8mm Forum


  
my profile | my password | search | faq | register | forum home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» 8mm Forum   » General Yak   » The Palace Of Dreams

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author 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      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
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.

--------------------
Maurice

 |  IP: Logged

Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

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


 - posted November 30, 2018 04:33 AM      Profile for Allan Broadfield   Author's Homepage   Email Allan Broadfield   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
'Portillo's hidden history' is a fascinating series but as an ancient projectionist and film worker I'll look forward especially to this episode.

 |  IP: Logged

Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008


 - posted November 30, 2018 06:04 AM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Just set my digital recorder for it. Thanks!

--------------------
VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

 |  IP: Logged

Maurice Leakey
Film God

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


 - posted November 30, 2018 06:12 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
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

--------------------
Maurice

 |  IP: Logged

Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

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


 - posted November 30, 2018 09:02 AM      Profile for Allan Broadfield   Author's Homepage   Email Allan Broadfield   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
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.

 |  IP: Logged



All times are Central  
   Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic    next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:

Visit www.film-tech.com for free equipment manual downloads. Copyright 2003-2019 Film-Tech Cinema Systems LLC

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.3.1.2