TALES FROM THE SPLICE BOYS -

PART DEUX

In an earlier article, (see October 20 2006 entry in archived section) I published Tales from the Splice Boys - a gripping resume of life in the AKC Globe Cinema in BFPO 16 which was staffed entirely by amateur National Servicemen seeking to escape the boredom of army life and earn a bit of cash on the side.

Part deux of this saga delves more deeply into the technicalities of cinema projectionism as it was conducted during the early 1960s by the bungling efforts of yours truly and fellow Yvette Mimieux devotee Dave Millman.

I imagine that in these days of techno-wizardry, the process is computer controlled, automated and much simpler. For instance, it`s only on `old` films that you see the tell-tale signs that instruct the projectionist to change reels - I don`t think they have to change reels these days.

A reel of film used to last about 20 minutes and a feature film could have as many as six reels. So, two things were vital so as not to disrupt the audience`s enjoyment; first that the reels were shown in the right order (sadly, not always the case) and, secondly, that the reels were changed without the audience being aware of it. This was achieved by the use of two synchronised carbon arc projection machines - one showing, say, the first reel while the other was spliced up and ready to show the second reel.

Towards the end of the first reel, the projectionist would have to look out for a small round dot which would appear in the top right-hand corner of the screen. This was the signal to fire up the second machine. About five seconds later, a second dot would appear and this gave the signal to activate the second machine by throwing a switch. If all went well - including the precise splicing up of the reel in the machine so that the film actually fitted onto the screen - then the change of reels would go unnoticed.

Most of the time, we managed ok. But one event sticks in the memory. Film buffs may recall the Guns of Navarone - a wartime epic starring Gregory Peck and a cast of thousands. The film ends with a huge explosion as half a Greek island is reduced to rubble - a very loud, ear-splitting experience for the cinema audience unless the projectionist took the reading from the sound cue card and reduced the sound level at that exact moment. Guess who forgot? It was worrying for the Manager to see the audience (including the Regimental Sergeant Major and family) exiting the cinema a few moments later shaking their heads in disbelief and ringing their ears. Reality cinema at its very best.