This is topic Trip to Texas Part II in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 04-29-2003, 09:23 AM:
Paul and I are kicking around the idea of another trip to Texas this year in the first half of June, after my graduation. Anyone want to point out what we should see or do on the way down? Anyone want us to drop by and say hello?
Yes Brad we will stay longer than last time ![[beer]](graemlins/beer.gif)
Josh
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-29-2003, 01:04 PM:
We are looking forward to meeting all of you again. Hopefully, we will meet more! It was a great trip last year!
This year we will plan it out better since we have a little more time to play with.
Hopefully, we will be able to visit some "Grand Old Barns" and museums along the way. Maybe even Lavezzi, LP Associates, and Strong's platter plant and Strong International again.
Any more ideas? We are all ears.... ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-29-2003, 04:13 PM:
It had to be June. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I'm gonna be so busy that month.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 04-29-2003, 04:20 PM:
Paul,
Any idea when you'll be at Brads?
LP Assoc... in L.A.?
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-29-2003, 05:00 PM:
Phil, we don't know the exact date. it is still in the planning stages. LP Associates in Kansas City is what we were referring to.
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 04-29-2003, 05:33 PM:
Josh & Paul,
Have you experienced the River Walk in San Antonio? It's fun to take a barge ride through the exquisitely landscaped canals, and you can dine on a restaurant barge while enjoying the cool of the evening. Lots of international restaurants along shore too, with music.
Touristy, maybe, but fun!!
San Antonio also boasts the Magic Lantern Castle/Museum, along a highway. Check out Jack's website and let him know you're coming, and he'll give you the royal treatment.
My daughter, while an art student at Rice U., took her parents on a tour of "The Other Houston", including a visit to the Orange House, the Beer-Can House (yes, entirely made of beer cans), a sculptors' studio yard with 53 gigantic hollow statue heads of all the US presidents and assorted historical characters, garden restaurants, and really fine, specialized
private and public museums, as well as the Rice campus, with its modern Romanesque architecture and live-oak trees.
I wouldn't advise spending ALL your time at theatres...
Gerard
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-29-2003, 06:05 PM:
What to do in Texas on your next trip? One idea would be checking out an IMAX scan/blowup of "The Matrix: Reloaded" if it hits one of the DFW area's IMAX theaters in time. Anyone know a release date on that one?
An excursion to the Lawton area would be at least a good hundred or so miles out of your way versus just staying on I-35 from Oklahoma City to the Dallas area. But we have a pretty cool wildlife refuge with a bunch of buffalo and wild longhorn cattle (very dangerous though). There's some halfway decent mountain scenery (about the only kind you could expect to get in any southern plains state). And the Carmike theater we have here is pretty decent. I really need to twist Jack Connor's arm and get him to register in these forums.
One other theater-related curiousity is the Washita Theater in Cordele, OK. This is a real THX certified theater in a town with only around 2000 or so residents. I wonder if that makes Cordele the smallest town anywhere with THX?
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-30-2003, 01:52 PM:
It looks like part of our run to Texas will cover the LaVezzi plant in Glendale Heights, Illinois. I talked to Mr. Norm Laudbach this morning, and things look very good. Thank you, Norm.
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 04-30-2003, 09:13 PM:
Josh and Paul,
If you have time to come to Austin, this is what we will be playing the first half of the month. Come see us at the Paramount.
John
Sun, June 1
THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
Tues-Wed, June 3-4
(Fayard Nicholas in Person -- June 4!)
The Nicholas Brothers -- Harold & Fayard -- astounded movie audiences in the '30s and '40s with their astonishingly athletic tap dancing. Fayard, now 89, will be on hand to introduce "Stormy Weather" on June 4, as part of Tapestry Dance Company's "Soul to Sole" festival.
STORMY WEATHER (1943)
DOWN ARGENTINE WAY (1940)
(Plus, "Batman & Robin," Chapter 4.)
Fri-Sat, June 5-6
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (1972)(Plus, "Batman & Robin," Chapter 5)
THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN (1989)
Sat-Sun, June 7-8
POLTERGEIST (1982)
THE HAUNTING (1963)
Tues-Wed, June 10-11
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966)
BUTTERFIELD 8 (1960)
Thurs & Sat, June 12 & 14
CITIZEN KANE (1941)(Plus "Batman & Robin," Chapter 6")
THE THIRD MAN (1949)
Tues-Wed, June 17-18
THE PARTY (1968). (Plus "Batman & Robin," Chapter 7).
CASINO ROYALE (1967) (130 min.) (Widescreen & color)
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 04-30-2003, 09:23 PM:
John!
I will be there for:
Tues-Wed, June 17-18
THE PARTY (1968).
CASINO ROYALE (1967)
2 of my all-time favorites!
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-30-2003, 09:56 PM:
Austin and San Antonio are right on the southern track from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We just might be able to do that. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Thank you, John.
