If you remember, when we were at LOA, I did get up to complain. It was acknowledged that they knew of the problem and could do nothing about it. I was given passes for a future show, that had a expiration life of TWO WEEKS, remember? For someone that doesn’t live in the city, and makes a 40 mile trek to see a rarely shown film in it’s original format, that was a pretty disappointing way to handle it.
I know exactly how you feel because I know you and how you feel about films.
If it was digital, I suspect there is no aperture plate as there is on a 35mm projector. It sounds like a zoom ratio was off. Remember he said it was 2:35 inside the 1:85 screen.
Besides, if you left the 1.85 plate in on a scope film, you’d have some serious cropping! You’d loose a lot of image on top/bottom and you’d have black bars at screen top/bottom.
Yea, I remember that. Then the license terms on Thief of Baghdad changed and they couldn’t get it back again for a reschedule. What are the chances of that?
“Also going to a theater and wanting no talking is equivalent to a heroine addict not wanting track marks.”
You know, I realize at this point I’m just feeding the trolls, but you can’t be serious.
What is “talking”? Is it a random whisper between audience members? Is it someone telling their kids to settle down? Is it the jerk who answers the phone?
It’s YES to all of the above, but there are degrees of talking that are allowable, and those that stretch into pure rudeness. I think it’s the latter we’re talking about here.
I expect silence to the degree that it’s possible with people who are civil and want the same thing as me. I’m not expecting everyone to put a cork in their mouth, but I DO expect someone to put their phone on VIBRATE, and if they get a call to flip the phone open, silently say “please wait” and walk out into the lobby. That’s what I do. I expect the same of others.
Movie534: You said a mouthful. This is why the typical multiplex sucks, and why I won’t go to one.
Aldo Ray: I think we can all agree that regardless of what anybody thinks of “Rocky” or any other film for that matter, that we can and should expect a minimum level of “quality of service” when we go to the movies, and that at least means the film is in focus and in frame. Having either of those out of whack is just plain inexcusable regardless of the venue. Of course these aren’t the only things that can cause annoyance. There is sound, the courtesy of the audience (see my experience with Star Trek, above) and various mechanical issues on the projector, such as shutter timing which causes an annoying smear called “travel ghost”.
By the way, I happen to not like “Network”, and think it is a mediocre film. Each to our own and we’re all entitled to our opinions. Yours, mine, and rhett’s.
Pete, I believe your thinking of the voltage, which is approximately 27-29 volts for those 2k series of lamps. The current would be about 74 amps. 27 x 74 = 1998 watts. P = I * E.
Movie534, you are correct that you can reduce the current on the Xenon lamp, and if it’s to “save electricity” you aren’t accomplishing anything as you’re damaging/reducing the life of the lamp. You loose what ever “savings” you may have gained on the cost of the new lamp. Sylvania says: “It is not advisable to operate a lamp at lower currents between the minimum current and the lower limit for a fairly long time, as in most cases negative effects on the electrodes would more than offset any hoped for advantage.” I will however agree with you that a 500w reduction would be noticeable to a trained eye, but running a 2k lamp 500 watts low is bad news as you’re definitely out of range at that point. As Pete says, this is probably not happening at the Lafayette, and if you’ve done it at theaters you’ve worked at because “you were told to do so”, it would be fairly obvious the management did not understand what they were doing.
“What I’ve noticed the past few movies, is it’s dark . The projectionist is not giving the lamp enough juice, they’re cutting back. But, I’m probably wrong and "it’s the print”."
Well Rhett, as someone who is familiar with the equipment in the Lafayette booth, and has operated it few times, I can tell you there is no “brightness” adjustment on the Xenon lamp. It is just “on” and operates at a regulated voltage/current, and puts out 2kw. You can’t “cut back” on output to a noticeable degree.
I was just as Star Trek the other night and the screen illumination was fine. There is a minor difference between the two lamphouses though that has been that way for as many years as I’ve been going, but it’s a color temperature difference I believe due to the mirror (Pete can add more on this), but not a brightness issue. Now, unless something has happened since I was there on Tuesday, which I guess is possible, I don’t know what to say.
Peter, I was told that Star Trek will probably remain another week. I think the next show booked is “UP”, as that is what was on the back side of the display the put outside the door.
Yes, I realize the Lafayette is a first run theater. Always knew it. The problem is the way films are booked. Star Trek opens on something like 5000 screens, and in a week or two it’s played out, yet the theaters are forced to keep it longer than that “play out” time. It’s why single screen theaters can’t make it. While I may like an audience of 10 people, it’s suicide for the venue.
