From a projectionist standpoint, the Continental was “the” place to show movies. Beautiful and big Norelco AAII 35/70mm projectors. (The only projectors to ever win an Oscar) Huge multi channel Ampex sound system capable of running any sound format for that time and five Altec A4 stage speakers with Altec A7 surround speakers. Huge 170 amp Super Corelite carbon arc lamphouses; (later replaced by Xenex xenon lamphouses) The big Norelcos and the Super Corelite lamps were water cooled. The last couple of films I ran there in 70mm were “Return Of A Man Called Horse” and of course “Gone With The Wind”.
Mr. George Gaughn did a magnificient job owning and operating his three Continental Theatres.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was one of the original projectionists at the Fontana and also did the installation of projection and sound along with a R.C.A. engineer and one other projectionist. The theatre was built by Mr. Robert Lippert Sr. who owned Transcontinental Theatres out of San Francisco. The theatre opened in June 1973 with “Jesus Christ Superstar” on screens 1 and 4 along with “Mary Poppins” on screens 2 and 3. Original projection and sound equipment consisted of Simplex 35 projectors and sound heads, Christie 1KW Xenon lamphouses and Christie Autowind 1 platter systems on Cinemas 1 and 4. Screens 2 and 3 each had two Cinemeccanica V8R 35mm projectors capable of running 10,000 foot reels. Changeovers were accomplished automatically with Xetron Maxi 7 automations. All sound systems were mono with Simplex solid state amplifiers and a single Altec A5X speaker located behind the screen. In 1976 Rowley United Division of United Artists took over operation of the Fontana from Transcontinental Theatres. In 1978 Cinema #4 was equipped with the first Dolby CP50 optical stereo sound processor in Tulsa for the opening of a movie entitled “The Magic Of Lassie”. Two additional Altex A5X speakers were installed behind the screen and surround speakers were also added. Additional Altec Model 1594 power amplifiers were also installed. In the early 1980’s the projection room was converted over to all Simplex 35 projectors and Simplex SH1000 sound heads. O.R.C. platters and sound systems were installed on all screens except #4. Two additional screens were added on the West end of the building and the speakers behind the screens were JBL Model 4670D. By this time I was employed by United Artists engineering department and did the projection and sound upgrades along with installation of screens 5 and 6.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
One of the original two projectors from the Sunset Theatre can be viewed at the following website: www.film-tech.com
Just click on the pictures link and you will see the projector that was located in the #1, left machine, position in the Sunset’s projection room.
Enjoy!!!
Ben Kehe
I was introduced to the projection room at the Sunset in 1959 by Harry Pace and his son-in-law, Lloyd Johnston. I was barely thirteen years old. By this time Harry had mostly turned over the day to day operation to Lloyd and his wife, (Harry’s daughter), Pat.
My grandfather and Harry were golfing buddies with several rounds played each week at Meadowbrook and every Sunday night we would travel from Tripoli to Sumner to watch the movie. That one Sunday night when Harry took me upstairs to the projection room did it for me. From then on my Sunday nights were spent with my mentor Lloyd instructing me in the discipline of operating 35mm film projection equipment for the enjoyment of the movie going public. At show time, Harry would go down front and prompt us in the projection room with his flashlight to start the movie and he would manually open the curtain that covered that magnificient screen. It was a big deal.
The Sunset had state of the art projection and sound in those years.
Motiograph Model K projectors on Motiograph SH7500 optical sound heads and Motiograph sound system. The carbon arc lamps were Strong Mogul burning 7mm negative and 8mm positive carbons at 70 amps D.C.
Changeover between the two projectors was accomplished by means of a manual slide bar mechanism that had been fabricated from wood and tin.
I have now spent 49 years in the art of putting the larger than life images on to the big screen for the movie going public and I remain
indebted to Harry Pace, Lloyd Johnston and The Sunset Theatre in Sumner, Iowa for this life long inspiration.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
Lon, Nice history lesson on the Waverly Theatre. Thanks.