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 05-01-2003, 06:49 PM:
Phil,
I'll be looking for you. I haven't seen Casino for years. Saw THE PARTY not long ago on TMC.
Paul,
I think someone mentioned the projector museum in San Antonio. I think it belongs to the Judson family. Have not seen it but understand it is worth seeing. Also, there is a theater tech that lives there and has turned part of his warehouse into a projector museum. The Majestic theater downtown S.A. is something to see if possible. They haven't shown movies since the 70's sometime but it is still a live venue that is really special. I hope you and Josh can make it down to either town. I know Todd and I would love to see you guys again.
John
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-01-2003, 07:18 PM:
Thanks John, I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Back when I was between High School and College, I actually made a 45min, 16mm, cheesy rip-off satire that was a cross between Casino Royal and The Happening.
Mine was based on me and 2 of my H.S. buddies going to Florida to SCUBA dive, camp out, and Ummmm... generally raise hell! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
It played in my local dive clubs and several times on TV back in the late 70's!
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-02-2003, 02:57 PM:
ooooOOOOooooo! Things are looking good. Talked to George Higginbotham at SPECO, and we have been invited. Had an email conversation with Pat Moore, and it looks like we are invited to drop in on Strong International again. A tour at Lavezzi looks very good as well. I contacted Strong's platter plant and we have also been invited to tour their facilities.
Brad, we will keep you posted on our time table.
Gerard, the San Antonio area sounds like fun. I am sure we will be there.
Bobby Hendrickson, there is a possibly we might be able to come into Lawton and say hello. I think we can hit Cordell first, then take the back road to Lawton.
John Stewart, We will not ba able to see the screening of The Bridge On The River Kwai. We will be arriving too late for that, unfortunately. It is a great movie, though. I was 17 when I saw that one.
One thing I hope I can do, and that is to toss Josh into a Steam Locomotive cab in Texas. They have a 1881 model of a 4-8-4 high-driver engine that runs around the Austin area, I think. Although steam locomotives really don't interest Josh, I think he would enjoy that if I could swing it for him. Some engineers allow rides in the cab, some don't.
Soon, we will plot all this stuff on a map and see if we can come up with a pattern to follow on this trip.
By the way, let's all say "congratulations" to Josh for graduating from high school on 2 June.
We will be headed your way shortly after that.
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 05-02-2003, 07:31 PM:
Jack Judson's Magic Lantern Castle Museum outside San Antonio*:
[Robert, who helps Jack, has had warehouses full of antique and vintage projectors at a separate location. I don't know where he keeps them now.]
* http://www.magiclanterns.org/
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 05-02-2003, 08:11 PM:
Paul,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the steam locomotive has bee out of commission for close to 4 years now. It is in various parts accross Texas right now being rebuilt and is not expected to be back in revenue service until the later part of this year, early next year. You can go to thier web site at http://www.austinsteamtrain.org to check the updates on the locomotives rehabilitation progress prior to you r trip hear. If you want to get a picture of Josh in the cab of one. The Old SP depot in San Antonio has the sister locomotive to the one Austin has outside the old Depot on Commerce Street. Look forward to seeing Yourself and Josh again this year. I was pondering the idea of trying to get Brad to have another gathering sometime in June/August. If your in Austin I will give you a tour of my facility before they get to involved in remodleling the place.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-03-2003, 01:58 AM:
William, that is a bummer about the steam locomotive. Probably needs boiler re-flu and a rod job. I would have liked to get a picture of Josh with "One hand on the Throttle and One hand on the Brake". Kinda reminds me of J. L. "Casey" Jones who rode the old 382 to fame on that night of April 29, 1900.
Ironically, I have a very good friend by the name of J.L. Jones in Wichita, Kansas. Jimmy is on our list to visit again. He and his wife are very cool people.
Oh well, what the hell...here is a picture of Casey Jones and his 4-6-0 High Driver engine after it was rebuilt, I presume.
There are other steamers that are running around there in Texas, it is just a matter of timing and distance we would have to travel to get to it. I hope we can do it.
Look at the size of the wheels on that beast. They must be 72 or 80-inch drivers. The bigger the wheels, the faster they go. That thing must have been capable of going like a bat out of hell without even breathing hard.
Unfortunately, the wreck was blamed fully on Casey. After reading the report, I think he was a victim of an accident waiting for a place to happen. A victim of being too over confident, maybe? I stepped into that a couple of times myself. We all run into that from time to time. In Casey's case, it was fatal.
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 05-04-2003, 10:00 PM:
Paul,
It was something a little more than just a rod/flue job. Part of the main frame was developing cracks. Something about a saddle? Part of the understructor I think. The orig. plans don't exist any more. But they can get it rebuilt but big $$$. They have a really nice route to run on but they are using a desel with the old cars instead.
Judson's magic Castle in S.A. might really be a good place to see. I have never been there myself but I hear that it is really cool.
