitting there; we MUST open for Tentpole.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 05-01-2011, 08:04 AM:

Congrats!

One small note: the remote xenon rectifier will yield you hard-to-start bulbs at higher hours unless your engineer REALLY understands the seemingly ridiculous size of wire required even for 2000 watts. ("000" is not unusual.) Louis

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-01-2011, 09:20 AM:

I've NEVER had an issue with remote location of rectifiers and hard to strike lamps. Yes, the DC leads do tend to grow in size a bit... triple-0 on a 2K...that rectifier must be in the next county!

I also never had any service issues with rectifiers living in the rectifier room instead of the booth. During the "dark times" at the Uptown we had switch mode rectifiers that would shoot their guts out pretty regularly. They were located in the booth...the final straw is when one shot flames out 3-feet. We finally got new rectifiers for the rectifier room (located in Charlie-booth)...Christie CCX-70Us...never had a lick of problem. Despite running 150A or so...I think the cable was only in the 00 range. Then again, it was asbestos so there wasn't a heat/fire concern. Cabling was one place were asbestos should have been left alone...it really worked better there than the alternatives.

-Steve

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 05-01-2011, 11:34 AM:

Thanks everybody for the comments. I am not the one with the money behind this venture, so I really can't comment on much. Let me just say, everyone got served, everyone had the chance to buy popcorn or pop, and the bathrooms are both fully functioning. Also, the picture quality of 35mm in the open theatre does 35mm justice.

So I did some more digging around the theatre between shows. I found a number of interesting things.

* A whole pile of 70mm stuff. I found a sign from an old projection booth that was hand written in multiple colours. The sign basically said "make sure you use spacers" or something like that with 70mm.

* I found some 70mm film. They are trailers and snipes. One of the trailers at the end says "Exclusive Toronto Engagement in 70mm and Dolby Stereo on Dec 8th at the York Theatre"....there was no magnetic soundtrack on these ???

* I also found preserved 70mm Cineplex Odeon Theatres Feature Presentation ads. Everything is preserved on these trailers including the magnetic soundtrack. No scratches on these

* Old "unused" popcorn bags were found.

* Found a number of old splicers

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-01-2011, 05:48 PM:

Tom, I'm surprised nobody has pointed this out yet, but the mere fact you were installing seats immediately before the first show meant the auditorium was NOT properly B-chained.

I'll be looking for your review of Tentpole Movie II: The Sequel in the reviews forum.

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 05-01-2011, 08:30 PM:

One of the identical sister theaters to the Humber was the Odeon 1&2 in London Ontario!It was sadly demolished in 1988ish [Frown]

The architect of these theaters died before the Grand openings in a tragic car or boating accident!
These Odeon theaters were great! Two sets of curtains on the main stage!

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 05-01-2011, 09:19 PM:

Victor, there a orginal curtains still hanging from way up top. However they cut and only about 4 feet remain. It looks like someone left them on purpose.

Thats too bad the sister theatre was destroyed.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-02-2011, 08:04 AM:

Those are not the original curtains new drapes were installed when it was twined
Jay English designed the majority of the odeon projects in canada
the humber was rather unique in that it was built with the orchestra section below street grade due to the lot
The Fairlawn and the Danforth and Hyland were the other large odeons in toronto

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 05-02-2011, 08:36 AM:

Tom,

Can this cinema run 70mm? 5 speakers behind the screen?

The owner also needs a website!

All I can say is good luck with that!

A single screen cinema with only 300 seats, with 35mm projectors.

Your really gonna have to be unique with the programming to survive in Toronto which has a massively high number of screens.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 05-02-2011, 09:51 AM:

Hey Paul.

No, there is not 5 speakers behind the screen. I only said 70mag because there is the option for it on the CP500 that was installed. I should of been more clear on that.

The Humber will actually be a 4 plex. The upstairs theatre will be the premiere cinema while the downstairs cinema will be divided into 3 screens.

The marquee has spots for 4 movie plastic-plexi-glass ads on the outside. Inside there are 4 "Now Playing" movie poster spots.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 05-02-2011, 11:33 AM:

quote: Tom Petrov
The marquee has spots for 4 movie plastic-plexi-glass ads on the outside. Inside there are 4 "Now Playing" movie poster spots.

Oh well that sounds like a really good reason to cut up one theatre and make 3 tiny theatres. Gotta fill those poster cases

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 05-02-2011, 12:11 PM:

Kurt-the downstairs theatre was 580 seats. Lots and lots of wasted space. There is no business case to make it 580...splitting it up would be more economical. Three 200 seat theatres make much more sense.

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 05-02-2011, 12:14 PM:

A shame to chop up the downstairs [Frown]

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 05-02-2011, 12:16 PM:

A shame yes, but are 580 seats really needed in a 70 year old building?

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 05-02-2011, 12:29 PM:

Is the original stage being divided as well?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-02-2011, 01:00 PM:

quote: Tom Petrov
the downstairs theatre was 580 seats. Lots and lots of wasted space. There is no business case to make it 580...splitting it up would be more economical. Three 200 seat theatres make much more sense.

