Well, Carl may have been there, but another projectionist, who was also an attorney, was there when I was there. I forget his name now. He went on to become business agent in the mid 80s. Later, Kemp was back in and, eventually, Belfor became business agent.
Yea, Chester and Bobby went to the Beverly Center, and I do recall Bobby learning to fix TVs also. I think I had a brain dump there for a minute. Working in the Beverly Center projection room is like working in a maze of tunnels. One projector actually reflects with a mirror down to the floor where another mirror sends the image out to the screen. What the heck is that???
I have never seen anything like Radio City Music Hall. Who can imagine a stage on hydrolics either going up and down in three different places, on three different levels or rotating in circles with the Rockettes' legs a-kicking? My lower jaw drops when I go into this place.
I am a union projectionist for United Artists theaters on Long Island, NY. Well, we are actually a division of Regal Entertainment Group. Anyway, when I ask other employees where the original UA Theater is, they look at me with confussion. I explain to them where it is and describe what it was like to work there, as opposed to multi-plexes today.
You should try being the projectionist there in those two smaller rooms. I won’t even classify them as theaters. The ceiling is so low that you have to bend to get around. Gee, what a treasure this place is. HAA!!!
I did relief projection there in the mid 80s. The place is gorgeous, but the pipe organ flutes ran shivers down my back, as if the Phantom Of The Opera would somehow appear. :)
I wonder if Bobby Popita, the regular projectionist there, is still alive today. I used to be his relief in the late 70s. Seems like he was there forever.
I did relief projection there in the late 70s. That had to be the smallest booth I have ever worked in. And yes, between movies, I had to run that damn spotlight on Isela Vega during her nudie shows. What a rude awakening that was because it was my first job in Los Angeles. Come to think of it, I met my wife there. She was a cashier. Oh well, but we are no longer together. Ahhh, the memories. tee-hee
In the late 70s, I can remember the Holly projectionist, John Oblinger (aka, Steven Gates), the Paramount (El Capitan) projectionist, Bob Seeling, and I would meet almost everynight for a few beers after work. I was the relief projectionist for them as well as every other theater in Hollywood.
I remember it being the first theater in Chicago to run film on platters, as opposed to reel-to-reel. Al Wrobel was the business agent for Local 110, IATSE, in those days. Before becoming a projectionist in 1974, I was headquartered out of the Marina for the State of Illinois as a highway accident investigator under Governor Ogilvie. The Marina was the hotest place in town!
Tell me about it. I just did a double shift there yesterday. Word is, once the cuban restaurant on the property ends their lease, the place will be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. If you drive by, you will notice all the other businesses on the property are vacant. Only the cuban restaurant remains and is holding-up the plans.
I don’t know if I met her.
You and I had to have crossed paths. What a small world.
Geezzz, you got it!!!
That is a better description…submarine. :) hehehe
Well, Carl may have been there, but another projectionist, who was also an attorney, was there when I was there. I forget his name now. He went on to become business agent in the mid 80s. Later, Kemp was back in and, eventually, Belfor became business agent.
Yea, Chester and Bobby went to the Beverly Center, and I do recall Bobby learning to fix TVs also. I think I had a brain dump there for a minute. Working in the Beverly Center projection room is like working in a maze of tunnels. One projector actually reflects with a mirror down to the floor where another mirror sends the image out to the screen. What the heck is that???
In fact, I think I had worked with Chester more recently at the Beverly Center…well, that is if you call 1998 more recently.
I used to love working here, as well as all of Pacific’s drive-ins. My favorite was the Baseline drive-in in San Bernardino.
I have never seen anything like Radio City Music Hall. Who can imagine a stage on hydrolics either going up and down in three different places, on three different levels or rotating in circles with the Rockettes' legs a-kicking? My lower jaw drops when I go into this place.
I am a union projectionist for United Artists theaters on Long Island, NY. Well, we are actually a division of Regal Entertainment Group. Anyway, when I ask other employees where the original UA Theater is, they look at me with confussion. I explain to them where it is and describe what it was like to work there, as opposed to multi-plexes today.
Was Chester a black guy? Ralph, what can I say? Let’s not forget the rest of the gang. :)
It used to be a bear getting into the projection room. You had to slide around a beam to get into it.
tee-hee… :)
You should try being the projectionist there in those two smaller rooms. I won’t even classify them as theaters. The ceiling is so low that you have to bend to get around. Gee, what a treasure this place is. HAA!!!
HA! He was a character, well, that is, when he wasn’t reciting Nostrodomus.
I did relief projection there in the mid 80s. The place is gorgeous, but the pipe organ flutes ran shivers down my back, as if the Phantom Of The Opera would somehow appear. :)
I wonder how Kenny, the recently retired chief projectionist there for those 20 years, is doing today?
I wonder if Bobby Popita, the regular projectionist there, is still alive today. I used to be his relief in the late 70s. Seems like he was there forever.
I would get lost trying to find the projection room in that place… shesh
I did relief projection there in the late 70s. That had to be the smallest booth I have ever worked in. And yes, between movies, I had to run that damn spotlight on Isela Vega during her nudie shows. What a rude awakening that was because it was my first job in Los Angeles. Come to think of it, I met my wife there. She was a cashier. Oh well, but we are no longer together. Ahhh, the memories. tee-hee
In the late 70s, I can remember the Holly projectionist, John Oblinger (aka, Steven Gates), the Paramount (El Capitan) projectionist, Bob Seeling, and I would meet almost everynight for a few beers after work. I was the relief projectionist for them as well as every other theater in Hollywood.
I had noticed that one person posting here is “paulb.” That wouldn’t by chance be Paul Balbirnie, manager of the Eqyptian Theater, would it? :)
I remember it being the first theater in Chicago to run film on platters, as opposed to reel-to-reel. Al Wrobel was the business agent for Local 110, IATSE, in those days. Before becoming a projectionist in 1974, I was headquartered out of the Marina for the State of Illinois as a highway accident investigator under Governor Ogilvie. The Marina was the hotest place in town!
Tell me about it. I just did a double shift there yesterday. Word is, once the cuban restaurant on the property ends their lease, the place will be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. If you drive by, you will notice all the other businesses on the property are vacant. Only the cuban restaurant remains and is holding-up the plans.
Was a relief projectionist there in the 70s and early 80s. The place will take your breath away… awesome…