John
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-04-2003, 10:41 PM:
Yeah - the saddle is the curved part that supports the smokebox. Attached to it is the cylinders. If it is cracked, big bucks are indeed in order to repair it. They almost have to be hand fitted. The precision technology that was common in 1888 (115 years ago) is now a lost art of today.
Here is a picture. The saddle is circled in red. It supports the smokebox. 
BTW...Did you know that the 4-8-4 Lima locomotive used in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" was appraised at over 1.2 million dollars?
Anyone know of anything in St. Louis, Missouri that might be worth seeing?
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 05-05-2003, 12:29 AM:
If you and Josh have plenty of time the Transportation Museum is a very nice place to go
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 05-05-2003, 06:19 PM:
If you are half the train nut I think you are, a trip to the St Louis Transportaion Muesum would be like going to Mecca. I was there back in the late 80's and they had a lot of rolling stock then including a BIG boy. They also had a huge building full of vintage cars. Did not tour that but the train yard sure was fun.
John
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-05-2003, 06:43 PM:
Ah, yes....The "Big Boy" -- those were the world's largest conventional steam locomotives. Twenty five of them were built between 1941 and 1944. Very few were scrapped. They were 7,000-HP units that could go 80 mph, and ran a steam pressure of 300lbs. They were 132 feet 9-7/8 inches long, and 16 feet 2.25 inches high. The weight of that beast (including the tender) was 1,120,000 lbs. That's only 560 tons. They were coal burners, and the attempt to convert them to oil burners didn't work out. The fire boxes were just too damn big to get even heating. They had an Archimedes Screw that fed coal to the firebox. The thing was so big that it would pass a coal shovel without jamming the mechanism.
Josh, you have to see one of those to believe how huge they are. That one in Bonanza in West Fargo looks like a toy as compared to the Big Boy.
Posted by Scott Manley (Member # 867) on 05-05-2003, 06:53 PM:
Hey Phil.........been a long time.......Enjoyed working with you at Iwerks.......Be sure to say hello if you make it here to Austin.
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-05-2003, 11:47 PM:
Drool over the Big Boy in St. Louis but don't overlook some very important non-steam rail artifacts there including the only surviving unit of #103, the original EMC FT 4-unit demonstrator of 1939 ("The Diesel That Did It"), a UP Centennial (world's largest diesel), a Milwaukee Road "bi-polar" electric, B&O 50 (pretty much the first non-articulated passenger diesel), a CB&Q shovel nose unit ("Silver Charger"), the bizarre 1950's GM/EMD Aerotrain with futuristic locomotive and lightweight cars based on GMC bus bodies. Hmm...I think I just talked myself into visiting.
Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 05-06-2003, 09:12 AM:
Paul,
Wow, you didn't recall all those specs about the Big Boys from memory, did you?
My personal favorite is the Union Pacific FEF class (i.e., the FEF-3 #844 used on passenger excursions). Nice sleek passenger machine. I think there's only three or so still surviving.
In case you didn't realize, there is actually a nice railroad museum in downtown Dallas, at Fair Park. There's a Big Boy, Centennial, Pennsylvania GG-1, and a number of other locomotives and cars. There are walk-though exhibits of a sleeper and coach, I think, and lots of friendly staff who could probably get you into any of the rest.
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 05-06-2003, 12:42 PM:
Wonder how many of us in here also have a passion for railroading as well? Seems to be quiet a bit a least by some of the replies coming up.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-06-2003, 01:05 PM:
William, I thought of the same question myself. There is something about steam locomotive that attracts people like a magnet. Just like the old movie theatres. Once it sucks you in, there is no way out, especially if you had the opportunity to "Ride the point." Steam is part of history world wide.
Steam locomotive speed records were in February of 1804, when it achieved a whopping 5 miles per hour. 134 years later (in July 1938) the speed record for a steam locomotive was 126 miles per hour.
Back in my day, it was always a small boy's dream to have a svuntz at least as big as his "old man's" and to drive a steam loomotive.
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 05-07-2003, 08:15 AM:
Question for steam-buffs:
I know about "...shovel all the coal in, gotta keep a-rollin..."
and how the archimedes screw coal feed relieved the fireman of a job, but HOW do they get the ashes out of the firebox to make room for more coal?
My childhood home was heated by coal, and we would shake out the ashes by moving a lever that would shake the grates. Since it was during the Great Depression of the '30's, we would sift the ashes in a rotary device of hardware cloth (screen) to remove the unburned coals and clinkers. Then we'd put the ashes in a steel barrel and roll it to the curb for pickup.
My present home, built in 1923, had an iron triangle above the outside celler stairs. I'm told the ashman would come with a block and tackle to hoist the barrels and swing them above the retaining wall to roll them to his truck.
Back to locomotives:
Do they dump the ashes on the roadbed and risk setting fire to the ties and forests? Or what?
