Cinema Nostalgia
 

I originally posted this over in the October Horror Movie Challenge discussion thread, but thought it be good to have it in its own place as well in case anyone wants to add to it.

"Pardon the detour:

I just wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts I’ve been having lately (and I really don’t want to work on my OHMC list at the moment, seeing as I fell behind a couple days, so here’s my excuse not to…). Some of the films I’ve been revisiting (not necessarily watching) lately (The Craft; I Know What You Did Last Summer; Scream; Relic; Event Horizon; Thinner; and more titles of an even lower caliber), are all movies that I have a personal connection to.

During that time in horror movies I was the Head Projectionist/Assistant Manager for Regal Cinemas in Myrtle Beach, SC. The films I named above (plus other cool stuff like the SW re-releases/ID4) are ones that I personally spliced together reel by reel. I had such joy looking at the 35mm frames and speculating just what may be going on at that moment in the movie. The smell of the film, the feel of the platters, the clanking and heat of the projectors, and the soaking of oils that layered the air, was all a part of a hidden world that I was immersed in. And of course it was always a joy to bring my wife in at midnight to screen the prints for quality control, syncing, cues, etc, before the premier the following day. And there’s nothing like watching a movie when you have the WHOLE theatre to yourself (popcorn popper and all).

And now, though I reminisce fondly, I find it sad that with the advancement of technology, there’s no need for that troll in the top balcony of your theatre. Everything has become so automated, that (at least with Regal) there isn’t even a projectionist anymore, much less one to be in charge.

So this challenge has really hit me in a personal way, which I wasn’t expecting. This may not be the place to post my trip down memory lane, but it is horror related, and I just wanted to share a little bit and hopefully remind everyone that, as always, things just aren’t like they used to be. (or as the great John Cusack once said: “You can never go home again.”)"

I'm glad I helped with a good memory for the moment. There really is something special about those "Personal" midnight screenings.


I really do miss the old projectors clanking in the dark balcony of Regal Cinema 6, in Myrtle Beach, SC.

That's funny! The projectionist that I replaced said that happened to him as well. Apparently the projectionist notes (warning it would happen) that were to accompany the film cans did not get to every theatre. I bet that was a heart stopper for a moment.

I had a projectionist put reel 5 of Independence Day on upside down. That was fun to recover from...

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

Do you have prior experience with/as a movie theatre projectionist?

Please share your thoughts.

And if you have experience of how things are run now, feel free to share those experiences as well.

Moderators - I was up in the air as to whether or not this should be here or in "Movie Talk" - Please advise/move if needed

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

It's moved.

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

Great description. Thank you. I remember as a kid every time I managed to get hold of a piece of film, whether it was 8mm, 16mm or 35mm, being totally fascinated by it. Since I couldn't afford anything remotely film equipment-related myself, I would try to create a projector using a shoebox and a lightbulb, like they'd describe in those science project books, and take a postcard picture of a movie star that you'd get from a nickel vending machine and project it dimly on the wall. Part of the love of film for me has always been that fascination of projecting images on these huge screens. When I was a kid and went to neighborhood theaters, I'd look up to the projection booth, which was all the way up there and you'd see this tiny pinpoint of light coming out and getting wider and wider until it hit and filled up the screen. (This was all pre-multiplex, of course. Once the projectionist was right over your shoulder, which would happen in tiny carved-out jerrybuilt multiplexes made from old single screen houses, some of the magic gets lost.)

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

I just got an instant memory recalled after reading these posts - when I went to watch Die Hard the projectionist got one of the reels out of order. John McClaine was just starting to figure out there were shenanigans going on at the Nakatomi building, and all of a sudden, he's in the bathroom pulling glass out of his feet. I remember my dad standing up and yelling to the back, "Wrong reel!"

There was then a smattering of applause once the projectionist scrambled and got the movie back in order, and I thought my dad was so cool. He was already cool for taking his 11 year old to watch Die Hard.

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

That is very innovative. Talk about "going for it" as far as a love for something is concerned. I'm not sure if it affects everyone, but having real film in your hand is such a treasure. And as a kid I'd imagine it would be equal to a Golden Ticket.

At the time I was doing this, Regal’s booth design was to have the projector behind a two-panel window, one of which would slide open and allow for cleaning the glass in front of the projector, or airing out when needed. We had one projectionist that would do a little dance after starting a movie. If you were the curious one, you would catch a glimpse of this odd performance happening over your shoulder, at least until he closed the curtain. Just one of the many ways to amuse ourselves up there. Of course, this was when there were people that practically "lived" up there while the movies were going.

There's nothing that will turn theatre patrons against you (the cinema) faster than messing with their movie. You can work as fast as possible to fix the problem, but when it comes down to it, they want their entertainment and you're just in the way.

This also makes me think on how hard I worked, and kept my booth working, to ensure the highest quality of movie presentation. I checked my projectors every 15 min (and with six running at once, that takes some time when different ones are ending and starting during the course of the day). I even had to watch over a "brain" (the electric feeder unit that controls the speed from which the film is feeding to the projector) that went bad, causing me to stand and control the platter (what the film itself was sitting on and fed from) speed myself to ensure there was no hang-ups with the film movement. And today I go to a movie and there's ALWAYS something wrong. Wrong aperture; screen not configured for the correct framing; ghosting; focus; loud vent. There's always something wrong, and I’m not really looking for wrong, it’s just so glaring sometimes. And I paid how much to be distracted by inadequate theatre control? (I’m looking at YOU, every Santikos I’ve ever been to…)

My dad's "cool" moment was when he took me to see Cobra. And I can imagine how your moment played out, on the cusp of chaos and triumph all at the same time. A little peek behind “the curtain” if you will.

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

Any talk or opinions of general cinema memories are welcome too (not just exclusive to projectionists here)! Like, remember when you couldn't order a hot dog and pizza when going to watch a movie?
........

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

I never liked the food they sold at concession stands...ever! That candy was awful. Who could eat Jujubes and expect to keep their teeth. I remember sneaking food in as a teen, even before I started carrying a bag with me. We would carry jackets and stick a wrapped sandwich and a beverage into the sleeves and tie the ends of the sleeve if we had to and then just carry the jackets into the theater. I remember going with a friend to a Times Square theater to see a quadruple bill of Clint Eastwood westerns (ca. 1971), which meant we were in the theater ALL DAY, so we had to go to Blimpie's and load up on food for the day and smuggle it in.

Just last night, I went to see THE SOCIAL NETWORK and I bought yogurt and a piece of fruit beforehand and took it in with me. (Has my diet changed since I was a teen.)

Re: Cinema Nostalgia
 

I prefer the lame candy and usually decent popcorn to a full-on restaurant. There's some really nice restaurant/theatre combos that seem to be popping up everywhere now, but no matter which one I go to (all different companies) there's still the same problem of being interrupted two or three times DURING the movie.

It seems theatres nowadays might as well be McDonalds and Pizza Hut at the same time. I don't mind a little nachos and cheese, but it seems that movies should be for movie watching, and eateries should be for eatin'.

And I also have to defend Snocaps and Sour Patch Kids. Those were (are) some good candies.