If it does play another, the attendance sure isn’t even going to pay for the electricity to run the place. You don’t make much money on 10 people @$9 a head.
I specifically went to the Lafayette because it’s one of my favorite theaters. It’s close. And I knew I would be seeing it in relative emptiness. But, like I said, I seem to attract nuisances.
Yes, I liked the movie, very much in fact. Except I have some problems with the story which I won’t mention here as it would spoil it for those have have not seen it.
The audience (actually just those 5) was not a problem once I moved away. I like going to the Lafayette, which is why I went there to begin with.
I went to see STAR TREK at the Lafayette last night. It was like a private show, with only 15 people in the auditorium. And, would you believe it, even with only 10 people there, the five additional ANNOYING ONES came in late, right after the feature starts (as usual) and with that entire auditorium to pick from they plop themselves right behind me, and the kids are rowdy, noisy, the parents are talking, scolding the kids, and they start munching on the crunchy popcorn, etc. Fortunately I had several more rows ahead of me that were unoccupied so I moved up. I’m sure they know I moved because of them.
This was my reminder why I don’t go to regular movies.
Show and sound were good. I was told the attendance numbers were good for the first two weekends, and the week in between, but dropped off sharply this Monday.
For those going to the classics show this Saturday, you may find a surprise. The curtain is broken, so it’s open all the time. The motor is burnt out. When you walk in the screen is showing, and it’s dark on stage because the curtain mechanism controls the footlights – curtain open, no footlights. Will Boston pay to fix the curtain? I’m told a call was in about it. We’ll see.
The Some Like It Hot print from 4/18 was a very nice print. A newly struck B&W print with excellent contrast and density. The film was great! Turnout wasn’t too bad from what I remember (it was less today for WSS). Jeff did play last week, that was the first show he played at. He was there today for WSS, and will be the for the rest of the series.
West Side Story – Lafayette Theater. Was there ever a better combination? What a wonderful presentation of WSS today! The print was absolutely mint, and the color was beautiful, just like an original IB Technicolor print, which I’ve also seen for this title.
A Big Thank You goes out to Mike for presentation. Flawless focus, sound, and changeovers. Thanks Mike.
And let’s not forget Jeff Barker on the organ too!
The crowd was a little light, but it was an unexpectedly sunny and warm Spring day! Hey, their loss.
This is the last of the Spring films I will be seeing at the Lafayette for this series. The remainder of the titles don’t really interest me, but good job to the Town of Ramapo and to Phil Tisi for presenting these films at the Lafayette and keeping the theater in “the public eye” during this time of Nelson and Pete’s absence. It is appreciated!
Let’s all go to the lobby to get ourselves a treat!
To my knowledge, there will be no organ. My guess is there will be a speaker presenting the films (at least the first one), most likely Phil Tisi and/or the other town Politcos who want their face in the public eye so you’ll vote for them. It is an election year after all. Since the same staff of people are manning the Lafayette that were there when Nelson was managing, you can probably assume the curtain will be used, but I think you’re going to find the Lafayette itself and the presentation to be a little “bland” to what you’ve become accustomed too. Much of the Lafayette’s “charm” was due to Nelson, and the place contained many personal affects that Nelson brought in to decorate the place with. Those are all gone now. My personal feeling is that should the curtain mechanism break, it would stay broken, and open. BCG isn’t doing this because they “love you”, they could care less, and probably didn’t want to do this. This series is exactly because of what hotwatterbottle said above. Remember, the seniors get in for free.
The film wrap I refer to was around my upper sprocket. The splice broke as it went through the sprocket and somehow stuck to it and just kept winding around it. The break was detected by the failsafe and the projector shut off. I knew I had a break because the screen went white, but I didn’t know I had a wrap until I went to look what happened. In those few seconds, the film had already wound deep enough to open the sprocket keeper almost to the point of jamming. A broken fiber gear is not something I need on a 70 year old projector! That was when I figured out what those “things” (the stripper) were for and adjusted them properly.
Vito, I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s called the “stripper”. There is typically one on every sprocket. I found out just HOW important it is because one of them in my projector wasn’t set correctly, and guess what…?
Thanks for posting links to my photos.
Pete, I still have to email these to you. Sorry, it’s been busy.
Here’s the link to the set so you can view them in order:
View link
If you remember, when we were at LOA, I did get up to complain. It was acknowledged that they knew of the problem and could do nothing about it. I was given passes for a future show, that had a expiration life of TWO WEEKS, remember? For someone that doesn’t live in the city, and makes a 40 mile trek to see a rarely shown film in it’s original format, that was a pretty disappointing way to handle it.
I know exactly how you feel because I know you and how you feel about films.
