I worked at the JANAF Cinema in 1970-71 as usher, popcorn popper, maintenance guy…just about whatever needed doing. It was a blast, even though the pay was really poor. I did learn a great deal about the business, however, as we played many different types of films while I was there. From “flat” 35 film, like “Fantasia” to super cinemascope like “The Andromeda Strain.” I learned from the projectionists how the carbon arc-lamp projectors worked, how to changeout the lens for the different types of film (flat vs. anamorphic), and how to pop tons of popcorn. Other fun tasks included changing light bulbs in the theater (about 30 feet high) and cleaning up after Saturday matinees, which included everything served from the snack counter AND barf. I was sorry to see the cinema go to a multiplex, because I knew much of the charm of the single-feature theater was going with it. And, of course now, sorry to see it is all just a memory!
I worked at the JANAF Cinema in 1970-71 as usher, popcorn popper, maintenance guy…just about whatever needed doing. It was a blast, even though the pay was really poor. I did learn a great deal about the business, however, as we played many different types of films while I was there. From “flat” 35 film, like “Fantasia” to super cinemascope like “The Andromeda Strain.” I learned from the projectionists how the carbon arc-lamp projectors worked, how to changeout the lens for the different types of film (flat vs. anamorphic), and how to pop tons of popcorn. Other fun tasks included changing light bulbs in the theater (about 30 feet high) and cleaning up after Saturday matinees, which included everything served from the snack counter AND barf. I was sorry to see the cinema go to a multiplex, because I knew much of the charm of the single-feature theater was going with it. And, of course now, sorry to see it is all just a memory!