Page 19 - CinemaRecord #80

March of 1962 I got a message Mr Margan On the exam day a power strike was announced
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that this is it; is the Plaza going to close as well? 0HOERXUQH DW SHDN WUDI¿F WLPH WKHUH ZHUH WUDI¿F
But it was different news, the directors of the jams as no trams or trains were running.
Plaza had instructed him that as I had turned The exam was being held at the RMIT and I was
18 increasing my wages by two pounds ($4), nearly an hour late and was told that the exams
that he was to put me off and put a junior in had already started and that I might miss out.
my place. )RUWXQDWHO\ WKHUH ZHUH ¿YH RI XV LQ WKH VDPH
.HQ FRQ¿GHG LQ PH WKDW KH KDG DOZD\V SURPLVHG boat so they put us in another room and let us
to make a projectionist out of me and he would commence on our papers.
work a couple of usher shifts to save the extra
being paid to me. The subjects covered were Fire Regulations,
I felt uneasy about my job from then on and it AC power, DC power, Sound, and a practical
was only a month later Ken had said that the exam on the projectors at the RMIT. I can still
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that working in the movies for me was about to IHDWXUHG WKH ¿UVW +ROGHQ ); FDU UROOLQJ RII WKH
come to an end. production line at Fisherman’s Bend, followed
by a Technicolor trailer of The Garden of Allah
0\ GDG ZDV GHOLJKWHG ³*R DQG JHW DQ starring Charles Boyer and Marlene Deitrich;
DSSUHQWLFHVKLS RQ WKH UDLOZD\V´ both were nitrate. Super Standard projector.
Golden Drive-In 1962.
Just as I was making enquiries with the union After this test, one by one we entered a large
about my situation I was in luck. The Assistant room that had transformers, all types of electrical
Projectionist position came up at the local switches, AC and DC motors with their casings After a long two weeks wait, a letter arrived
Golden Drive-In and I quickly contacted the cutaway so that the insides were fully visible. in the post with my percentage pass rate on all
manager Kevin Houlahan and told him of my Here Mr Curzon Seegers tested us on our VXEMHFWV , KDG SDVVHG QRZ ¿QDOO\ DFKLHYLQJ P\
plight, and after chatting to him for a while he recognition and operation of various pieces. Cinematograph Operators Licence, I was now
told me I had the job. Dad was very disappointed. $IWHU DQ H[KDXVWLQJ WRWDO RI ¿YH KRXUV RI H[DPV able to be in charge of my very own projection
for the day, it was time to drive home. room!
I loved the change to the drive-in; no more light
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along the bottom of the screen, area avenue WŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ĨƌŽŵ DŝĐŚĂĞů WƵƌĚŽŶ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů
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lights and speaker post down lights.
The local radio station 3BO was tuned in to
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screwdriver in the back pocket setting off on a
ramp tramp, checking for any faulty or missing
speakers and replacing them.

Opening in 1957 the Golden Drive-In had more
modern projection equipment than I worked on
at the Plaza. Super Standard projectors that
were Australian made in Adelaide by Fitton
Engineering works, RCA rotary stabilised
sound heads, and large arc lamps called BTH, or
British Thompson Houston, of Rugby England.
Everything was branded RCA including the four
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Protruding in a large waist high cabinet out
the front of the projection room was an AC
generator which was driven by a V8 petrol
engine; no more missed sessions due to power
strikes.
From April 1962 to February of 1966 I spent a
memorable time at the drive-in.

Time was spent studying for my projectionist
licence which I could sit for when I reached
the age of 21. I actually got married just a week
before my licence exam, so I spent time on
my honeymoon brushing up on Ohms Law in
readiness for the day.

CINEMAREC ORD 2013 19