Comments from carolgrau

Showing 76 - 100 of 263 comments

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Memories of the downtown theaters of St. Paul on Nov 12, 2009 at 3:44 am

I always said and I always will if they are not running movies anymore then tear them down. Stop letting these fraud churches have them for tax free. Hit them with the wrecking ball.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 10, 2009 at 11:36 pm

The only booth left was the center one wich we used till the end. The other 2 on the left and right rear were removed but you could see where they plastered over the holes for the booth exhaust pipes. Once they closed the upstairs booth we moved everything down to the center booth and used that one till the final day.The 2 Norelco AA2 projectors upstairs were removed about a year before the theatre closed. We used the century JJ’S downstairs till the end.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:30 am

There was 3 projection booths downstairs at the back of the auditorium. One on each side and the one in the middle. That is how we ran cinerama all 3 projectors hit the screen at the same time.Yes the curtain was still working till the very end.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 10, 2009 at 7:54 am

Wow it was 10 years to the day, that I had a heart attack while running movies at the Jennifer theatre in DC. I just got hit with that thought April 14,1993. I told all my union pals I was trying to get out of paying taxes.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Village Theatre on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:32 am

I remember the brains of Cinemette had the construction crews knock out the walls for exit doors while people were sitting in the theatres watching the movies, all the daylight poured in and managment could'nt understand thier problems and complaints. DAH

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Bank Cinemas I & II on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:22 am

I always loved the spiral staircase going up to the booth, may have worked this one 15 times at most, I really miss all the grand old theatres. We had so much history and left it all go to hell, with the help of Cinemette.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Showcase Cinemas East on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:11 am

This was one and only one I ever worked that had 60 minute reel to reel automation, really kept you on your toes. Once in awhile Murphy’s law would win out and you would have one long ass day.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Penn Hills Cinemas on Nov 10, 2009 at 2:46 am

Cinnemette had it also, when I worked there it was a single screem theatre, we twined it in 82 I had no idea it was a 4 plex. Was a nice theatre.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Hollywood Theater on Nov 8, 2009 at 6:38 pm

This is great news, I only ever worked this theatre once. I ran night shift with Henry Winkler and Mike Keaton, on an all day Sat. shift. What a great place and gravy job a single theatre with a platter. The people who ran it were very nice, and as all us Pittsburghers very friendly.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 8, 2009 at 3:42 am

Sorry I could'nt remember but I do know Jan’s assistant manager ran away with all the money on the last night, then came flashdance and then the end, still hurts alot.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 7, 2009 at 10:05 pm

Flahdance was the last one, we started to take out the projectors a few days later,m the projectors ended up in the new cinema world.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Byham Theatre on Nov 7, 2009 at 6:55 pm

I ran Natalie Woods brainstorm in 70mm here, and I remember running Purple Rain here also. I was one of the main projectionist at the Warner for 5 days a week the other 2 days I would the Fulton all these shifts were open to close. I also worked the Fulton Mini. The main booth had as number one projector a Simplex X-L and a peerless magnarc lamp Projectors 2&3 where Norelco AAII’s with Ashcraft Mighty ninety lamps, later replaced with strong 2500 watt bulbs. Wasv always one of my favotite theatres.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Cinema 4 on Nov 7, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Thank you radiojay, i was one of those projectionist, what a beautiful theatre with it’s thick red carpet. Every chance I got I never turned down a job at this beauty

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Chatham Cinema on Nov 7, 2009 at 6:06 pm

No idea Ed, This was a nice booth, 2 Simplex X-L 35-70 projectors with Strong Futura II lamps. I can’t remember a movie that did'nt do well here.mega lines all the time. More than once we had to hold the start of the movie to get everyone in. Damn shame they are all gone.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about North Hills Theatre on Nov 7, 2009 at 8:03 am

I ran all of me in 84 here and they still used carbons for the lams. Was a great theatre.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 7, 2009 at 7:17 am

The last movie ever to play at the Warner was a special showing of Flashdance. Two weeks later it was gone. I had the honor of running the last movie there.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Chatham Cinema on Nov 7, 2009 at 6:41 am

I had the honor of working this theatre for local 171 as a projectionist, I worked with Chuck Bouvy, I later worked with Jan Bouvy at the Warner, when she was the manager there. Jan & Chuck would know me as none other than Mungo. I really miss them and those wonderfull days.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Strand Theatre on Nov 5, 2009 at 1:20 pm

I can’t remember what happened yesterday, so 1970 is another story. I do mremember it though.Years ago I worked for a funeral home so when I was in the union everytime someone passed in the booth I was always the first one the business agent would call. I just happened to be at the Strand that night, but was glad I could help.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Strand Theatre on Nov 5, 2009 at 6:02 am

I forget the year, but i went to the Strand one night with a date and right after reel 2 the screen went white. After a few minutes I went and told the manager, and offered to help. I said I was a projectionist, he & I wewnt up to the booth to find the projectionist had died. I ran the rest of the show and they did'nt bother to run the 9 oclock show. I don’t recall but I think his name was Harry.was a great little theatre.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Arkansas students lead effort to restore, re-open theater on Oct 22, 2009 at 4:49 pm

I agree, at least it’s a great story, and I wish them well. I just hope they don’t get it done and the owner sells it for alot more value. Good luck guys.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Complete Set of 500 vintage marquee letters Pre-1900???? on Oct 17, 2009 at 7:33 pm

We had alot of these at my dad’s one theatre in Pittsburgh, Pa. However vandals liked them more and destroyed them all.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Reconsidering Hollywood's greatest year: 1939 vs. 1959 on Oct 15, 2009 at 11:01 pm

Movie534, I have been a projectionist for 53 years, started in 56 at age 10. My dad & uncle owned theatres in Pittsburgh, Pa. area. My uncle taught me how to operate and fix about all the problems he could think of. I also learned to run different kinds of projectors and lamps. It was to his advantage, he and dad would go to the bar next door and I would be left to run the movies.Was in local #171 out of Pittsburgh for years, my last union was 224 out of DC.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about The historic Sea Theater hosts a Halloween triple feature on Oct 15, 2009 at 10:45 pm

Good luck with your theatre. I used to go to Wildwood all the time as a kid. Alot of great memories.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about Franklin Theatre on Oct 12, 2009 at 6:38 am

I ran movies here once in awhile to help them out, what a nice theatre and yet was kind of strange to see it go so fast, and in the midst of all the money floating around the area.Bitch all you want,you did nothing to save it.

carolgrau
carolgrau commented about North Carolina theater prohibits cell phone use on Oct 11, 2009 at 11:25 am

How the hell did we go from cell phones,to some idiot wanting advance notice on the stupid Opera.