The type of marquee/building lights you describe are called “chaser lights”. They are ordinary light bulbs arranged & wired to appear they are ‘chasing’ each other. Many times they are mounted in a sheet metal channel around the copyboard of a marquee (then they’re called “border chasers”). Chaser lights are all controlled from a device called a chaser controller. For most sign applications (and for reliability) these are electromechanical units consisting of a motor, cams, and a stack of switches activated by the opening/closing action of the cams. There are electronic versions of these, but they are not that good for outdoor use because of temperature extremes, moisture, and corrosion. In many jurisdictions the laws state the controler must be mounted within the sign itself or attached to the sign. However, before you decide to put chasers on a sign or building you better check ALL your local and state building & sign codes. Many jurisdictions have banned the use of chaser lights. Nothing wrong with chasers in my opinion, it’s just that some jurisdictions get a wild hair up their butt and pass laws banning them.
To get better and more answers to your questions, I suggest you join the forums at www.bigscreenbiz.com and check out the FAQ’s there too as many questions have already been answered.
My friend Daryl Lund, owner of the historic Chehalis Theater (just 30 miles or so from the Raymond Theater) has offered help and suggestions. Apparently his offers keep falling on deaf ears at the Raymond. He has over 20 years experience operating historic single screen (and multiplex) theaters yet no one at the Raymond Theater even bothers to talk to him.
I live in Olympia, Washington and I can confirm that picture of the “Olympic” is indeed the Olympic theater in Olympia, Wash. It first opened in 1924 as the Liberty Theater. In March of 1948 it was extensively remodeled and the name was changed to the Olympic Theatre. In 1982 it was torn down and the Washington Center For The Performing Arts was built in it’s place. The city of Olympia owns & operates this place now.
All your movie sound should be running through the CP-500 and QSC amplifiers you got from Scott Hicks. Movie sound should never be patched through a mixing board. With as few movie showings you do, they should have kept the original two projector setup and not gotten a platter.
Why are the movie speakers NOT behind the screen? Why was a huge picture window cut into the front wall of the projection booth?
Those seats don’t need reupholstering, they need to be replaced with new seats with cupholders. You would be surprised that people don’t tell you about bad seats—-they just never come back.
Did they move the projectors too? Or are they still in the original projection booth? Sounds to me like the ‘faction’ that wanted stage shows must have won out over the calmer heads that wanted movies done right. I’ve been squaking for several years that they need to fix the ceiling and do something about those “hard-as-a-rock” seats!
The acoustics there were already fine without a $90,000 sound system. Have you heard the rumbling from the new HVAC unit on the roof? When it’s running it reverberates throughout the whole auditorium. Sounds just like somebody running a Coleman generator inside the building.
It’s a pity that a nice place like this is being ruined by incompetence.
Um…where are the pictures inside the projection booth showing what projection and sound equipment you already have in place? Your “technical photos” should always include the projection booth equipment and movie speakers behind the screen.
Many times some simple upgrades or kits are all that’s needed. You may not need to shell out big bucks.
This is horrible news. Sounds like this theater will suffer the worst fate you could possibly imagine: demolition by neglect! It’s a pity that the owners are so short-sighted and greedy.
Those are the end ‘standards’ for American (American Seating Co.) model “Bodiform” seats. These were very popular in the late 1940’s to early 1950’s.
BTW, the “LEV” means the seat was designed to be installed on a level (flat) floor such as the stepped floor of a balcony. If the seat were made for a sloped for instead of a “LEV” there’d be a number which indicates the degree of floor slope.
Looks like the theater has closed.
Yup that’s it alright. Too bad a church is going to get it.
Isn’t this the one that’s now a Chinese restaurant?
Built by Tom Moyer’s Luxury Theatres. Then operated later by Act 3 Theaters and then by Regal Cinemas before closing. The building is for lease.
Isn’t this theater operated by a relative of Tom Moyer?
Theater is open year round and only close for a week or so at Christmas time. They show cartoons before the feature during the peak of the season.
More bad news. A local business newspaper is reporting the building has been sold. It is to be torn down and be replaced with condos!
All the pictures are gone from their website except a lone drawing.