Gerard
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 05-07-2003, 09:14 AM:
As I recall, many coal-fired industrial boilers run so hot that the ash congeals to a hard glass-like substance known as "klinkers".
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-07-2003, 05:58 PM:
I was fascinated by trains when I was a kid. It was cool to watch Southern Pacific trains over 1 mile long motor through Arizona. When I lived in Japan, my friends and I hiked into the mountains west of Iwakuni to go check out the Shinkansen (the bullet train).
I'm not quite as nutty about trains, which is probably a good thing because I'm usually driving along highways like US-287 whenever I see them now. I would wreck my truck getting transfixed by a train passing off to the side of the road. Picture taking still works.
NO! Don't take photos this way! Not unless you're that stupid blond girl from the TV series "24" (Jack Bauer's dipshit daughter). Insanely stupid TV characters need to write themselves out of the plot by stepping in front of speeding trains. Lord knows this BNSF locomotive could use a break from that wierd Halloween color scheme.
This is the preferred way to take photos of a train. You're at a safe distance. The worst that could happen is perhaps a disgruntled engineer slinging coffee out of his mug at you. If he shoots you the finger, shoot it right back in kind. It takes trains something like 200 miles to stop. So its not like he can stop, get out and beat your ass. BTW, beware of flying hobos launching out of box cars. They can interfere with good shot composition. And then they'll want to bum a ride (those stinkin bastards!).
[ 05-07-2003, 07:26 PM: Message edited by: Bobby Henderson ]
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-07-2003, 08:08 PM:
Up here, I knew of an engineer and a brakeman who told me a story about the stretch from Mount Vernon to Everett. That run was known as the "suicide" run, because some little brats standing on the overpasses would throw rocks at the locomotives.
Mind you, the engineer and his brakeman were some fairly husky dudes. When the first rock was thrown, then engineer would immediately stop (as they called it, dynamite) the train. The engineer and his brakeman usually could outrun the little bastards that threw the rocks and when they caught them, they would commence to beat the shit out of them. After a few incidents, most of the kids finally learned that they don't F*** with the locomotives or their crew. In those days, they didn't worry about the "political correct BS" we have to contend with today.
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-07-2003, 08:10 PM:
quote:
NO! Don't take photos this way! Not unless you're that stupid blond girl from the TV series "24" (Jack Bauer's dipshit daughter).
Since she was the host of Popular Mechanics for Kids, I guess she would be qualified to take pics this way... I believe she once explained how fast trains go, how long they take to stop, and how far she would go flying if she got hit by one.
Honestly, 5 out of 4 Canadians aren't as dumb as she is.
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 05-07-2003, 10:43 PM:
Just for the Record The BNSF paint schemes are refered to as Pumpkin's There are at least 8 different variations of this paint scheme out there. The first ones were the nicest ones IMHO.
The Dark Green and cream unit painted with the SF warbonnet is refered to as the Barf Bonnet unit.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-07-2003, 11:06 PM:
Trains Suck!
I like airplanes....
>>> Phil
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-07-2003, 11:27 PM:
Airplanes kick ass and take names!
Speaking of which, I might be able to make it down to Texas for the gathering. If I stay over a Saturday night the airfare would be half as much, around $400-500.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-07-2003, 11:47 PM:
You've got free lodging down here Daryl. Don't got to some sleazy motel! (Unless you're in to that of course.)
Alright Scott, if Daryl comes down you HAVE TO come. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-08-2003, 12:21 AM:
....then there was this high-driver steam locomotive going across country, and the engineer had diarrhea. Since there were no bathrooms in the locomotive, the engineer dropped his britches and stuck his butt out the window. As the locomotive was going around a bend, he "let 'er go"...
As the train passed, there were two guys standing along side the tracks and one was brushing off his clothes with his hands. He said to his friend:
"Jeeze, I don't know what kind of tobacco that guy chews, but wow, did you see the jaws on him?" ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
This supposedly happened in the late 1940's....
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-08-2003, 01:23 AM:
Daryl, we can share a room at a sleezy place. I have standing resevations at the No Tell Motel for the Film-Tech week of fun and games in Dallas. ![[evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
>>> Phil
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-08-2003, 01:29 AM:
Me thinks I'll pass on that. Brad's place sounds 'cleaner'.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 05-08-2003, 01:58 AM:
Are there dates for this thing yet?
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-08-2003, 02:40 AM:
As far as I can determine at this time, Josh and I will probably be in the Dallas area around Thursday or Friday, 5 June or 6 June. I doubt if would be any earlier than that.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 05-08-2003, 05:30 AM:
If we don't open Matrix Reloaded that weekend, I might be able to make it Thursday thru Monday via Houston. hmmm ...
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-08-2003, 05:53 AM:
Matrix Reloaded opens Monday June 9th, right? Order it pre-built, go home Sunday night and screen it.
Yeah, I know... I'll shut up now.
BTW, does nobody around here sleep?