How you gonna put three 200-seaters in a space where there were 580 seats before? Sounds like an engineering miracle. I want to see photos.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 05-02-2011, 01:38 PM:

Those are going to be the ugliest little boxes ever. You forget about wall space, and all the other things that go in a theatre. Your going to lose at least 25% of your space before you ever get a seat in.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 05-02-2011, 02:15 PM:

Two screens down stairs might be a better idea. Or just leave it as one and get rid of every other row, put in bar rails and get a booze licence. Then your at least different.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-02-2011, 02:25 PM:

Why they did not put in digital right off the bat is beyond me. They will just be shit canning all that no expense spared film stuff in a few years anyway. Oh well, I guess the owners have money to burn...

MArk

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 05-02-2011, 02:34 PM:

Here is a photo I have taken. The bottom part of the frame covering the screen was not yet installed. More photos of the theatre can be found in the warehouse as soon as they are uploaded

Posted by Jason Whyte (Member # 1433) on 05-03-2011, 12:56 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
I'll be looking for your review of Tentpole Movie II: The Sequel in the reviews forum.

$10 bet that it starts with the words "Here is a movie that..." [Wink]

Seriously though, get more pictures!

Posted by Andres Briano (Member # 4621) on 05-10-2011, 09:24 AM:

quote: Steve Guttag
triple-0 on a 2K...that rectifier must be in the next county!

Hey Tom,
It seems to me that certain members of the forum are standing in line to take a shot at you. What´s up with that?

The survival of our "species" clearly depends on offering terrific service to our patrons. That much has been established. As it has been endlessly [sleep]

pointed out, your theatre was not ready to open. Really not. (On the other hand, I can´t think of a single theatre that was 100% ready on opening day).

Disclaimers aside, I don´t see a good reason here to piss on someone else. The guy is happy to be back in the industry and writes a lengthy post detailing his experiences... mainly to share them with us. And yet he is met with arrogance. Some of you should know better. We should help Tom improve and not laugh at his efforts.

Andrés

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 09-22-2011, 03:45 PM:

During the calm and cool night of Wednesday September 21st, after the late shows, The Humber Cinema has now CLOSED!

It stayed open for close to 5 months and has now closed. There was no word of the closing.

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 09-22-2011, 04:27 PM:

This is very upsetting to me! [Frown]

I was making plans to go and revisit paradise!

I found nothing about the closing on the website or the Googlenet.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 09-22-2011, 05:04 PM:

Oh well. At least they tried to make it work.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 09-22-2011, 06:24 PM:

Sorry to hear about that, Tom, but a fast Google of "Humber Cinema Toronto" reveals almost uniformly negative reviews of the place: No AC on a boiling hot day, building opened without being finished, small screen, little to no concession choice, and whoever this guy 'Rui' is, he comes off like an industrial grade douche (go here and scroll down to read his exchange with a customer named Eleni. If that's your attitude towards people with legitimate complaints . . . ).

Damn shame, I used to spend a hell of a lot of time in Toronto and remember this place in its original incarnation. While I'm sure that none of this stuff had anything to do with you personally, you DO only get one chance to make a first impression, as was pointed out above. Best wishes for your future plans.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 09-25-2011, 08:03 PM:

The AC will die at the most inopportune times but signs to that effect should have been posted and comp tickets offered to those who wanted to leave before the show was over.

Our AC was out for 9 days this summer and the outside temp was above 100F on all of them. We had signs on every door informing of the lack of AC. We gave cups and ice to all who asked and gave comp tickets to anybody who left before any show was over. By the 9th night the temp in the auditorium was 90 degrees, a manager explained the problems and what we were offering before every movie. Amazingly attendance was almost unaffected and very few free tickets were issued. We also played both films an extra week. The booth was 98 deg the last night.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 09-25-2011, 11:22 PM:

From that exchange, it appears Rui forgot the golden rule... always treat the customer the way you'd wish to be treated. But then, Rui could be a masochist, and he treated his customers exactly the way he wants to be treated.

Posted by Jim Henk (Member # 3628) on 09-26-2011, 01:46 AM:

So sorry it closed. Thanks for sharing the experience, though.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 09-28-2011, 03:28 AM:

Wow. I can certainly understand why the place may have closed if even a minute percentage of customers were treated in the same manner as the poster who wrote in about the lack of air..

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 09-28-2011, 11:52 AM:

Well I really hope someone can make this place work!
Such a shame to see it come so close and then...

Wait ,what happened?

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 11-20-2011, 11:24 PM:

In this never ending saga. The Humber Cinema has re-opened as a one screen theatre on Nov 17th with Breaking Dawn....

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 11-20-2011, 11:59 PM:

Which in reference to Adam Martin's post on page 2 would make this Tentpole Movie IV: Part 1.
If they are not busy with this movie, something is wrong.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-21-2011, 10:34 PM:

Hopefully the soda machine was working this time.