Becoming Chief Projectionist (Florence Barton)

Florence Barton interviewed by Unknown: H.M.J.

Projectionist Florence Barton describes the process of becoming Chief Projectionist at Scala, Coventry in the face of male competition.

I knew there was going to be another Chief there and I knew I was going to be it but J didn't say anything ‘cause there was three fellers that had been fighting for it and they were very rude to me and so forth and of course when they found out that I was going to be the Chief they were ruder still. I didn't know that there was two of the bosses from London standing over with Deakin just in the entrance to his office and I listened to them and they were being rather rude to me so I just looked them slowly round from the point of their shoes right up to their head, and then I looked all round t hem and I said "You know gentlemen I'm going to let you into a little secret. The Company knew where the brains were because they put the right one in the Scala''. And I heard some clapping and there were these two bosses from London and Deakin clapping me.

Title

Becoming Chief Projectionist (Florence Barton)

Subject

chief projectionist

Description

Projectionist Florence Barton describes the process of becoming Chief Projectionist at Scala, Coventry in the face of male competition.

Creator

Coventry History Centre

Source

Interview with Florence Barton

Publisher

University of Warwick

Date

20/03/2017

Contributor

Coventry History Centre

Format

.mp3

Language

English

Type

Sound recording

Coverage

1960s
Scala, Coventry

Interviewer

Unknown: H.M.J.

Interviewee

Florence Barton

Date of Interview

19/12/1985

Location

Unknown

Transcription

I knew there was going to be another Chief there and I knew I was going to be it but J didn't say anything ‘cause there was three fellers that had been fighting for it and they were very rude to me and so forth and of course when they found out that I was going to be the Chief they were ruder still. I didn't know that there was two of the bosses from London standing over with Deakin just in the entrance to his office and I listened to them and they were being rather rude to me so I just looked them slowly round from the point of their shoes right up to their head, and then I looked all round t hem and I said "You know gentlemen I'm going to let you into a little secret. The Company knew where the brains were because they put the right one in the Scala''. And I heard some clapping and there were these two bosses from London and Deakin clapping me.

Original Format

One-to-one interview

Duration

00:00:57

Bit Rate/Frequency

320kbps

Additional Information

Clip (c) Coventry History Centre. Used with permission.

Citation

Coventry History Centre, “Becoming Chief Projectionist (Florence Barton),” Cinema Projectionist, accessed April 25, 2024, https://cinemaprojectionist.co.uk/items/show/465.

Output Formats