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-08-2003, 11:59 AM:
Sleep? What's that? Somthing you eat?
Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 05-08-2003, 04:29 PM:
Point of intrerrest for Phil, Dallas has one of the highest strip-clubs per capita. Of course we have one of the highest in churches per capita too. Hmm is there a connection?
Anyways....
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-09-2003, 08:42 PM:
"Point of intrerrest for Phil, Dallas has one of the highest strip-clubs per capita."
Jason! WTF? Why would I be interested in that? ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-10-2003, 01:54 AM:
Damn....
Josh and I will be going through Tornado Alley soon. I hope we avoid nasty weather like that.
I can tell you (and I know I can speak for Josh) that our hearts go out for those who lost loved ones and their homes in those areas in and around Oklahoma City. As you know, Okie City got slammed by another tornado late Friday (today).
Another thing to mention unrelated to the tornados...I was stationed in NATTC Norman, Oklahoma in 1958 while I was in the US Navy. Norman is just a tad south of Oklahoma City. In those days, the "Hotel Black" in Oklahoma City was a sleeze joint which was quite popular with the sailors stationed at Norman. (Not me, though. I was squeaky clean in those days)....I did like the area except for one thing...the weather. It was just too damned hot and muggy. I arrived there in July of that year - yes, Phil...BY TRAIN!!!
When I left there, I went to Naval Air Testicle Twisting Center (NATTC) in Millington (outskirts of Memphis) Tennessee by a USN contracted "Fleahound" bus. Memphis was just as bad as Norman, Oklahoma. When I was released from there in 1962, my next stint was NAS Whidbey Island. My trip was, YES!!! Railroad - To be more specific, "The Portland Rose" train. (we were pulled by Diesels.... ) .
NAS Whidbey is where I retired from the US Navy...and I live in it's back yard. Not too bad, except when the EA6B "Electric Pig" aircaft decide to "bounce" at night. It drives me nuts!
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-10-2003, 02:00 AM:
Phil, if you like tits, you'll be interested. I like tits. They sound like a snack. Just like George Carlin suggested, "hey, everyone loves Nabisco Tits!" Love the cheezy flavor! But not sharp clamidia flavored cheddar!
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-10-2003, 02:03 AM:
EEEWWWWW!!!!.....Especially the cheezy ones... ![[eyes]](graemlins/eyes.gif)
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-10-2003, 04:03 AM:
Ahhhh... tits R tits.... I like legs and butts! ![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
>>> Phil
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 05-10-2003, 06:34 AM:
I'll take the whole women.
Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 05-10-2003, 12:49 PM:
I was under the impression that Oklahoma was surrounded by land. If that is true, why then would there be a Navy base?
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-10-2003, 07:37 PM:
Speaking of tits... In some of my other endeavors... when referring to T & A, it means Tits & Ass. In the tech world, it refers to Test & Adjust.
Go figure!
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-11-2003, 02:17 AM:
Michael:
Norman, Oklahoma and Millington, Tennessee were Naval Air Technical Training Centers. Most of the naval aviation technicians (aviation electronics, electricians, jet engines, hydraulic systems, etc.)
They were training commands.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-13-2003, 04:35 AM:
Paul, I always thought those bases were surrounded by swamp land so they could test our super-secret subs that could go through anything...
>>> Phil
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-14-2003, 09:03 PM:
So Josh and/or Paul, what's the latest time frame and/or info about the trip?
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-14-2003, 09:18 PM:
I would suspect that we will get started on or about Tuesday, 3 June. That depends on the social functions of Josh graduating as well as how many things we have to do with his booths and stuff like that. We would like to get on the road so we can cover a Lavezzi tour, Strong's platter plant, and the St. Louis Transportation Museum tour before the weekend hits. We don't want to have too much "dead time" before we get into Kansas City, but yet we want to take our time a little so it won't be so "rush-rush" like it was last year. We will have to actually play the Saturday and Sunday by ear. It depends on how soon we can actually get started on the trip.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-14-2003, 09:44 PM:
Well, keep us posted so all those that will travel will have some target date to have the pajama/underwear party at Brad's place!
Are yous planning on going to Austin to see some of the films that John Stewart is playing? I think that would be a kick!
>>> Phil
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-15-2003, 04:01 AM:
(Obviously, I'm just kidding about the PJ/underwear party...)
I'm looking forward to seeing y'all at Brad's and watch some films...
>>> Phil
Actually, after re-thinking my post about the underwear party being a joke... I retract the retraction. The party is a GO!
>>> Phil
[ 05-15-2003, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Phil Hill ]
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 05-15-2003, 04:38 PM:
Brad's theater is the place to watch movies. Truly. Even has his own soda fountain.
John
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-15-2003, 04:57 PM:
John, ya Darn tootin'....Film Done Right, and projected right!
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-15-2003, 05:10 PM:
So John, are you going to bring the print of "The Party" to Brads for underwear night?
