A MOVIE MEMORY.

  SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH., 2017
             A MOVIE MEMORY.

      I was channel surfing after the Penn
State Game.. I needed some additional
entertainment to carry me through the rest
of the afternoon and Turner Classic
Movies filled the prescription!
        I was delighted to see the network
running a movie that, for me, was filled
with plenty of entertainment and a lot of
memories as well.
         The feature was "Where Eagles
Dare."
          It certainly filled the afternoon.
The World War II epic starting Richard
Burton and Clint Eastwood runs 158 minutes!
I've see it before of course but the first time
was especially memorable.
          It was the first feature shown at what
was Hazleton's newest movie theater in
1969. And my Dad was the projectionist!
          The Church Hill Cinema was
filled to capacity for the Grand opening.
And local dignitaries took the stage before
the feature to boast about the theater which,
in essence, took the place of Cinema palaces
like the Capitol, and the Feeley. There
weren't too many new theaters being built
in those days.
            Over the years the theater underwent
some changes. First it was divided in half
to make two auditoriums out of the original
one. Later some additional renovations
converted it into a three screen complex.
Finally it was restructured again to provide
5 separate screening rooms.
            Since it wasn't originally built for
5 theaters the projection booths were
located in three different spots.
             The movies still came on large
reels back then. Perhaps 5 or 6 to each
feature. But the projectors had been
replaced by large platters so all the cans
with all the reels had to be carried to the
projection booths where the reels of film
were spliced together to be placed on those
platters. Then, of course, when a feature
completed its week or two week run, the
film had to be cut back onto reels to be
shipped out,
              Well into his 80's by then my
Dad finally decided to turn over the
carrying and splicing to somebody
else and retired.
               He's gone many years now
as is the theater. It's been replaced by a
Chinese buffet restaurant. We've dined
there from time to time. Each time I think
about Dad and remember "Where Eagles
Dare." I prefer some good buttered pop
corn over Wonton soup!
            Have a great day! Hope all your
NEWS is good!