Lowered the volume? What about the entire film being out of sync, remember?
If it was digital, I suspect there is no aperture plate as there is on a 35mm projector. It sounds like a zoom ratio was off. Remember he said it was 2:35 inside the 1:85 screen.
Besides, if you left the 1.85 plate in on a scope film, you’d have some serious cropping! You’d loose a lot of image on top/bottom and you’d have black bars at screen top/bottom.
Yea, I remember that. Then the license terms on Thief of Baghdad changed and they couldn’t get it back again for a reschedule. What are the chances of that?
Thank for the report Bill. I’m glad you made it. Thanks to a cold, I’ve missed two great films now.
Some pictures, from this evening:
View link
I just got back from the Lafayette, I was there this evening to extend my good wishes to Nelson and Crew. The place looks great, wait till you see it!
YEEEEESSSSS!
Thank you Ross, I think it’s warranted, and welcome.
Trolls indeed. We’re done my friend.
“Also going to a theater and wanting no talking is equivalent to a heroine addict not wanting track marks.”
You know, I realize at this point I’m just feeding the trolls, but you can’t be serious.
What is “talking”? Is it a random whisper between audience members? Is it someone telling their kids to settle down? Is it the jerk who answers the phone?
It’s YES to all of the above, but there are degrees of talking that are allowable, and those that stretch into pure rudeness. I think it’s the latter we’re talking about here.
I expect silence to the degree that it’s possible with people who are civil and want the same thing as me. I’m not expecting everyone to put a cork in their mouth, but I DO expect someone to put their phone on VIBRATE, and if they get a call to flip the phone open, silently say “please wait” and walk out into the lobby. That’s what I do. I expect the same of others.
Hmmm, I guess Aldo didn’t understand my comment “we’re all entitled to our opinions. Yours, mine, and rhett’s.”
“"Network” is anything but mediocre. I think you should watch it again, with the sound on this time."
More personal attacks? Is this the way you express your opinion?
I don’t like the movie. Why would you assume I watched it without the sound on? You need to be nasty to others to make your point?
Movie534: You said a mouthful. This is why the typical multiplex sucks, and why I won’t go to one.
Aldo Ray: I think we can all agree that regardless of what anybody thinks of “Rocky” or any other film for that matter, that we can and should expect a minimum level of “quality of service” when we go to the movies, and that at least means the film is in focus and in frame. Having either of those out of whack is just plain inexcusable regardless of the venue. Of course these aren’t the only things that can cause annoyance. There is sound, the courtesy of the audience (see my experience with Star Trek, above) and various mechanical issues on the projector, such as shutter timing which causes an annoying smear called “travel ghost”.
By the way, I happen to not like “Network”, and think it is a mediocre film. Each to our own and we’re all entitled to our opinions. Yours, mine, and rhett’s.
Pete, I believe your thinking of the voltage, which is approximately 27-29 volts for those 2k series of lamps. The current would be about 74 amps. 27 x 74 = 1998 watts. P = I * E.
Movie534, you are correct that you can reduce the current on the Xenon lamp, and if it’s to “save electricity” you aren’t accomplishing anything as you’re damaging/reducing the life of the lamp. You loose what ever “savings” you may have gained on the cost of the new lamp. Sylvania says: “It is not advisable to operate a lamp at lower currents between the minimum current and the lower limit for a fairly long time, as in most cases negative effects on the electrodes would more than offset any hoped for advantage.” I will however agree with you that a 500w reduction would be noticeable to a trained eye, but running a 2k lamp 500 watts low is bad news as you’re definitely out of range at that point. As Pete says, this is probably not happening at the Lafayette, and if you’ve done it at theaters you’ve worked at because “you were told to do so”, it would be fairly obvious the management did not understand what they were doing.
“What I’ve noticed the past few movies, is it’s dark . The projectionist is not giving the lamp enough juice, they’re cutting back. But, I’m probably wrong and "it’s the print”."
Well Rhett, as someone who is familiar with the equipment in the Lafayette booth, and has operated it few times, I can tell you there is no “brightness” adjustment on the Xenon lamp. It is just “on” and operates at a regulated voltage/current, and puts out 2kw. You can’t “cut back” on output to a noticeable degree.
I was just as Star Trek the other night and the screen illumination was fine. There is a minor difference between the two lamphouses though that has been that way for as many years as I’ve been going, but it’s a color temperature difference I believe due to the mirror (Pete can add more on this), but not a brightness issue. Now, unless something has happened since I was there on Tuesday, which I guess is possible, I don’t know what to say.
Peter, I was told that Star Trek will probably remain another week. I think the next show booked is “UP”, as that is what was on the back side of the display the put outside the door.
