This is topic Projectionist memoirs in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Brent Francis (Member # 5008) on 07-09-2010, 07:37 AM:
 
Hi. Anybody know of good books about being a projectionist? I just read the imcomparable "Sleazoid Express" about working in the old Times Square exploitation theatres (tip - NEVER use the washrooms!) It was hysterically funny, and judging from some of these posts, people should be writing more stuff like that for us future booth heads.
 

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Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 07-09-2010, 09:12 AM:
 
There is a book titled "The Reel Mose". LC catalog #86-062367
ISBN: 0-9617510-0-2.
Written by Earl Moseley it is subtitled "The autobiography of a motion picture theater projectionist".
 

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Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 07-10-2010, 11:56 AM:
 
How about Joe Redifer's "I Came, I Showed, I Left."
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-10-2010, 12:40 PM:
 
Jim...that was not....ahem...about being a "projectionist"....per say.
 

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Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 07-10-2010, 01:48 PM:
 
Do a search for and get two books from the old days:

James R Cameron's (no not the director) "Motion Picture Projection" (there are several editions) and also Robert A. Mitchell's Manual of Practical Projection.

Both books were given to me by a deceased colleague and are full of valuable information (including optical theory) that still applies today.
 

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Posted by Greg Anderson (Member # 235) on 07-10-2010, 05:55 PM:
 

quote: Tony Bandiera Jr

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Both books were given to me by a deceased colleague...

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I don't mean to make light of your friend's death, but I sure hope he wasn't giving you gifts after he died. That's just wild!
 

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Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 07-10-2010, 08:34 PM:
 
LOL Greg, believe me I am not offended and neither would my colleague be...I have stories from him involving undertakers, false teeth, a transgender person and the ongoing speculation of pre/post operation, his days running massage parlors and more.

He was a great guy, very knowledgeable, fun to be around and would give you the shirt off his back. A valuable friend, and resource of information (and parts and equipment) and is missed by a lot of people.

He could give Phil a run for his money in "coot" points. I would not be surprised if Phil and he knew each other.
 

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Posted by Brent Francis (Member # 5008) on 07-15-2010, 03:08 PM:
 
Thanks.
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 07-15-2010, 09:23 PM:
 
I have a 1922 and a 1943 edition of Cameron's books. The silent era book is full of interesting history and facts on how projection began to that section of the presentation era. An interesting potiental product that was tried, but as always, didn't make it to the masses.

It was a split reel that rested horizontally on top of the projector where the film was fed through the middle. The takeup reel was the same style-to be split apart to be used right back again on top of the proector. A nifty method of no rewinding film.

First inceptions of our present day platter system-no rewinding film.

The 1943 edition has three chapters on "Fantasound" - from inception to presentation. Plus the stuff on a new Simplex E7 with the dbl shutter-how it gives out more light than the conventional shutter and against Motiograph's barrel shutter.

It's great reading..-Monte
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-15-2010, 09:59 PM:
 

quote: Monte L Fullmer

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It was a split reel that rested horizontally on top of the projector where the film was fed through the middle. The takeup reel was the same style-to be split apart to be used right back again on top of the proector. A nifty method of no rewinding film.

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Is there a picture of this contraption?
 

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Posted by Jack Theakston (Member # 4484) on 07-16-2010, 01:12 AM:
 
I thought I had linked to this here previously, but I guess not. The contraption was called the Feaster No-Rewind, although it wasn't the first invention of its kind (nor was it the last).

http://www.thephotoplayer.com/feaster1.jpg

http://www.thephotoplayer.com/feaster2.jpg

http://www.thephotoplayer.com/feaster3.jpg

Ultimately, what probably killed this idea time and time again was the brittleness of nitrate stock, even at the time.
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-16-2010, 01:19 AM:
 
Very interesting, but this forum requires all images be uploaded to the site, rather than linked to so that the archives can be preserved. Otherwise, sooner or later, that link will cease to work and that will destroy this part of the discussion.






 

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Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 07-16-2010, 01:28 AM:
 
I wonder what "Feaster people" look like
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-16-2010, 06:27 AM:
 
I've seen a "PanOram" with a device like that...only it was for 16mm.
 

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Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 07-16-2010, 12:08 PM:
 
Wow, the first known use of the platter concept...(think about it folks before shooting off that it isn't.)

Film fed from the center and wound in such a way to reload it still feeding from the center.

quote: Steve Guttag

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I've seen a "PanOram" with a device like that...only it was for 16mm.

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