BTW: Brad's screening room sucks! He has those lousy Century projectors with tons of sound penthouse readers that only Josh can thread! And, he even stooped to have SDDS! What a jerk!
Also, he has that lame faggy whore-house red "trim" around those cheep lights! It makes me want to ![[puke]](graemlins/puke.gif)
You'd think he'd have better taste in equipment and decor...
>>> Phil
[ 05-15-2003, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: Phil Hill ]
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 05-15-2003, 09:04 PM:
1. Can he make a Chocolate Egg Cream?
2. Would he serve WTR?
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 05-15-2003, 10:48 PM:
Well...Phil...I have lousy Century at the Paramout as well. Worse yet, they don't even match like Brad's does. One with turret and the other without.
I doubt that my boss would appreciate me running off with a print as much as I would like to. You'll just have to show up and grin and bear with it. You could even sit in the balcony in your underwear if you keep your pants on.
John
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-16-2003, 03:22 PM:
"...doubt that my boss would appreciate me running off with a print..."
A couple of suggestions: Get him really drunk and bring the print. If that won't work, Get him really drunk and bring the print AND him.
Obviously, I'm yanking Brad's chain...his room is fantastic. But, he deserves to be slammed every now and then! (Can't think of a reason right now... give me some time...)
I am **REALLY** suprised he didn't rip me a new one...
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-16-2003, 03:44 PM:
Phil said:
quote:
Get him really drunk and bring the print. If that won't work, Get him really drunk and bring the print AND him.
Kids and their parents read these forums. If kids see something like this, pre-teen and young-teen kids may not see things the same way we do. They may think it is OK to do that. We are professionals, and we should set an exemplary example for them to follow.
To do my part, I have been careful the last several days to watch what I say and how I word the sentence.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-16-2003, 04:19 PM:
Now, now Phil. Not everyone may understand your sarcastic sense of humor since text is so emotionless. There will be no pj party and the only one who will get drunk will be you. (Beware of my videocamera, though. )
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-16-2003, 04:44 PM:
Yes, I do have a weird sense of humor...
I would HOPE that readers would know this by now…
OBTW: I don't drink.
>>> Phil
Posted by Darren Crimmins (Member # 1116) on 05-16-2003, 05:49 PM:
But I do!
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-16-2003, 05:56 PM:
Really Darren? In your pic you look a little destroyed right now....
>>> Phil
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 05-16-2003, 06:04 PM:
I drink more than both of you and I won't be there but I will be drinking in New York, Newtown, Ct.,and Newport, RI> However I will be toasting all my http://www.film-tech.com friends. hic, hic;)
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-16-2003, 06:39 PM:
That's cool Bob... I KNOW you're a BeefEater fan! Save the green olives for Josh and me!
>>> Phil
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 05-17-2003, 02:24 PM:
Phil, You may have all the green olives...I'll take the white onions.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-22-2003, 01:35 AM:
Josh/Paul/Brad...what's the latest?
>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-22-2003, 03:10 AM:
Alot of it hinges on when we leave North Dakota. I am guessing probably we would be getting into the Dallas area on Sunday, 8 June. We have about three or four stops before we can really head south. That's about all I can say right now.
None of us won't hear anything from Josh, as he is in Bismarch Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week for the State Track Meet. I presume the next time I get a chance to talk to him will be when he returns.
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-24-2003, 01:16 AM:
I should know soon if I'll be able to swing enough days off to go.
Who all is attending, and when?
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-24-2003, 02:15 AM:
Daryl, if you could swing that, Josh and I would be very happy to meet you.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-24-2003, 06:30 AM:
See if you can get into Dallas on Friday. It's hard for a lot of people to get together on a Sun/Mon/Tue night.
Daryl, you know you want to rub up against the servers.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-24-2003, 11:47 AM:
OK, Brad. We will try for that. I think we can tweak our schedule to make it fit.
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-26-2003, 12:23 AM:
I've given up on trying to get time off... I'm now working on getting fired. So far no luck.
Rub up against them? I thought I already did that with virtually. I even wore my electronically shuttered 3D glasses.
Paul... I too hope I can make it. It would be great to meet you both. Maybe we'll even get lucky and Phil will stay away!
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-26-2003, 12:33 AM:
Brad, we will make it fit. No problem.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-26-2003, 01:09 AM:
Daryl...give me your boss's phone number...I'll see that you get fired...AND, don't give me that lame excuse, "I work for my family so they know me"..or some such stupit reason.
Although I'm not sure if I will make it or not, I may just show up just to spite you! ...IF you show up!
>>> Phil
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-26-2003, 01:19 AM:
Work (and get paid at) one of our companies, HA! Too funny.
I'll fax you over a list of current employers!
BTW, I speak my mind to all of them (that's why they keep me around)... good luck coming up with something better.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-26-2003, 01:22 AM:
HA try me! I'll farbicate something....
