Page 13 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

Interior of The Bercy c.1965

The bio was equipped with Kalee 21 projectors, the G.U. standard at the time. Rumors circulated for years
about the impending closure of this theatre, as they did with the Chelsea and Forum also. The author was
particularly concerned and closure in 1983 cost him his job. Believe it or not, Dolby stereo was installed for the
run of "Psycho II" which lasted six weeks until closure. The movie moved over to the Forum II (Rapallo). The
theatre was quickly gutted and became a CES -just what I needed!

The Bercy had an amazing standby generator which mysteriously kept the theatre running during strikes on
only two phases. An exaggeration perhaps but not much of one. The relief projectionist arrived one morning to
find himself mobbed by a crowd of teenage girls. As he battled his way into the Foyer he realized it was opening
day for Grease and they really wanted John Travolta. The Bercy only lasted 18 years, built after its time it was
amongst the last of its breed. By 1983 it was practically the last bio box with carbon arcs and two thousand foot
spools in the city.

RAPALLO/FORUM U
At 11 Russell Street, from the dress circle of the old State, was born the Rapallo in 1962. Slightly less elaborate
than its brother downstairs, the Rapallo had what the Forum didn't, good site lines. The throw was from the
States' bio to the edge of the dress circle.

The outside walls were brought in 25 feet on both sides creating the 'voids' used as G.U. junk storage until
closure. Access to the clock tower was gained from landing to landing on rotting ladders with rungs missing. If
the fall didn't kill you then the attack pigeons would. Each face of the clock was operated individually and after
fifty years had a habit of running at different speeds. The Herald's 'Black & White' column had great delight in
pointing out that none of the four kept the same time. Some months after the Bercy closure I was re-employed
at this theatre - thanks for nothing CES.

Bio access for the Rapallo was up stairs (lots of them) , then up the middle of the theatre, then up a ladder into
the bio. On one occasion a feature made up on a 13,000 ft spool was being carried up in its wooden box. As the
film was lifted out at the bio door the box rolled from the back row. It built up speed as it sped down the aisle,