Cleaning and taking pride in the job (Phil Fawke)
Is part of Phil Fawke Interview (incomplete)
Phil Fawke interviewed by Richard Wallace
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes his morning routine and the process of cleaning the projection box.
You used to have to go in the morning as well you see to clean up. I mean a projection room in the old days used to be absolutely… the floor used to be absolutely polished. ‘cause most of them were wood block floors and all lino, thick lino. They were absolutely polished to perfection, everywhere and all the passageways would all be painted red paint and… And really, you prided yourself in the job. You just, you loved doing it really. You’d check all the lamps. They’d be checked every day, all the exits and everything. Then you would clean the projectors, you’d clean the mirrors in the arc lamp. There’s lot of little jobs that you sort of did. Chat to the cleaners. But then, of course, when the show was on, you didn’t really have much time because every 20 minutes you changed over you see, not like today, you just switch a button. I mean when I worked at the MAC I could start the film and go in and watch it. Sit down and watch it! You couldn’t do that you see, unless you were the chief and somebody else was doing it. There was a lot of things. Maintenance you did, you had to maintain… all cinemas had secondary lighting which was primary batteries. You used to have to check them and check all the equipment, check the boiler house. That was another thing you used to have to do. There's lots of jobs that you sort of did which you just did naturally. Have a cup of tea, of course. You always had a cup of tea.
Title
Cleaning and taking pride in the job (Phil Fawke)
Subject
cleaning
routine
Description
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes his morning routine and the process of cleaning the projection box.
Creator
The Projection Project
Source
Interview with Phil Fawke
Publisher
The University of Warwick
Date
09/12/2015
Contributor
Richard Wallace
Phil Fawke
Relation
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24797
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/48440
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5886
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Type
Sound recording
interview extract
Coverage
1940-1980s
Interviewer
Richard Wallace
Interviewee
Phil Fawke
Date of Interview
04/12/2014
Location
Birmingham
Transcription
You used to have to go in the morning as well you see to clean up. I mean a projection room in the old days used to be absolutely… the floor used to be absolutely polished. ‘cause most of them were wood block floors and all lino, thick lino. They were absolutely polished to perfection, everywhere and all the passageways would all be painted red paint and… And really, you prided yourself in the job. You just, you loved doing it really. You’d check all the lamps. They’d be checked every day, all the exits and everything. Then you would clean the projectors, you’d clean the mirrors in the arc lamp. There’s lot of little jobs that you sort of did. Chat to the cleaners. But then, of course, when the show was on, you didn’t really have much time because every 20 minutes you changed over you see, not like today, you just switch a button. I mean when I worked at the MAC I could start the film and go in and watch it. Sit down and watch it! You couldn’t do that you see, unless you were the chief and somebody else was doing it. There was a lot of things. Maintenance you did, you had to maintain… all cinemas had secondary lighting which was primary batteries. You used to have to check them and check all the equipment, check the boiler house. That was another thing you used to have to do. There's lots of jobs that you sort of did which you just did naturally. Have a cup of tea, of course. You always had a cup of tea.
Original Format
One-to-one interview
Duration
00:02:11
Bit Rate/Frequency
320kbps
Cinema
Regal/Vue, Portland Place, Leamington Spa
Regal, 511 Foleshill Road, Coventry
King's Norton Cinema, The Green, King's Norton, Birmingham