Page 30 - CR

The cinema was also equipped to
Projectionists had to be licensed
Alan Winn – relieving screen films in what is called ‘standard because nitrate film was flammable.
projectionist at Hoyts ratio’ (films made prior to the Nitrate base was used until the 1950s
introduction of widescreen systems). when a slow burning safety film was
Athenaeum between The Athenaeum had its own electric introduced. In the 1980s it was decided
1957 and 1961 generator in case of power failures or that projectionists did not have to be
electricity strikes. licensed. I did my course by

he historic Athenaeum Theatre in The lighting was controlled from correspondence from RMIT along with
Tleafy Collins Street, had a pair of backstage – unusual for a cinema. In coaching from other operators. There
Centrex projectors and was equipped most cinemas the lighting is controlled was a four-hour exam and a practical
for four-track stereophonic magnetic from the projection room. The venue test. The electrical part of the course
sound as well as optical sound, was built for live theatre so the was roughly equivalent to a C-grade
widescreen and CinemaScope. These electronic switchboards were electrician qualification at that time.
had been introduced to compete with backstage. An electrician was on duty We had to fully understand the
television which at that time was when films were shown. He would dim operation of switchboards, the
causing the closure of many cinemas. the house lights when the film was principles of amplification, optics
about to start. (lenses), mechanics, and arc lamps.
There were two sets of curtains – an The Athenaeum used arc lamps, like
act drop that rose vertically, and French most other theatres during that period.
action curtains that parted in the High-amperage electricity passed across
middle. When the newsreel image hit the gap between two sticks of carbon,
the first curtain, it would go up. Then creating a bright white light to
the second curtain would open. It was illuminate the film. These were used
part of the presentation. At the end of until the 1970s when xenon lamps were
the evening after the audience had left, introduced, using gas inside a bulb.
the solid asbestos fire curtain was
lowered for the night.

Above: The Athenaeum auditorium in 2010.
Left: Theatre exterior in the 1940s.
Right: Plaster wall decoration in the stalls.

30 2010 CINEMARECORD