8mm Forum: Orkney Islands Kirkwall RAF Cinema

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Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on March 14, 2015, 06:47 PM:

I have just finished doing an installation all the way up in the Orkney Islands for a RAF Cinema museum.

Apart from the 35mm and 16mm equipment which i have installed for the period. I was also ask to obtain prints from the shows programme from the 40s. This included Mutiny on the Bounty from 1935, Song for Bernadette and This is the Army from 1943

A wonderful part of RAF army cinema history which will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on March 14, 2015, 09:31 PM:

That's excellent Robert....any photos? [Smile]

Posted by Clay Smith (Member # 4122) on March 14, 2015, 10:17 PM:

I would also be interested in any information/ photos about this as well Robert, thanks.

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on March 15, 2015, 04:17 AM:

Hi Graham and Clay,

Would be a pleasure to show you some photos and some interesting facts. I will work out today how to post some pictures or if not a very interesting website about the islands and the restoration of this project.

Also a good place for shooting in the shooting season of course.

Posted by Bill Shenette (Member # 4561) on March 15, 2015, 03:46 PM:

Hello found this on ebay if they can afford it Take a look and see.
Not mine but thought I should mention it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUTINY-ON-THE-BOUNTY-1935-CLARK-GABLE-ORIGINAL-LOBBY-CARD-SET-/360525655664?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53f100ee70

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on March 15, 2015, 04:09 PM:

Thanks for your help Bill, this would be a wonderful addition considering it was one of the first titles i obtained for them on film. For the museum cinema which they currently run in the cinema for visiting audiences.

I'm still looking for Song for Bernadette and This is the Army both which were shown back in 1943. So any leads on this would be a greatly appreciated.

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on March 16, 2015, 04:50 PM:

Some photos before and after the restoration of the cinema. As you can imagine there's still a lot to do.

The first photo is of the cinema projectionist Ted Austin who was there in 1944-45 a really interesting gentleman. The next one shows before the clean up and the photo
after shows the cinema cleaned up.

It's really been a labor of love.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on March 16, 2015, 06:17 PM:

very interesting [Smile]

what is the general layout of the building?..the projection.. the seating etc [Smile]

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on March 17, 2015, 04:55 PM:

Graham, this picture will give you a better insight on the lay out of the building from the outside in if this makes sense from these picture.

From the back of the old cinema, you can actually see the old steps under the grass that would lead you to your seat. If you look closely you can see the ticket booth through the door.

Close up of the old cinema. You can see the projection screen ports. The big arc outline that you can see would have been a blister hangar, basically a large Nissen hut look.

Posted by Clay Smith (Member # 4122) on March 17, 2015, 05:25 PM:

So, what we Yanks would call a Quonset hut would have extended out, housing the seating and the screen?

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on March 17, 2015, 05:58 PM:

Clay that's very interesting stuff, i do have another RAF cinema on the island which i am currently working. So will update you with the progress and pictures in due course.

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