Yes, I realize the Lafayette is a first run theater. Always knew it. The problem is the way films are booked. Star Trek opens on something like 5000 screens, and in a week or two it’s played out, yet the theaters are forced to keep it longer than that “play out” time. It’s why single screen theaters can’t make it. While I may like an audience of 10 people, it’s suicide for the venue.
If it does play another, the attendance sure isn’t even going to pay for the electricity to run the place. You don’t make much money on 10 people @$9 a head.
I specifically went to the Lafayette because it’s one of my favorite theaters. It’s close. And I knew I would be seeing it in relative emptiness. But, like I said, I seem to attract nuisances.
Yes, I liked the movie, very much in fact. Except I have some problems with the story which I won’t mention here as it would spoil it for those have have not seen it.
The audience (actually just those 5) was not a problem once I moved away. I like going to the Lafayette, which is why I went there to begin with.
I went to see STAR TREK at the Lafayette last night. It was like a private show, with only 15 people in the auditorium. And, would you believe it, even with only 10 people there, the five additional ANNOYING ONES came in late, right after the feature starts (as usual) and with that entire auditorium to pick from they plop themselves right behind me, and the kids are rowdy, noisy, the parents are talking, scolding the kids, and they start munching on the crunchy popcorn, etc. Fortunately I had several more rows ahead of me that were unoccupied so I moved up. I’m sure they know I moved because of them.
This was my reminder why I don’t go to regular movies.
Show and sound were good. I was told the attendance numbers were good for the first two weekends, and the week in between, but dropped off sharply this Monday.
For those going to the classics show this Saturday, you may find a surprise. The curtain is broken, so it’s open all the time. The motor is burnt out. When you walk in the screen is showing, and it’s dark on stage because the curtain mechanism controls the footlights – curtain open, no footlights. Will Boston pay to fix the curtain? I’m told a call was in about it. We’ll see.
“telling the elderly to not talk all through the picture…there was alot of that..”
Was that you that said “STOP TALKING”?
Peter:
The Some Like It Hot print from 4/18 was a very nice print. A newly struck B&W print with excellent contrast and density. The film was great! Turnout wasn’t too bad from what I remember (it was less today for WSS). Jeff did play last week, that was the first show he played at. He was there today for WSS, and will be the for the rest of the series.
West Side Story – Lafayette Theater. Was there ever a better combination? What a wonderful presentation of WSS today! The print was absolutely mint, and the color was beautiful, just like an original IB Technicolor print, which I’ve also seen for this title.
A Big Thank You goes out to Mike for presentation. Flawless focus, sound, and changeovers. Thanks Mike.
And let’s not forget Jeff Barker on the organ too!
The crowd was a little light, but it was an unexpectedly sunny and warm Spring day! Hey, their loss.
This is the last of the Spring films I will be seeing at the Lafayette for this series. The remainder of the titles don’t really interest me, but good job to the Town of Ramapo and to Phil Tisi for presenting these films at the Lafayette and keeping the theater in “the public eye” during this time of Nelson and Pete’s absence. It is appreciated!
Let’s all go to the lobby to get ourselves a treat!
To my knowledge, there will be no organ. My guess is there will be a speaker presenting the films (at least the first one), most likely Phil Tisi and/or the other town Politcos who want their face in the public eye so you’ll vote for them. It is an election year after all. Since the same staff of people are manning the Lafayette that were there when Nelson was managing, you can probably assume the curtain will be used, but I think you’re going to find the Lafayette itself and the presentation to be a little “bland” to what you’ve become accustomed too. Much of the Lafayette’s “charm” was due to Nelson, and the place contained many personal affects that Nelson brought in to decorate the place with. Those are all gone now. My personal feeling is that should the curtain mechanism break, it would stay broken, and open. BCG isn’t doing this because they “love you”, they could care less, and probably didn’t want to do this. This series is exactly because of what hotwatterbottle said above. Remember, the seniors get in for free.
The film wrap I refer to was around my upper sprocket. The splice broke as it went through the sprocket and somehow stuck to it and just kept winding around it. The break was detected by the failsafe and the projector shut off. I knew I had a break because the screen went white, but I didn’t know I had a wrap until I went to look what happened. In those few seconds, the film had already wound deep enough to open the sprocket keeper almost to the point of jamming. A broken fiber gear is not something I need on a 70 year old projector! That was when I figured out what those “things” (the stripper) were for and adjusted them properly.
Vito, I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s called the “stripper”. There is typically one on every sprocket. I found out just HOW important it is because one of them in my projector wasn’t set correctly, and guess what…?