To each his own. But just remember one thing JJD, in my day we had projectionists, people who knew how to make changeovers, trim carbon rods and the alike. These so-called projectionists today are nothing more than the kids who sell you your popcorn and just have to push one button. Nothing hard about that.
Giles, no there hasn’t been a truce yet, not according to the owner I work for. And to all those including our good buddy justin who this digital thing is the next big wave, well when they were installing it at the place I work, the tech was saying theres already disputes about who can play what on which digital, and if you play this you breach this, so as I see it, these film companies, who along with companies like AMC and Regal are going to ruin yet another thing in this once proud movie industry. I just hope something breaks my way and the union can get me out before the bottom drops. As my owner said to me, after this summers wave of 3D, he’s going to rethink the whole thing. Boom!!!
I know I am going to get run over by saying this, but here goes…Al Alverez, Bill Heulbig and Movieguy718 have all just said in the prior 3 posts, exactly the same things I have been saying for many, many years. This is exactly whats wrong with the industry today. I’m sure I haven’t been doing this projection thing as long as Al, but still 34 years is a long time. I remember the days when you would never cancal a show for anyone, or anything. This idea of charging $ 3.00 extra for a pair of glasses you don’t even get to keep (I know, what else can you use them for, its just the principle of it) is pissing off so many people, its not even funny. I see it all day at the theatre I work at. And yes all this digital sound is way, way to loud. And trailers, even going back 30 years were always loud. I dont care what anyone says, the old days were way way better.
They didn’t follow that old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I ran IMAX back in ‘04 and'05. THAT was IMAX, 15/70, Giant screen. But they wanted mini-max, or diet-max or imax-lite, or whatever you want to call it, so there. I don’t feel sorry for them. I’ve saiod before, this whole digital thing is just a passing fancy. You’re never going to completely knock out 35MM, and what they had with 15/70MM was just awesome. To me, now its like watching a movie on the big screen, then buy the DVD. With this new IMAX, its already the DVD. The damage is done, as far as I’m concerned.
Now I may be wrong here, but did these high paid executives ever stop to think that people just have the money to buy DVD’s ?? I mean you hear about people losing their jobs, their homes, it amazes me that the movie theatres with their high prices are still doing well. Like I said, I could be wrong, but in our family, putting food on the table is a little higher priority right now than buying a DVD.
Thats the problem with a lot of these multiplexes today. You have these teenage projectionist wanna-bees, and you end up with piracy. All these companies wont hire union guys cause they say it costs too much, so they hire these kids for $8.00 an hour, and of course they want more money, so they do what they can to get it. You would never catch an old timer like me doing this. I have more brains then to get caught and lose my job.
I agree with everything you said Jeff S. You do damage the lamps. Even today however. management seems to think they know it all, so I just go with the flow. I don’t like it, I just do it.
dantop500, thats whats wrong with the entire industry today. Big companies like AMC and Regal are killing it. Give me the good old days, like when I started 34 years ago.
I have just read from some posts that there are projection problems here. I dont know, or care to get into a grudge match with people, but in regards to Jeff S above, you can “cut back” on light output on a Xenon bulb. As a projectionist for 34 years, I have had to do it in many of the independent theatres I worked at. They wanted to save some electric. All you had to do was go to the rectifier and crank down the amps from say 80 to 70 (or even 65). I always noticed the difference. Again, as he stated there is a diff between machines. It could be a reflector problem, a bulb focusing issue, or even alignment from the lamphouse to the projector. I know whwn I was there years ago, after Nelson just took it over, he told me he was going with dual projection. Does he have a matched pair, or is each one different? This can cause all sorts of problems. And I do hope these new owners make it work as it has in the past. I have been trying for 4 years to get the owner of the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. to do the same, but nothing comes about from it.
In response to ken mc…too late for many of the shore communities, Asbury Park, Seaside, Point Pleasant, AC as you mentioned, its a sin how they were all destroyed.
And to newt wallen…if my wife and I manage to scrape together enough to take a vacation, perhaps we will stop by the stone harbor 5 and finally meet you.
Your name sounds very familiar. I was a worker in numerous positions from the old Menlo Park and Woodbridge Twin Cinemas. I eventually joined the IATSE local and worked as projectionist there. Do you remember Tony or Robert Rizzo, Bob Masarik or John Bortula?? Hows retirement treating you??
I know all you theatre lovers like me are going to call me stupid, but a few weeks ago, when the mega millions was like 270 million dollars, I was hoping, wishing, dreaming that I would win, just so I could buy the Kings theatre, The Ritz in Elizabeth NJ and any other grand palaces left in this area, so people could enjoy them (after massive renovations of course) and save them forever from the wrecking ball.
O.K. go ahead, tell me I was stupid. But what a great dream it was.
Its the going trend. We need a shopping center every ¼ mile, with a fast food joint and gas station in between, and the occasional pharmacy or bank stuck in there for good measure. Really really sick.
The Forum Theatre in Metuchen New Jersey is being renovated as we speak. The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth New Jersey has been renovated and I understand is now for sale. Both are listed here on CT.
Good Luck. This is great to read about. AND they are adding a screen. So much for all the talk about drive-ins being dead in the water. We need more like this.
AWESOME !!!!!!!!!
To each his own. But just remember one thing JJD, in my day we had projectionists, people who knew how to make changeovers, trim carbon rods and the alike. These so-called projectionists today are nothing more than the kids who sell you your popcorn and just have to push one button. Nothing hard about that.