I was part time projectionist, mostly winter months in 1962 and 1963 and I believe early 1964. Super Simplex projectors on Western Electric sound heads and Peerless Magnarc lamps running at 40 amps D.C. Western Electric sound system. Super Panatar cinemascope lenses. Many good memories at the Waverly Theatre.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was the projectionist at the Waverly DI during my high school years, 1962,1963 and 1964. One of my favorite memories was the early spring opening we did in 1964. Dorothy Theis was owner and she booked “Jason and the Argonauts” to open that spring. On opening night there was a big snow storm and I clearly remember how pretty that light beam traveling from the projector to that huge drivein screen through the snow appeared. Simply magnificient.
Pretty nice projection room with Simplex XL projectors and sound heads, Peerless Magnarc carbon arc lamps burning 8mm negative and 9mm positive carbons at 90 amps D.C. Consumed lots of carbon for a twenty minute reel; about 8.5 inches of positive for a twenty minute reel. The Hertner generator for the lamps was located right in the projection room which made for a hot and noisy environment but when your sixteen years old and doing just exactly what you want to do, the heat and noise are insignificant. Dorothy was a very nice employer and I enjoyed my few years at both the Waverly Drivein and the Waverly Theatre during the winter months.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
1964 was quite a year for an Iowa farm boy/projectionist who was first introduced in to the world of X rated movies at the Crystal.
The owner, Jerry, (I can’t remember his last name) was still another colorful theatre owner/operator. His trademark was a large cigar. Very nice fellow who always intrigued me as to why he would operate an X rated movie theatre. I believe I now undersand that he was making money. Nice basic projection room with Simplex E-7 projectors and Peerless Magnarc arc lamps. Definitely a “fun” place to show movies especially not knowing, going in the first time that motion picture film could be so sexy. It was tough concentrating on the upper right hand corner for changeover cues. Really tough.
Once Again, Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was a relief projectionist at the El Rey in 1964. One of the requirements as projectionist was to put a white light on the screen every day before opening so that Sy could get on stage and sometimes do a little dance. Interesting fellow who left me with fond memories of just how colorful some of our movie theatre people were.
Always an interesting day in the projection room of the El Rey. There was a discipline involved that seems to have gone by the wayside in so many areas these days.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
During 2003 and 2004 my company had the privilege to be involved with the installation of sound panels throughout the Poncan auditorium to enhance all sound formats. The sound panel installation was beautifully executed and left the auditorium looking completely original with far better acoustics.
My company then installed Dolby Digital sound processing equipment in to the projection room to enable the reproduction of digital sound from the 35mm film.
At this same time, equipment was installed to enable 5.1 digital sound reproduction from a DVD source along with pro-logic sound from a two channel source.
The Poncan Theatre is a beautiful venue and it is always a privilege to be a part of any project at this theatre.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe, President
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was a projectionist at the Will Rogers in Tulsa from 1965 – 1976.
I worked with Mr. Frank Piro who was a projectionist at this theatre from the first show in 1942 through the last show in 1976. Frank was the finest booth partner any one could wish for.
Style – Southwest. Auditorium walls were murals of cowboys roping steers. Walls were beige and the seats were cloth with red cushions.
Function – 35mm motion picture theatre. Brenkert BX60 projectors, RCA 9030 optical sound heads, Brenkert/Enarc carbon arc lamps burning 7mm negative and 8mm positive carbons at 70 amps. The theatre was equipped to run full four channel magnetic sound if needed with RCA four track magnetic sound heads.
Seats – 719
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I was a projectionist at the Fox in 1964.
It was a great theatre to put on a real presentation from a projectionist’s point of view.
I sincerely hope that the city of Salinas does not follow in the footsteps of so many metro areas by tearing down their movie palaces.
I have done projection and sound renovations in these old palaces around the country and it is with great pride that at least some of these great palaces remain today as part of our heritage.
