Page 18 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

Super 8 ~t The Carlton by Graham Smythe

. '
Sometimes called the "Bootlace Cinema", presenting a Super 8 Show still calls for pre-planning and operating
within certain technical standards.

My first move is selection of the programme with a theme for the particular audience using shorts and the
condensed featurettes, a host of which have been issued by the major film companies. Super 8 films cost 2 to
3 times that of 16mm making full features an expensive item. The programme is then made up with intra's and
closings on to a large ree!, projected to check splices etc. and timed.

The Projector I use is the ELMO ST1200HD-M (one of a pair), it has a 3 blade
shutter and operates at either 24 or 18 fps. Of magnetic twin track sound it can
record on ei.ther track 1 or track 2 and reproduce either or both. Two stereo
outputs would require .a separate amplifier.
It has auxiliary inputs for CD etc. and microphone, for PA or recording. A
special lamp is used for the larger screenings, an Al/232 15V 150W Halogen
Zenophot, together with a 25 - 50mm Zoom lens f 1.2. The largest size reel
used is 455m (1485ft) allowing continuous screening of74 mins.

For the almost 60ft. throw we have a picture width approx. 7'6" for Academy- for Cinemascope this doubles to
15' - and all from a projector gate aperture of .0326 sq.in .. Amateur Cinemascope is wider than professional
being 2X(8x3) against 1.75X(7x3).

Power from the Bio requires a 65 ft. lead. Most would be aware that
shielded aux leads should be kept short, but for us it needs a 70 ft.
lead from the projectors aux-out to the theatre sound system with
sound controlled by the projector volume control. The magnetic stripe
width for Super 8 is 1/30" or .8 mm and its linear speed over the sound
head is 4 ips at 24 fps. Compare this with 16mm stripe width of 1/10"
or 2.5 mm, and a linear speed of 7.2 ips.

Based on the above figures its a wonder that you can see or hear anything at all. The screen frame for Academy
magnifies the gate aperture 186,349 times - whilst the magnification for Cinemascope is 372,698 times. For half
the time you are viewing the screen there's just nothing there becaus~ the shutter cuts it off 72 times a second
- but do come along again if we have another show, I'll at least have another Tom and Jerry.

The success of a good show depends on pre-preparation and thoug~ ours are restricted to club members we
don't just show films - we present programmes.

Collingwood, Richm~nd, Northcote & Thornbury by James Foreman

In March 19 an open-air theatre opened in High Street. Thornbury. Pictures were shown once or twice a week
and patronage was fair despite the place being primitive: Because of the irregularity of the weather, a building
was erected and it was known as the Thornbury Picture Theatre. Another built in 1911 , adjacent to the Carters
Arms Hotel (also demolished}, was The Lyric. This was also an open air venue. Efforts to have it enclosed failed
but a company on the corner of High and Bastings Street erected the Northcote which opened in 1912 and it
became very popular, and in later years had live entertainment.

Following the war people sought new sources of entertainment. To answer this a new theatre was built in
Westgarth on the corner of Barry and High Streets and opened in 1921. By the 1920's, the old Thornbury
outlived its usefulness and a new one was built nearby and named The Regent and had all the new improvements.
Others were the Plaza, Westgarth and the Planet, on the corner Dundas Street and High Street - now an Auto
Barn store.

The Westgarth was for a period of time used by Valhalla which originally was in the old Victoria, in Victoria
Street, North Richmond. This was my treat to go to on Saturday afternoons to follow the old serials and see the
. best shows. In those days I earned 27/6d a week and kept 7/6d.