Any updates to report on the D&R anybody?
The left hand house has the DTS sound system (I installed it). The right hand house is Dolby type A stereo running thru a Dolby CP-55 processor.
The Sherman Anti-trust applied to the major oil companies (Standard Oil in particular).
You want to check out the “Paramount Consent Decree of 1948”.
The type of marquee/building lights you describe are called “chaser lights”. They are ordinary light bulbs arranged & wired to appear they are ‘chasing’ each other. Many times they are mounted in a sheet metal channel around the copyboard of a marquee (then they’re called “border chasers”). Chaser lights are all controlled from a device called a chaser controller. For most sign applications (and for reliability) these are electromechanical units consisting of a motor, cams, and a stack of switches activated by the opening/closing action of the cams. There are electronic versions of these, but they are not that good for outdoor use because of temperature extremes, moisture, and corrosion. In many jurisdictions the laws state the controler must be mounted within the sign itself or attached to the sign. However, before you decide to put chasers on a sign or building you better check ALL your local and state building & sign codes. Many jurisdictions have banned the use of chaser lights. Nothing wrong with chasers in my opinion, it’s just that some jurisdictions get a wild hair up their butt and pass laws banning them.
To get better and more answers to your questions, I suggest you join the forums at www.bigscreenbiz.com and check out the FAQ’s there too as many questions have already been answered.
My friend Daryl Lund, owner of the historic Chehalis Theater (just 30 miles or so from the Raymond Theater) has offered help and suggestions. Apparently his offers keep falling on deaf ears at the Raymond. He has over 20 years experience operating historic single screen (and multiplex) theaters yet no one at the Raymond Theater even bothers to talk to him.
I live in Olympia, Washington and I can confirm that picture of the “Olympic” is indeed the Olympic theater in Olympia, Wash. It first opened in 1924 as the Liberty Theater. In March of 1948 it was extensively remodeled and the name was changed to the Olympic Theatre. In 1982 it was torn down and the Washington Center For The Performing Arts was built in it’s place. The city of Olympia owns & operates this place now.
All your movie sound should be running through the CP-500 and QSC amplifiers you got from Scott Hicks. Movie sound should never be patched through a mixing board. With as few movie showings you do, they should have kept the original two projector setup and not gotten a platter.
Lane Youmans:
Why are the movie speakers NOT behind the screen? Why was a huge picture window cut into the front wall of the projection booth?
Those seats don’t need reupholstering, they need to be replaced with new seats with cupholders. You would be surprised that people don’t tell you about bad seats—-they just never come back.
I agree 100% Ron.
Also, the bathrooms are sorely neglected and really in need of major repairs.
Ron:
Did they move the projectors too? Or are they still in the original projection booth? Sounds to me like the ‘faction’ that wanted stage shows must have won out over the calmer heads that wanted movies done right. I’ve been squaking for several years that they need to fix the ceiling and do something about those “hard-as-a-rock” seats!
The acoustics there were already fine without a $90,000 sound system. Have you heard the rumbling from the new HVAC unit on the roof? When it’s running it reverberates throughout the whole auditorium. Sounds just like somebody running a Coleman generator inside the building.
It’s a pity that a nice place like this is being ruined by incompetence.
Um…where are the pictures inside the projection booth showing what projection and sound equipment you already have in place? Your “technical photos” should always include the projection booth equipment and movie speakers behind the screen.
Many times some simple upgrades or kits are all that’s needed. You may not need to shell out big bucks.
http://driveintheatrealliance.4t.com
I don’t think it gets any updates though.
This is horrible news. Sounds like this theater will suffer the worst fate you could possibly imagine: demolition by neglect! It’s a pity that the owners are so short-sighted and greedy.
The food is very good there.
Those are the end ‘standards’ for American (American Seating Co.) model “Bodiform” seats. These were very popular in the late 1940’s to early 1950’s.
BTW, the “LEV” means the seat was designed to be installed on a level (flat) floor such as the stepped floor of a balcony. If the seat were made for a sloped for instead of a “LEV” there’d be a number which indicates the degree of floor slope.
“Dissatisfaction with the movie-going experience”. You see…commercials are having an effect!