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
918 906 3715
From a projectionist standpoint, the Continental was “the” place to show movies. Beautiful and big Norelco AAII 35/70mm projectors. (The only projectors to ever win an Oscar) Huge multi channel Ampex sound system capable of running any sound format for that time and five Altec A4 stage speakers with Altec A7 surround speakers. Huge 170 amp Super Corelite carbon arc lamphouses; (later replaced by Xenex xenon lamphouses) The big Norelcos and the Super Corelite lamps were water cooled. The last couple of films I ran there in 70mm were “Return Of A Man Called Horse” and of course “Gone With The Wind”.
Mr. George Gaughn did a magnificient job owning and operating his three Continental Theatres.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was one of the original projectionists at the Fontana and also did the installation of projection and sound along with a R.C.A. engineer and one other projectionist. The theatre was built by Mr. Robert Lippert Sr. who owned Transcontinental Theatres out of San Francisco. The theatre opened in June 1973 with “Jesus Christ Superstar” on screens 1 and 4 along with “Mary Poppins” on screens 2 and 3. Original projection and sound equipment consisted of Simplex 35 projectors and sound heads, Christie 1KW Xenon lamphouses and Christie Autowind 1 platter systems on Cinemas 1 and 4. Screens 2 and 3 each had two Cinemeccanica V8R 35mm projectors capable of running 10,000 foot reels. Changeovers were accomplished automatically with Xetron Maxi 7 automations. All sound systems were mono with Simplex solid state amplifiers and a single Altec A5X speaker located behind the screen. In 1976 Rowley United Division of United Artists took over operation of the Fontana from Transcontinental Theatres. In 1978 Cinema #4 was equipped with the first Dolby CP50 optical stereo sound processor in Tulsa for the opening of a movie entitled “The Magic Of Lassie”. Two additional Altex A5X speakers were installed behind the screen and surround speakers were also added. Additional Altec Model 1594 power amplifiers were also installed. In the early 1980’s the projection room was converted over to all Simplex 35 projectors and Simplex SH1000 sound heads. O.R.C. platters and sound systems were installed on all screens except #4. Two additional screens were added on the West end of the building and the speakers behind the screens were JBL Model 4670D. By this time I was employed by United Artists engineering department and did the projection and sound upgrades along with installation of screens 5 and 6.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
One of the original two projectors from the Sunset Theatre can be viewed at the following website: www.film-tech.com
Just click on the pictures link and you will see the projector that was located in the #1, left machine, position in the Sunset’s projection room.
Enjoy!!!
Ben Kehe
I was introduced to the projection room at the Sunset in 1959 by Harry Pace and his son-in-law, Lloyd Johnston. I was barely thirteen years old. By this time Harry had mostly turned over the day to day operation to Lloyd and his wife, (Harry’s daughter), Pat.
My grandfather and Harry were golfing buddies with several rounds played each week at Meadowbrook and every Sunday night we would travel from Tripoli to Sumner to watch the movie. That one Sunday night when Harry took me upstairs to the projection room did it for me. From then on my Sunday nights were spent with my mentor Lloyd instructing me in the discipline of operating 35mm film projection equipment for the enjoyment of the movie going public. At show time, Harry would go down front and prompt us in the projection room with his flashlight to start the movie and he would manually open the curtain that covered that magnificient screen. It was a big deal.
The Sunset had state of the art projection and sound in those years.
Motiograph Model K projectors on Motiograph SH7500 optical sound heads and Motiograph sound system. The carbon arc lamps were Strong Mogul burning 7mm negative and 8mm positive carbons at 70 amps D.C.
Changeover between the two projectors was accomplished by means of a manual slide bar mechanism that had been fabricated from wood and tin.
I have now spent 49 years in the art of putting the larger than life images on to the big screen for the movie going public and I remain
indebted to Harry Pace, Lloyd Johnston and The Sunset Theatre in Sumner, Iowa for this life long inspiration.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
Lon, Nice history lesson on the Waverly Theatre. Thanks.
