Ralph McChesney asked me to post this story about his Dad and the Elrey Theater because he was on his phone when he wrote it. It was a reply to my story of his dad and an experience that I will always remember. Ill post mine first and then his reply. Its a little long but... I have a little story for Ralph, it might need to be on the HOM page though…anyways. When I was about 15 I was sitting in the upper row of the theater, the one right below the projection area, about three seats in from the door that led to the projection room. I of course had by legs up and over the seats in front of me knowing full well that it was verboten. There wasn’t many people in the theater and I could see if anyone was coming in plenty of time to get my feet and legs down, all innocent like. The movie hadn’t started yet so I was getting real comfortable. That’s when the door to the left of me opens and out comes your dad. I’m thinking damn I’m going to get my ass chewed now, but no, he sat a chair away and put his foot on the arm of the seat in front of him. He told me the show was going to start in about five minutes and asked me if I would like to see the projector, of course I did. So the one and only time I was ever in the projection room was then. I remember it to this day some fifty plus years later. The room was sort of dark and smelled of cigars hmmm, wonder why. I even got to look out that little window that faces west, what a view. I’m sure Ralph knows the window I’m writing about. To make this story short Ralph, your dad was one of those good guys that there are not too many of today. Your new facebook photo reminded me of that time. And his reply. George First of all, thank you for the kind words regarding my father. Yes, he was unique in many ways. Im glad that that little gesture of his stuck with you all of these years. In English Language Arts, this is known as a defining moment.. In other words, this personal experience could be used to write a personal narrative style essay paper for a class or other writing project. Anyway, Ill help to refresh your memory of the El Rey Theatres projection room since, sadly, you only had one chance in life to see it. Here goes: Despite that there was doors on both sides, they only one used was one you described -- right hand staircase going upstairs -- facing East on the outside. Once you opened the door from the carpeted staircase, the concrete stairs leading into the projection room was narrower and steeper. Actually it was kind of eerie. Maybe because it seemed like a hidden room of the unknown. To the right was the windows that opened up looking Eastward down Yosemite Avenue. You could see the roof of the little café below, Romero Pontiac, the Greyhound bus station, even A&W Root Beer and, of course, Mals Billiards. On the opposite sides windows, you could see the roof of Pats Barber Shop, the Hardware Mart, the Standard Gas and Chevron Oil station, Turner Hardware, Wrigglesworths Mens Clothing and more looking Westward down Yosemite Avenue. Inside the projection room was a slide projector immediately to the left as you walked in. This was for advertisements and sales promotions as well as theatre promotions. Then next was the two large and noisy movie projectors. The projectors were pointing in a downward position since it was higher than the screen some 700 seats below. Here is the interesting fact regarding the projectors: For the illumination it did not have a lamp. Instead, it burned a constant arc just like you see in a metal welding technique. It had to be that bright in order for the light to penetrate through the 32mm film, frame-by-frame, and be clearly visible some 100 feet away. The feature films came on reels, sequentially numbered. They ran about 30 minutes each. The signal that alerted the projectionist that the reel was nearing its end was a bell. First, a ding, ding. Then more frequent dings, etc. Lastly, the final alert to simultaneously start the second projector (while the running one was still going) was that the movie had dots of flicker in the right hand side of the scene. Same thing, a few dot flickers, then more, then a bunch to make sure you started the other projector. Of course, then turn off the first one, take the film out and reload for number three. Directly behind the projectors, on the wall facing North was the hand operated reel transfer table to put the take-up reel and rewind it back on the original reel. Otherwise, its on the reel backwards. This back table station also was used for splicing the film together. This was used to splice the trailers of coming attractions, news shorts, cartoons, and my personal favorite: movie shorts with The Three Stooges! On the far side opposite the entry door (Western side), my dad had a table where he always worked on side projects. It could be theatre related such as painting the show cards for the glass cases revealing upcoming films, personal hobby stuff that he always tinkered with. And yes, he even brought some work to repair from his radio/stereo shop when he was swamped with repairs to get done. So the cigar smell was the real McCoy. That was his way of fitting in, but not be a cigarette or pipe smoker. The cigar was his trademark. Half the time it would be stuck in the corner of his mouth UNLIT. He would carry on a conversation with that thing dangling from his mouth. It drove my mom nuts! There was a chair alongside the projectors to sit and watch the movie from the projection room, but it wasnt very enjoyable with the angle and racket from the machines clanging away. It would was easier to sit outside, just like you saw him, and just listen for the initial bell signal some 20 minutes later. I hope that you enjoy my little description of the El Rey projection room. If you know how, or are able to, please cut and paste this comment on the History of Manteca Facebook page. Im writing this on my phone, so unable to do this. Happy New Year to all that reads this comment!
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:36:35 +0000
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