My fax number is 976-PHIL...no wait! That my business number.
>>> Phil
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 05-26-2003, 11:20 PM:
So Which Friday is the scheduled arrival time in Dallas? Just wanting to be sure I can swing getting off and can afford to come up for at least 1 day.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-26-2003, 11:48 PM:
We are getting together Saturday the 7th of June. No time has been set yet. Be sure to email me for the secret meeting place. The place we will be speaking of will be a decoy in case Phil wants to come.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-27-2003, 01:15 AM:
Hello Film-Tech members. My name is Tim Swart and I am visiting Phil.
Please tell me where the secret meeting place is. I won't tell that jerk Phil.
>>> Tim
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-27-2003, 01:19 AM:
It's in the mountains of Dallas right by the waterfall next to the beach. Be there!
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-27-2003, 02:17 AM:
I'll be headed out of Oak Harbor WA on my way to North Dakota Wednesday. I have a service call to make in Post Falls, Idaho to make on Thursday. More than likely, I'll be headed east Friday morning, and probably will be able to catch Mike at the Roxy Friday night and drop in and say hello. About 500 miles later (with a rest stop in between) I should be in West Fargo North Dakota sometime Saturday. Josh's graduation is on a Sunday.
I'll be in West Fargo area with Josh, his mom and dad and his sister until Thursday morning, and at that time Josh and I will be headed on a straight shot to the Dallas area. Between the two of us, we should be able to make that a non-stop run and get into the designated area sometime Friday afternoon if all goes well, even if we have to make a rest stop along the way. After the get-together with fellow Film-Tech'ers, Josh and I will head back via a goofy route to make tours of various manufacturing facilities before we get back to West Fargo.
Steve Kraus, are we invited to drop in to say hello? We will be coming through your area on the return leg of the trip. It would be a great pleasure to meet you.
Steve Guttag, I wish you could be in Texas with us. It would be nice to "do battle" with you about the constitution. , even though I would lose the battle. But all in all, you are a great person.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 05-27-2003, 02:24 AM:
A rest stop?! What kind of sissy road trip is this, anyway?
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-27-2003, 02:27 AM:
Adam, all I can say is, "Pbpthbpthbthp!"
I wish you could be with us in Texas.
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 05-27-2003, 02:28 AM:
Apparently too big of a challenge for you ADAM!
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-27-2003, 04:11 AM:
Adam are you going to make it to Brad's? With or without rest stops....
>>> Phil
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 05-27-2003, 05:19 AM:
I can't make it that weekend. We're taping a television special that week and I'm going to Denver the following weekend.
We're going to plan a Seattle area member get-together soon, anyway.
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 05-30-2003, 10:55 PM:
Looks Like I will be coming to Dallas next weekend for teh get together. May have My Brother and John with me as well. Will know little more by Sunday. But I am for sure in.
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 05-31-2003, 11:23 PM:
So sorry, will be at work that night. Wish I could make that trip. Rats!
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-31-2003, 11:32 PM:
John, I'm sorry you can't make it up there...I would have liked to have met you.
Adam, I'm happy you can't make it up there...I'm would have NOT liked to have met you.
>>> Phil
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-01-2003, 01:11 PM:
Well now you've gone and done it Phil, Daryl won't be attending since you've got reservations. Don't go scaring everyone off!
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-01-2003, 03:08 PM:
I don't know what's with that Daryl character...he just whines about how much the air fare is for "just 2 days of pleasure".
I told him to quit complaining and just charge everything to your credit card and sign it "Brad Baby"....
>>> Phil
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-01-2003, 06:10 PM:
I wanna come!
Who can swing by and pick me up??
=TMP=
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 06-02-2003, 12:20 AM:
Phil, you guys would be welcome to come visit me at the theater if you want to venture that much further south. Poltergiest and The Haunting + episode 6 of Batman and Robin. ![[sleep]](graemlins/sleep.gif)
John
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-02-2003, 06:23 AM:
"Poltergiest" would be cool... But I'm still hoping to get down there for "The Party"!
Ummm the FILM...NOT the underwear one... I thought I'd make that clear since I don't want to upset some members...
>>> Phil
Posted by John Stewart (Member # 989) on 06-02-2003, 01:59 PM:
That would be great Phil. Please let me know so we might hook up or you can just show up at the theater and ask for me. Actually, this applys to anyone who would like to visit the ol' theater.
John
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 06-06-2003, 12:58 AM:
Greetings from the very damp community of Wichita. About 6 hours of road time and we'll be there, sometime Friday afternoon.
Josh
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-06-2003, 02:11 AM:
I got delayed cuz Brad cancelled all my hotel reservations. I think he just wants me to share his bed with him at HIS SexxxDen....
And he told the California, Arizonia, New Mexico, and Texas cops to look out for me since I don't like to cruise under 95.
I hope to make it by late Sunday.
Just in time for the "private" party, huh Brad?!?!?!
