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Author
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Topic: BACK IN THE DAY (please take part in this)
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Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted June 13, 2018 04:42 PM
Someone recently asked, “What film did you run to the ground?” Now I don’t have an answer to that, because I have all the original prints I ever bought with exception to a few that I have sold. One of those was the Marketing print of Grease. It’s been shown a lot during the early days of collecting but it was never worn out. It was sold because my current copy is the Derann re-release in cinemascope. And I never sell a print unless I can replace it with a better copy. I never sell a print just to get rid of it. Not even to get something else. If I want another film, and it’s not a better copy of something I already have, then either I buy it or I don’t buy it.
The question made me think of something else which I encourage all of you to do in this post with replies. I’ll get it started.
My question is: How old were you and what year did you get started. Let’s see before/after pictures.
Pictures below show what’s been going on at my house. It’s hard to believe this started in 1979 with the build of my current booth. A strong 39 years. Pictures show 1979 right with my first sound projectors, the Bell & Howell model 1733BZ with the Scherer small hub 400 foot reels. The wall to my right was soon moved to make room for what is now the current sound rack. Of course, I started many years ago back in the 60’s with the love of the family movies and the Argus regular 8mm projector my Dad bought to run the fifty foot spools of family gatherings. We still own that projector as of today. I’ve been at this current house for 39 years strong. But I have probably been with film since 1965 when I was just five years old.
As the years have gone by, I never stopped trying to make my cinema better. Whether it would be sound; picture; or equipment. I never ever stopped making it better. If I thought of an idea, I researched it. Most things worked. There were a few times that some things did not work out. Either by complexity, or it just wasn’t right. But whenever something did not work, it was never a failure – but more a darned good attempt to make it better.
The first booth was stained a color to look like furniture in a room. I believe Minwax was the brand although I forget the actual name of the stain type. The first photo shows the room before the suspended ceiling was installed. The first picture shows the antique theater wood chairs later replaced by more current theater seating. Although current seating is not shown in these pictures, it remains installed in 2018.
The more current pictures show the design change in projection and viewports; the installed suspended ceiling; and the color of black wall paint with white port frame trim. Also the movie poster is gone and my original designed logo is currently in place. The movie poster glared by camera flash was for the movie Xanadu.
I’ve written the details here as the pictures had to be shrunk to upload, so the text on the images might be difficult to see. And if I remember correctly the pictures in 1979 I was just starting to begin with still photography, another hobby of mine. Now I am Nikon D-50 digital. But you know what? Yes, I really do recall using a Kodak C-110 camera to shoot the pics below dated 1979. Dang! I’m older than I thought………..
So now, my final question: Who will post some before/current pictures after me? We need new blood to keep this hobby alive. To some of you younger folks just starting out now is the time for you to be very patient in finding hardware and footage. We older folks had that process much easier back in the day. But I say to you I remember when I started. I was 19 with very low income. But I didn’t let that stop me from doing what I really wanted. So please keep at it and never ever give up!
As they say…..to be continued…………….
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