slagheap one night early seventies we saw Romero’s original “ Night of the Living Dead ” at the Telegraph Rep. REPLY I was the projectionist for that showing, (if it was the first time we ran it) It was in cinema 1 , it was shown on single reel 16mm It was a scary film even after seeing it for a week 3 times a day. The Theatre on the left in the photo above
gsmurph.
Yes this was the original Telegraph rep. Cinema 1 and 2 The address up the street was also the Telegraph Repertory cinema, Cinema 3 and 4 .. I helped build it … I ran the projectors … 16mm only up the center stairs cinema 3 left 4 right.
I only know what happened up to about 1974
Frank P Nimz
was the technical wiz who made it work.
Silicon valley before it was invented.
He built the Projection systems . Had a company called ARC Labs
He was a good friend who I would love to hear more about we lost touch in the mid 80’s
Designed a system to beat roulette on a programmable calculator.
I think He Died in 1999
Camels and Pepsi and Excedrin will take a toll.
He had a Bendix analog computer in his House in Pleasant hill 1300 vacuum tubes and a Mag Drum.
1.5 cans of Nitrate film and a cigarette ash.
3 months of cleaning and rebuilding the Projectors.
The Murder of oue of our cashiers.
Al was pissed we drove around berkeley and Oakland armed looking for the perps.
Three bandits shot and killed our 19 year old cashier for $154.00
Ironic, the Godfather had just opened down the street and they had $20k in the boxoffice.
2001 a spaced out odditiy. A copy of 2001 recut and dubbed with 60’s rock and roll sound track. Best enjoyed on Orange sunshine or Clear light.
Parties after work that if you can remember you werent there.
Meg back from Vietnam with bags of the latest imported Herbs.
The only time we ever left the Booth was if one projectionists didnt show up for work and this left one who had to run 4 theatres seperated by 150 feet.
All 4 theaters had large reel systems whole movie on one reel.
It stil required 2 to run 4.
All theatres had real movie Screens never projected on a wall?
I spoke with George about a month before he died.. He was certainly almost 90 years old, having difficulty walking and had a cold.
But we sat and talked for hours his mind was as sharp as ever.
I feel quite fortunate to have known and worked for him. He was a quiet intelligent and good man.
He was also an architect and did much design of Highland Hospital acute care tower.
Again if you have questions about what went on at the theatre let me know.
Stephan Blanchard, I am Enrique LaRoche Pretty easy to find , enriquelaroche.com use the contact form
slagheap one night early seventies we saw Romero’s original “ Night of the Living Dead ” at the Telegraph Rep. REPLY I was the projectionist for that showing, (if it was the first time we ran it) It was in cinema 1 , it was shown on single reel 16mm It was a scary film even after seeing it for a week 3 times a day. The Theatre on the left in the photo above
gsmurph. Yes this was the original Telegraph rep. Cinema 1 and 2 The address up the street was also the Telegraph Repertory cinema, Cinema 3 and 4 .. I helped build it … I ran the projectors … 16mm only up the center stairs cinema 3 left 4 right. I only know what happened up to about 1974
Francesca where are you,. I had such a crush on you. Alas I was just a kid. And you were the candy girl.
Frank P Nimz was the technical wiz who made it work. Silicon valley before it was invented. He built the Projection systems . Had a company called ARC Labs He was a good friend who I would love to hear more about we lost touch in the mid 80’s Designed a system to beat roulette on a programmable calculator. I think He Died in 1999 Camels and Pepsi and Excedrin will take a toll.
He had a Bendix analog computer in his House in Pleasant hill 1300 vacuum tubes and a Mag Drum.
I was one of the projectionists at the Cinema 1969-1973(Shattuck and Haste) Paulene Kael stored her collection in our film vault.
I began working there a few months after alan was shot.
I believe Bloody Thursday was in May 69? I started at the theatre in October 1969.
Try Googling Alan’s name I think he is still around.
Correction
George was 74 years old.
Tales of the cinema..
The Fire.
1.5 cans of Nitrate film and a cigarette ash.
3 months of cleaning and rebuilding the Projectors.
The Murder of oue of our cashiers.
Al was pissed we drove around berkeley and Oakland armed looking for the perps.
Three bandits shot and killed our 19 year old cashier for $154.00
Ironic, the Godfather had just opened down the street and they had $20k in the boxoffice.
2001 a spaced out odditiy. A copy of 2001 recut and dubbed with 60’s rock and roll sound track. Best enjoyed on Orange sunshine or Clear light.
Parties after work that if you can remember you werent there.
Meg back from Vietnam with bags of the latest imported Herbs.
It was a great time.
Enrique
“Treasure Walked down the street?”
The only time we ever left the Booth was if one projectionists didnt show up for work and this left one who had to run 4 theatres seperated by 150 feet.
All 4 theaters had large reel systems whole movie on one reel.
It stil required 2 to run 4.
All theatres had real movie Screens never projected on a wall?
I spoke with George about a month before he died.. He was certainly almost 90 years old, having difficulty walking and had a cold.
But we sat and talked for hours his mind was as sharp as ever.
I feel quite fortunate to have known and worked for him. He was a quiet intelligent and good man.
He was also an architect and did much design of Highland Hospital acute care tower.
Again if you have questions about what went on at the theatre let me know.
I was one of the projectionists there from 1969- 1973
Helped rebuild the projectors after the fire.
Pauline Kael had a film library there and during the maintenance of some of th enitrate prints the fire started.
Only 1.25 reels of film burned.
the booth was destroyed.
600 reels were undamaged in the fireproof storage area.
I also have Photos of the Telegraph Rep Ca 1969
The Cinema Crew that I knew.
Owner George Pauley (and architect designed part of Highland Hospital)
Head projectionist and technical visionary Feank Nimz (lockheed missiles and space) RIP 1999
Audio expert and Acoustic Designer (John Curl) currently with Parasound.
Manager (Doug Aley) Tweed Jacket moustache tall and a bit portly. (RIP date ?)
Manager (Ron Smith) married the daughter of the owner of Sun Valley Ford)
Manager (Byron ? rode a Honda 750)
Program directors.
Tom Luddy (Pacific Film archive.)
Projectionists
Bob Silva ?– 1969
Enrique LaRoche 1969-1973
Accountant Kathy Silva. (RIP 2007)
Sorry I dont remember the cashiers.
I also worked at the Cinema on Shattuck and haste, these were both projected by Frank and Me.
I was the Projectionist at the Telegraph rep from Oct 1969 until March 1973.
If you need accurate information about it please just ask.
The first theatres were next to the car dealership, Cinema I and II
The Projection booths were in the back of the theatre but could only support 16 mm projectors. (space and fire regs)
Later we built a booth on the roof.
We built some of the very first single reel 35 mm projection sustems
the reels were almost 4' in diameter.
We shot thrugh a periscope of front surfaced mirrors.
Later George decided to build two additional theatres two doors down and upstairs.
These were 100 seat theatres which we used for specialty films.
(today (9-06-07) Kathy Silva the theatres bookeeper passed from this life and I am sad)
Of all the chaos that was Berkeley in those days, there always had to be people to keep things on a practical level.
Kathy was one of these people.
Enrique LaRoche