Bruce Dawson operated this cinema until closure in 1959 In the middle 1950’s he wanted to screen Orson Welles masterpiece CITIZEN KANE – the only print that was available at that time was 16mm. I screened the film for about a week using a Bell & Howell-Gaumont Model 601 1000w incandescent lamp projector. The film had to be screened in two parts, there being no long play device at that time. The screen results were quite acceptable (the projector was among the audience in the auditorium)
The film was enjoyed by capacity houses-a great experience!!!
I worked as assistant projectionist at the Star around 1952/53. The Chief was the late Bill Rokes, and the Manager was Alan Antney. Films screened during that period just prior to the introduction of CinemaScope included LIMELIGHT & GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES The projectors were pretty old Simplex rear shutter projectors on Western Electric soundheads. The Western Electric Amplifier used huge valves (as big as incandescent projection lamps)and we totally lost sound one night due to a soldered connection failing. The ad vertising slides were projected by a fully manually operated Biunual dissolving projector, hand feeding the AC carbons at the same time I used to wave to my fiancée from the projection room when she would sit in the Circle! What fun!! Michael Franklin
Bruce Dawson operated this cinema until closure in 1959 In the middle 1950’s he wanted to screen Orson Welles masterpiece CITIZEN KANE – the only print that was available at that time was 16mm. I screened the film for about a week using a Bell & Howell-Gaumont Model 601 1000w incandescent lamp projector. The film had to be screened in two parts, there being no long play device at that time. The screen results were quite acceptable (the projector was among the audience in the auditorium) The film was enjoyed by capacity houses-a great experience!!!