Let me make this as clear and easy to understand for everyone. As a union projectionist for 34 years, the answer to larry 2’s question is…NO !!!!!!
Giles, no there hasn’t been a truce yet, not according to the owner I work for. And to all those including our good buddy justin who this digital thing is the next big wave, well when they were installing it at the place I work, the tech was saying theres already disputes about who can play what on which digital, and if you play this you breach this, so as I see it, these film companies, who along with companies like AMC and Regal are going to ruin yet another thing in this once proud movie industry. I just hope something breaks my way and the union can get me out before the bottom drops. As my owner said to me, after this summers wave of 3D, he’s going to rethink the whole thing. Boom!!!
I know I am going to get run over by saying this, but here goes…Al Alverez, Bill Heulbig and Movieguy718 have all just said in the prior 3 posts, exactly the same things I have been saying for many, many years. This is exactly whats wrong with the industry today. I’m sure I haven’t been doing this projection thing as long as Al, but still 34 years is a long time. I remember the days when you would never cancal a show for anyone, or anything. This idea of charging $ 3.00 extra for a pair of glasses you don’t even get to keep (I know, what else can you use them for, its just the principle of it) is pissing off so many people, its not even funny. I see it all day at the theatre I work at. And yes all this digital sound is way, way to loud. And trailers, even going back 30 years were always loud. I dont care what anyone says, the old days were way way better.
They didn’t follow that old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I ran IMAX back in ‘04 and'05. THAT was IMAX, 15/70, Giant screen. But they wanted mini-max, or diet-max or imax-lite, or whatever you want to call it, so there. I don’t feel sorry for them. I’ve saiod before, this whole digital thing is just a passing fancy. You’re never going to completely knock out 35MM, and what they had with 15/70MM was just awesome. To me, now its like watching a movie on the big screen, then buy the DVD. With this new IMAX, its already the DVD. The damage is done, as far as I’m concerned.
Now I may be wrong here, but did these high paid executives ever stop to think that people just have the money to buy DVD’s ?? I mean you hear about people losing their jobs, their homes, it amazes me that the movie theatres with their high prices are still doing well. Like I said, I could be wrong, but in our family, putting food on the table is a little higher priority right now than buying a DVD.
Thats the problem with a lot of these multiplexes today. You have these teenage projectionist wanna-bees, and you end up with piracy. All these companies wont hire union guys cause they say it costs too much, so they hire these kids for $8.00 an hour, and of course they want more money, so they do what they can to get it. You would never catch an old timer like me doing this. I have more brains then to get caught and lose my job.
AS I’ve said many, many times before. Another one bites the dust.
I agree with everything you said Jeff S. You do damage the lamps. Even today however. management seems to think they know it all, so I just go with the flow. I don’t like it, I just do it.
dantop500, thats whats wrong with the entire industry today. Big companies like AMC and Regal are killing it. Give me the good old days, like when I started 34 years ago.
A feel good story in these down times. I wish them well.
I have just read from some posts that there are projection problems here. I dont know, or care to get into a grudge match with people, but in regards to Jeff S above, you can “cut back” on light output on a Xenon bulb. As a projectionist for 34 years, I have had to do it in many of the independent theatres I worked at. They wanted to save some electric. All you had to do was go to the rectifier and crank down the amps from say 80 to 70 (or even 65). I always noticed the difference. Again, as he stated there is a diff between machines. It could be a reflector problem, a bulb focusing issue, or even alignment from the lamphouse to the projector. I know whwn I was there years ago, after Nelson just took it over, he told me he was going with dual projection. Does he have a matched pair, or is each one different? This can cause all sorts of problems. And I do hope these new owners make it work as it has in the past. I have been trying for 4 years to get the owner of the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. to do the same, but nothing comes about from it.
In response to ken mc…too late for many of the shore communities, Asbury Park, Seaside, Point Pleasant, AC as you mentioned, its a sin how they were all destroyed.
And to newt wallen…if my wife and I manage to scrape together enough to take a vacation, perhaps we will stop by the stone harbor 5 and finally meet you.
One in the same.
So Newt, am I to understand that you now work for the theatre in Cape May?
What about the old theatres along the South Jersey shore?? Ventnor, Wildwood ( where so many have already been demolished ) Cape May ??
Your name sounds very familiar. I was a worker in numerous positions from the old Menlo Park and Woodbridge Twin Cinemas. I eventually joined the IATSE local and worked as projectionist there. Do you remember Tony or Robert Rizzo, Bob Masarik or John Bortula?? Hows retirement treating you??
Lets how much this deufus screws things up.
I know all you theatre lovers like me are going to call me stupid, but a few weeks ago, when the mega millions was like 270 million dollars, I was hoping, wishing, dreaming that I would win, just so I could buy the Kings theatre, The Ritz in Elizabeth NJ and any other grand palaces left in this area, so people could enjoy them (after massive renovations of course) and save them forever from the wrecking ball.
O.K. go ahead, tell me I was stupid. But what a great dream it was.
Its the going trend. We need a shopping center every ¼ mile, with a fast food joint and gas station in between, and the occasional pharmacy or bank stuck in there for good measure. Really really sick.
The Forum Theatre in Metuchen New Jersey is being renovated as we speak. The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth New Jersey has been renovated and I understand is now for sale. Both are listed here on CT.
Good Luck. This is great to read about. AND they are adding a screen. So much for all the talk about drive-ins being dead in the water. We need more like this.
What a shame. The once mighty empire is slowly being desolved.
Tonight at 7:30 ‘American Graffitti’ in Cinemascope on the giant screen. I’ll be the projectionist.