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Topic: The Palace Of Dreams

Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted November 30, 2018 03:40 AM

On UK's Channel 5 tonight (Friday 30 November 2018) from 9pm to 10pm is "The Palace Of Dreams".
In the 1930s there were almost 5000 cinemas in Great Britain. Bradford's New Victoria boasted 3000 seats. It closed in 2000. On a visit to its abandoned shell Michael Portillo discovers what dream palaces like this meant to British cinemagoers.

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Maurice

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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010

posted November 30, 2018 04:33 AM

'Portillo's hidden history' is a fascinating series but as an ancient projectionist and film worker I'll look forward especially to this episode.

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008

posted November 30, 2018 06:04 AM

Just set my digital recorder for it. Thanks!

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted November 30, 2018 06:12 AM

Memories. Ah yes! It's only yesterday. Actually, 1952. My first job in a cinema. Aged 17.

Odeon, Bristol. Only fourteen years old then, having opened in 1938 with just under 2000 seats. Nitrate films on Sundays. Kodak film cement. Robert Rigby film bins, rewinds, film joiners and a film waxer.

The pair of BTH Supas were quite new, having replaced the BTH type C as originally installed. 3750 watts of carbon arc with auto strike. The SUPA (single unit projection assembly) projectors were ahead of their time.

Click to see one:-
http://www.villagehallcinemas.co.uk/%23cinema/cinephoto/complete_pro jectionist_1949_bth_supa_projector.htm

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Maurice

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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010

posted November 30, 2018 09:02 AM

More or less as I remember it, only from 1959.
The films were waxed with the same stuff we waxed the floors, sometimes aided by wax sticks as they ran through the projector on first run copies.
The chief projy ran the place like an army unit.
Don't know how many kids would put up with that today.

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