I was part time projectionist, mostly winter months in 1962 and 1963 and I believe early 1964. Super Simplex projectors on Western Electric sound heads and Peerless Magnarc lamps running at 40 amps D.C. Western Electric sound system. Super Panatar cinemascope lenses. Many good memories at the Waverly Theatre.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was the projectionist at the Waverly DI during my high school years, 1962,1963 and 1964. One of my favorite memories was the early spring opening we did in 1964. Dorothy Theis was owner and she booked “Jason and the Argonauts” to open that spring. On opening night there was a big snow storm and I clearly remember how pretty that light beam traveling from the projector to that huge drivein screen through the snow appeared. Simply magnificient.
Pretty nice projection room with Simplex XL projectors and sound heads, Peerless Magnarc carbon arc lamps burning 8mm negative and 9mm positive carbons at 90 amps D.C. Consumed lots of carbon for a twenty minute reel; about 8.5 inches of positive for a twenty minute reel. The Hertner generator for the lamps was located right in the projection room which made for a hot and noisy environment but when your sixteen years old and doing just exactly what you want to do, the heat and noise are insignificant. Dorothy was a very nice employer and I enjoyed my few years at both the Waverly Drivein and the Waverly Theatre during the winter months.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
1964 was quite a year for an Iowa farm boy/projectionist who was first introduced in to the world of X rated movies at the Crystal.
The owner, Jerry, (I can’t remember his last name) was still another colorful theatre owner/operator. His trademark was a large cigar. Very nice fellow who always intrigued me as to why he would operate an X rated movie theatre. I believe I now undersand that he was making money. Nice basic projection room with Simplex E-7 projectors and Peerless Magnarc arc lamps. Definitely a “fun” place to show movies especially not knowing, going in the first time that motion picture film could be so sexy. It was tough concentrating on the upper right hand corner for changeover cues. Really tough.
Once Again, Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was a relief projectionist at the El Rey in 1964. One of the requirements as projectionist was to put a white light on the screen every day before opening so that Sy could get on stage and sometimes do a little dance. Interesting fellow who left me with fond memories of just how colorful some of our movie theatre people were.
Always an interesting day in the projection room of the El Rey. There was a discipline involved that seems to have gone by the wayside in so many areas these days.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
During 2003 and 2004 my company had the privilege to be involved with the installation of sound panels throughout the Poncan auditorium to enhance all sound formats. The sound panel installation was beautifully executed and left the auditorium looking completely original with far better acoustics.
My company then installed Dolby Digital sound processing equipment in to the projection room to enable the reproduction of digital sound from the 35mm film.
At this same time, equipment was installed to enable 5.1 digital sound reproduction from a DVD source along with pro-logic sound from a two channel source.
The Poncan Theatre is a beautiful venue and it is always a privilege to be a part of any project at this theatre.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe, President
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
918 906 3715
I was a projectionist at the Will Rogers in Tulsa from 1965 – 1976.
I worked with Mr. Frank Piro who was a projectionist at this theatre from the first show in 1942 through the last show in 1976. Frank was the finest booth partner any one could wish for.
Style – Southwest. Auditorium walls were murals of cowboys roping steers. Walls were beige and the seats were cloth with red cushions.
Function – 35mm motion picture theatre. Brenkert BX60 projectors, RCA 9030 optical sound heads, Brenkert/Enarc carbon arc lamps burning 7mm negative and 8mm positive carbons at 70 amps. The theatre was equipped to run full four channel magnetic sound if needed with RCA four track magnetic sound heads.
Seats – 719
Respectfully Submitted,
Ben Kehe, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I was a projectionist at the Fox in 1964.
It was a great theatre to put on a real presentation from a projectionist’s point of view.
I sincerely hope that the city of Salinas does not follow in the footsteps of so many metro areas by tearing down their movie palaces.
I have done projection and sound renovations in these old palaces around the country and it is with great pride that at least some of these great palaces remain today as part of our heritage.
Ben Kehe
Motion Picture Projection Services, Inc.
918 906 3715