Josh: Hope you'll hang around til at least Monday!
>>> Phil
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-06-2003, 02:23 AM:
Not to worry Phil, Josh and I made sure to book you a room. It's at the Motel 6 in west Fort Worth.
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-06-2003, 03:44 AM:
Kewl! Hope to see you BOTH there!
>>> Phil
Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 06-06-2003, 04:22 AM:
Phil,
I hope you're bringing your camera for your little "motel party".
As a Film-Tech member, I also expect the access code to see the pictures for free on your website.
Danny
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 06-06-2003, 06:50 AM:
Dan did you say PARTY...in New York we call it an ORGY.
But what do I know. Oh! I forgot...I know how to make a Martini.
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 06-06-2003, 03:31 PM:
So anyone care to take a stab at a meeting place and time? I will be at work all night due to a Lock in and had planned on leaving from here to go to Dallas.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-06-2003, 03:43 PM:
Give me a call or email for specifics. (We've got to be quiet so Phil doesn't find out! )
Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 06-10-2003, 10:58 PM:
Not sure if Josh and Paul are back, but let's here some news of the gathering, how did everything go?
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-11-2003, 12:53 AM:
It was good to see the gang again. Phil couldn't make it on Saturday night, but he swung by on Sunday. Rachel came up with this lame story about moving to another state to be with some Don guy. (We know she was lying, but we'll give her one more chance to get down here for the next gathering. ) Being so far south, we introduced Josh to "tex mex" food via Tia's. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
I talked to Josh and Paul a couple of hours ago and by now they should be in Ohio turning in for the night. Their laptop that we reworked with a new OS and lots 'o ram decided to fart it's monitor connection, so I'm not sure if they will be able to get on the web tonight/tomorrow morning or not from the motel room. They should make it back to Fargo late Thursday evening after a visit to the Lavezzi plant and possibly a stop by to see Steve Kraus and the plant that makes platters for Strong.
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 06-12-2003, 12:41 AM:
Greetings from sunny(yeah right) Carol Stream IL, a suburb of Chicago. In addition to being 1 mile from Lavezzi, we are about the same distance from a small drive-in, of which we were not able to get pics of, but the projectionist is a lurker here (Hi guys, you should come back to the forums ). After we go Through Lavezzi tommorrow, we'll try and drop in on Steve Kraus and then on to Manitowoc WI, and then home. It was great seeing all you guys again
Josh
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-12-2003, 05:20 AM:
What? You mean the Princess II was not on your travel plans?
Steve
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-16-2003, 09:48 PM:
Nah...we didn't make it.
Anyway, Josh and I got home safe and sound, after a grueling 6,500 miles worth of road travel. Now, it is back to work again... ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
...but it pays the bills. Special thanks to Brad for hosting us, and it was great to see some familiar faces. We enjoyed the trip - except for all those con-founded miles we had to travel to do it. Jeeze....you should see my gasoline bill. That POS I was driving only got 14 miles per gallon. But all in all, it was fun to be with Josh and the gang.
I have some graduation pictures of Josh, and I'll post them later. We didn't get to see any steam locomotives and stuff like that, but I made up for that in these pictures:
Incidently, we did have the opportunity to meet Steve Kraus in his screening room. That was a nice booth, and Steve takes good care of it. Steve is a great guy, and I can tell he is a steam and Diesel locomotive buff. He has some neat pictures of locomotives posted in his booth.
We tried to get into the Chicago Theater, but our attempts were unsuccessful. But, at least, Josh got a good picture of the Chicago Sign.
We also stopped in my home town of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I gave Josh the two-bit tour of the town, of the places I lived, and where I went to school. Josh seemed to be impressed with Lincoln High School on 8th Street, but it is sad for me to say that many things of my teen-aged years have gone by the wayside and replaced with modern buildings (if you can call it that)
Anyway, that's all for now...As I sort through the pictures Josh and I took, I'll post some of them.
Don, thank you for the tour of the old Strand. It certainly brought back fond memories of my 9-cent days there when I was a kid, and the dungeon pictures will be posted on a separate thread. Every "Old Barn" has to have a dungeon, and yours was creepy. Josh commented that the orginal booth might still be haunted.
Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 06-17-2003, 02:29 AM:
those wheels are big!!
But why do the wheels look shiny and brand new compared to the rest of it?
Danny
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-17-2003, 10:48 AM:
They were just painted to make them look pretty.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 06-17-2003, 11:27 AM:
Dan, Paul forgot to mention that he is only two and a half feet tall. So those wheels aren't really that big.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-17-2003, 02:25 PM:
Bah!
Dan, you think those wheels are big...you haven't seen nothing yet! The ones in the picture are 60 inches in diameter. #4449 that runs around up here has 80 inch diameter wheels.
Somewhere in my locomotive books there is a picture of an old locomotive that has drive wheels around 110 inches in diameter if I recall correctly.
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