No more film: Harddrive movies come to WV

[CoolBreeze]

Frank Theatres at Teays Valley Stadium 10 in Scott Depot last week converted to Sony's 4K digital cinema projection technology. "4K" refers to the resolution. Typically, theaters are 2K, or a lower resolution.
The conversion means all 10 screens in Scott Depot are now digital and 3D capable.

The change also means no more reels and no more film. Instead, movies come in a hard drive and are simply plugged into a computer-like projector.

To make the switch, screens were upgraded and Sony technicians, along with electricians, were brought in.

The theater kicked off the change to the new technology last Thursday with a midnight 3D showing of "Avatar."

http://www.dailymail.com/News/200912200392

[David Paleg]

When I was a student at Morris Harvey College back in the dark ages, the auditorium had two 35mm projectors that used the old heavy reels. They would be shipped in metal containers holding 3 or 4 reels. Each reel held about 20 minutes of film. A few seconds before the end of the reel would be the first of two change-over marks, a little circle scratched into the top corner of the frame. That would notify the projectionist to start the motor of the next projector. The next change-over mark would signal the projectionist to quickly cut off the first one and display the second one. Later one, projectors would use the pancake system, where all reels were spliced together into one large loop, similar to how an 8-track tape cartridge works.

[CoolBreeze]

I was a projectionist at several movie theaters in Charleston. Our projectors were taller than a man, huge heavy pieces of equipment that had vent pipes attached at the top. The light source was the carbon-arc. These were two copper clad carbon rods attached to serious electrodes. You turned a knob to move one rod to the other and touch the tips. That started the blinding arc (not unlike a welders electric arc) and then you backed off just a hair to make a gap that the arc would now jump to make light. These were on automatic transports that kept that gap until the rods burned to the ends. Between film changes, you changed the rods when they burned down. This was a lot of heat needless to say, and the tiny rooms we operated in were often very hot.

The projectionist rewound all the reels when finished. At the end of the run, they shipped them out to the next theater, or back to the distributor. One time, I was playing some stupid avant-garde flick and the reels were in the wrong number sequence. Reel 1 was OK. Reel two was actually reel 3, and reel three was actually reel two. So IN the middle, the entire movie was backwards, didn't make sense, but not one person in the theater said a word because they figured it was just another stupid 60s drug culture movie.

The first thing I noticed when I started watching movies using the new system that we have today, is that the screen wasn't nearly as bright as when we used the carbon-arc. That's because they switched to hi tech light bulbs. Many movies were absolutely ruined for me and everyone else. Most probably thought they were just filmed dark... but they weren't. I still think that if you put a carbon-arc light against anything in the movie houses today, you'd see a world of difference.

[David Paleg]

The carbon arc was the same system used in the projectors at MoHarv. Those films were usually just shown on the weekends to the students. After those projectors were sold off, the school replaced it with a 16mm, if I recall correctly, a Xenon lamp. You are correct about the brightness difference.

[Bob Campbell]

I just want to take a moment to thank God that there are people on here who make me look young.
Back to the thread.

[CoolBreeze]

Remind me to tell you about the time I was "Pin Monkey" at a bowling alley, resetting pins after they were knocked down. Made 50 cents a frame, all the while trying to avoid getting hit by a 17 pound ball at high speed.

[lastone]

I a ran the projector evenings at the Cinderella Theater in Williamson in the 70s. The entire building was built on springs because of the steam trains running beside it when it was built in the 20s. The screen was "back set" two and a half feet because of the high angle to the projector. Used arc until 1978 then switched to bulb. tube audio until 1975. The guy that wired the new 8 track player and photo amp at the time didn't use shielded cable and "Turkey Bird" in the cab at the corner of Harvey and 2nd ave would sell his shine on CB channel 10 every night. The audience could hear it all over top the movie for some time. Miss those days.

I had just ran Disney's Apple Dumpling Gang in cinemascope and forgot to change the lense on projector two. Walking Tall was next and when I switched, Buford was ten feet tall and two feet wide. No one noticed. Ever change a HOT 10 pound lense in a hurry?

[DJSHOCKLEY]

Harddrives and high tech screens aside, I'm still goin to as many Drive In movie theatres as I can this summer... If anyone is a Drive In movie buff like myself, here is a way cool site for ya to check out: http://www.drive-ins.com/
Not only does it list the Drive In's that are still operating during the summer months,it also lists those that have long since closed...
A neat little section that allows u to enter your zip code automatically lists the closest Drive Ins to your location...
Cool stuff..

[David Paleg]

About 25 years ago, I remember reading about a motel in Monte Vista, Colorado, that was built behind a drive-in theater. All the windows faced to the screen and there was a speaker in each room that had a volume control and could be shut off if the guest did not want to listen and close the curtains if they didn't watch the film. They also served free popcorn down in the lobby of the motel. That was around the early days of cable and HBO, so that might have been all that could be offered besides broadcast channels on the tube. A Yahoo search found another motel in Fairlee, Vermont, that has a similar set-up.

[Greg Goodfellow]

Harddrives and high tech screens aside, I'm still goin to as many Drive In movie theatres as I can this summer... If anyone is a Drive In movie buff like myself, here is a way cool site for ya to check out: http://www.drive-ins.com/
Not only does it list the Drive In's that are still operating during the summer months,it also lists those that have long since closed...
A neat little section that allows u to enter your zip code automatically lists the closest Drive Ins to your location...
Cool stuff..

I believe I've mentioned this before, but the Jungle Drive-In north of Parkersburg is a favorite place for my family in the summer...this includes 21 and 16-year old daughters. Two movies for the price of one; great concession stand; use lawn chairs outdoors and talk as much as you want. Good times had by all. The two elderly gentlemen told us last year they will keep it open as long as they can.

The Parkersburg-Marietta-Belpre area had several drive-in theaters. Upriver, New Martinsville had the Works', plus one across the river in Sardis.

[Bob Campbell]

There used to be (early 90's) a drive in somewhere near Hurricane. I remember my first wife and I going with some friends when I was at 102. Anybody know any details on that one?