Change-overs (Mike Williams)
Is part of Mike Williams Interview (incomplete)
Mike Williams interviewed by Richard Wallace
Projectionist Mike Williams explains the process of changing over from one projector to another between reels.
You’d know when you need to change over because you can see how much … some cinemas had bells on the, on the projectors that would start vibrating a couple of minutes before the end. We never had anything luxurious like that, you just used to look at the film in the spool box and decide you were near the end so you or the other projectionist would go round, strike up the arc on the other side, stand there, look out of the porthole. When the first cue dot goes through you start up, on the second cue dot … in between this you open the dowser, last thing, you open the dowser as late as possible, ‘cause you don’t want the heat playing on the film unnecessary, you open the dowser, second dot, pull the shutter and change the sound over at the same time with the other hand … simple as that. And then whip round quick and close everything down on the other side if you’re on your own. Again, very easy, can be carried out by one man very easily, but the legal ruling was there should be two men in a box, you know, so most of the time there was.
Title
Change-overs (Mike Williams)
Subject
change-overs
using the projector
Description
Projectionist Mike Williams explains the process of changing over from one projector to another between reels.
Creator
The Projection Project
Source
Interview with Mike Williams
Publisher
University of Warwick
Date
01/12/2015
Contributor
Richard Wallace; Mike Williams
Relation
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7970
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Type
Sound recording
interview extract
Coverage
1956-1964
Interviewer
Richard Wallace
Interviewee
Mike Williams
Date of Interview
24/08/2015
Location
Cardiff
Transcription
You’d know when you need to change over because you can see how much … some cinemas had bells on the, on the projectors that would start vibrating a couple of minutes before the end. We never had anything luxurious like that, you just used to look at the film in the spool box and decide you were near the end so you or the other projectionist would go round, strike up the arc on the other side, stand there, look out of the porthole. When the first cue dot goes through you start up, on the second cue dot … in between this you open the dowser, last thing, you open the dowser as late as possible, ‘cause you don’t want the heat playing on the film unnecessary, you open the dowser, second dot, pull the shutter and change the sound over at the same time with the other hand … simple as that. And then whip round quick and close everything down on the other side if you’re on your own. Again, very easy, can be carried out by one man very easily, but the legal ruling was there should be two men in a box, you know, so most of the time there was.
Original Format
One-to-one interview
Duration
00:01:05
Bit Rate/Frequency
320kbps
Cinema
ABC (Olympia) Cinema, 67 Queen Street, Cardiff