Cinema North

I was the relief projectionist in this theatre (as well as the Genesse, the East, the Westvale, and the North and Dewitt D.I.s) for a few years in the early eighties, while a fine old gent named Gary Bender was the head, and it was a delight to work in. The booth had two Simplex E-7 projectors that Gary kept in immaculate shape, older carbon-arc lamps, mono sound and an eight-track player for non-sync music. In the room down the hall from the projection booth was a huge popcorn popper that was used by CinemaNational to pop the corn for all the theatres in town. Whenever I went upstairs, there were large garbage bags full of popped corn in the hallway. About 1981, when the 3-D film craze re-emerged for awhile, the screen was painted silver to accommodate the process. I remember I ran * Parasite, Comin’ At Ya, House of Wax * and a few other 3-D pictures here. I wish I could remember the manager’s name from this era, I recall that he was another fine old veteran.

CinemaNational folded and the theatre changed hands several times after I left. At the end, it was leased from Northern Lights by a local contractor named Dan (I can’t remember his last name) who also leased the Genesse and the Auburn Twin and still kept them running for awhile. Eventually he wanted out, and I had a brief conversation with him about buying the business and assuming the leases, but it didn’t pan out. Shortly after that the end came, the building was cleaned out, and a giant R/C slot-car track took over, which folded quickly.

I am in NY for the foreseeable future, but you are welcome to get in touch with me. Be advised, though, that the part of my brain that holds my memories of this period has pretty much shut down for good. But I’ll remember what I can for you. My e-mail is mcogdenAToptonline.net.

i like its exterior.