Page 34 - CinemaRecord #85

The Change to By
Keith Gulliver

wentieth Century Fox's new wide screen Prior to any work being done,
Tprocess, CinemaScope premiered at the Hoyts engineers would measure,
Roxy Theatre New York on 16 September 1953, take photos and work out a plan
with huge crowds flocking to see The Robe in for the theatre involved in the
this new wide screen format. changeover. The plan would then
be sent off, and the materials
The Robe was screened in CinemaScope at the required would be supplied. We
Regent Theatre Sydney, less than three months would then receive a complete
later. CinemaScope had arrived in Australia! package, consisting of the tubular
aluminium for the frames, screen
The Regent Theatre Melbourne was the first and masking, the electric motors
cinema in Victoria to have this new medium for driving the masking and
installed and the biblical epoch, The Robe curtains, the shut off switches, as
premiered one week after Sydney on well as drive belts and even a
Wednesday 16 December 1953. large assortment of nuts, bolts and
screws.
The Regent's CinemaScope screen was initially
installed as an outrigger, which meant the As all screens were white with a
proscenium had to be modified for the screen matt finish at that time, a new
to be installed on the front edge of the stage, screen had been found for this
later it would be reinstalled behind the new medium; it was called a
proscenium. More on that later. Miracle Mirror screen, and was
silver with a slight corrugation
The year was 1953: I was working at Hoyts and a low sheen. Up against the
Plaza Essendon as assistant projectionist. Hoyts old screens this was far superior
had a big task ahead; the installation of new as it gave better reflection which
screens and equipment into all their theatres as made the picture brighter and
soon as possible, so they decided to enlarge the sharper. All Miracle Mirror
team of CinemaScope riggers. I was asked if I screens were made specifically
would take on an extra job along with others to for each theatre, as each
carry out the work. As this meant extra money proscenium was different in
and a chance to be part of this large undertaking design and size.
I said yes, even though it meant working long
hours. I still had to operate for 6 nights and a In larger and first release theatres the team this work the engineers would be installing
Saturday matinee at the Plaza, as well as the would move into the nominated theatre at about the new sound equipment, as well as the
CinemaScope installation work. 11.30 pm, following the Saturday night magnetic sound heads and anamorphic
screening. This gave the lenses, along with cutting new aperture
team until late Monday plates. At that time, CinemaScope films were
to get a picture back on being released with two different types of
the screen for the sound track: the new four channel magnetic
Monday night session. track, and also a combined optical - magnetic
sound track.
Our first job would be to
remove the old screen, Not all theatres were equipped with surround
masking and anything sound, Hoyts policy was to install full
else that was in the way. surround sound in the main release theatres,
While we were doing while the minor theatres had magnetic sound
Stalls and proscenium Hoyts Circle Essendon c. 1945

Hoyts Circle Essendon c. 1945

34 CINEMARECORD # 85