the Civic Projection Room

The first is Civic-Equipment. It shows the equipment as in 1946-8. Simplex E7 projector heads, Peerless High Intensity Arcs, sitting on a straight (as in unmodified, complete with control boxes) Western Electric base.

The E7's were unusual in that they had two rotating shutters, one behind the head and in the other in front.

Later when they changed to Cinemascope the front shutter was removed to allow the anamorphic lenses to fit in.

The arcs were also unusual in that the long bare positive carbon, as in a low intensity arc, was

rotated in an attempt to keep the crater burning squarely. The negative carbon was a more usual copper coated one. For striking the arc, the negative carbon was at a slight angle to the positive and a solenoid tipped the carbon backwards to separate the carbons. The arcs drew, if I remember correctly, about 70 amperes.

The second Civic-Simplex-E7. is a close-up on the projector head. With the advent of cinemascope a magnetic sound reader was fitted between the upper magazine and the head. These Simplex's were almost new and were a very sweet running machine. Much better than the Simplex Super.

The third photo Civic-Spot-Amps. is a more general view on the projection room. From the left hand side after the back of the Peerless Arc is the BTH Spotlight.

This was usually focussed on the Wurlitzer Organ when it came up. It was also used on Friday/Saturday nights for the organ and the Orchestra Barge which rose in front of the stage for music for the dancers in the Wintergarden.

The Chief Projectionist, Frank McMillan, quite often rushed down to the Wintergarden from the projection room at the end of the film show as he was also the resident singer. Behind the spotlight are the main auditorium light switches, and the dimmers just to the right of the switches.

The two panels, again to the right, are the original Western Electric Amplifiers. These were a "work of art" in their day. They had 4 position switches to turn them on. Filaments first, then reduced high tension, finally full power. The final panel on the right is the control panel for the generators for arcs, sound etc.

The generators etc. were on the floor above the projection room, with access via a ladder on the back wall of the projection room.

Just forward of the spotlight base can be seen the film rewinding room. It was a separate room where the film was rewound, made up and stored.



It would be great to see the Civic again as there are hosts of very pleasant memories there. I wonder if the screening room at the back of the theatre is still there.

Much later I was casually employed to screen films there for the Amalgamated Theatres' management and prospective exhibitors.



The open days you have just had should have made a lasting impression on the new visitors, and brought back happy memories to those who had been in the theatre in past times as workers or audience.

14.12.04