A pair of Simplex 35mm projectors, manufactured in the
early 1930’s, coupled with Western Electric sound units, provided
almost three generations of Majestic Theatre movie patrons with high
quality and extremely reliable exhibition until 1984 when they were
displaced by the currently [2000] operating equipment.
The amazing Simplex machines, one of which is on permanent display in
the Majestic Theatre foyer, were replaced 'piecemeal' by Westrex 14
lamp-houses that continue the tradition of carbon arc illumination -
almost all modern-day cinemas now rely on Xenon light tubes - while
the original Simplex projector heads, though in perfect running order
at the time of ‘decommissioning’, were somewhat less compromising
[snap!] with bulky joins in the new celluloid film stock, and have been
replaced by a pair of Toshiba Photophones.
The all-important light source was supplied by a 50amp Direct Current
electric arc that burned brightly between two [a positive, and a negative]
copper-sheathed carbon rods that needed replacement every two or three
spool changes. With an average 6 spools per film, the projectionist
had (and still has!) a very busy regime replenishing the rods, maintaining
the correct 5mm gap between pos and neg, threading up the sequential
reel in the ‘idle’ projector, rewinding the just-screened
reel [retrieved from the take-up housing beneath the projector] —
all the while keeping a wary eye on the screen to maintain focus and
watch for the brief flicker [0.25sec!] of the change-over cue marks
which initiated a speedily executed sequence of switch pulling, shutter
sliding and knob turning — engrossed patrons blissfully unaware
of the flurry of activity behind and above them.
The new millenium heralded a dramatic upgrade of the Majestic Theatre
sound system with the installation of a state-of-the-art Dolby Digital
Cinema Processor that delivers dynamic, crystal clear separation between
dialogue, music score and sound effects through three 15" front-of-house
Altec speakers and horns (left, centre and right of screen), with twenty-four
(12 left and 12 right) surround speakers for our patrons' total immersion
in the on-screen entertainment.