CFS Long Play Platter System.  Screen 1.

These platters were installed in all four screens in 1995 when we converted from 1 to 4 screens.  They allow up to 4hrs 30 mins (ish) of film to be played without interruption.

One of these platters will be on display in our projection room display outside Screen one at the Pavilion.

This platter will remain in cinema 1 but is being realigned to allow the digital projector to be installed.

Actually that's not entirely true.  THIS actual platter is being retired because it is literally on it's last legs - but we will move one of the more reliable platters from cinema 3 or 4 (no 35mm equipment staying in there) to use in cinema 1 if we ever need it.

Jacro Film Automation System.

Would automatically control house lights, audio, curtain lights, masking width and projector start/stop etc.

This equipment (installed in all four projection rooms) would have a propensity to start showing a film whenever it felt like it.  Without anyone actually pressing the start button.  Most annoying! And after 16 years we still can't find the fault.

Being completely removed from all projection rooms as it is now redundant.

The bits of silver tape as shown on this piece film would be picked up by a reader at the bottom of the projector head.  Each mark would tell the automation system what task to carry out.

For example, the "Start Of Credits" mark would tell the automation system to bring the house lights up to half way so customers can leave the auditorium safely.

A 35mm film.  Made up and ready to show.  In this case, "The Help" starring Emma Stone.

The film title is written on the edge of the film to enable quick and easy identification so when we've loaded the wrong film by mistake, we can quickly rectify the error without the customer ever knowing.

Not that we ever did that, you understand.

One of many guide rollers which enable safe passage of the 35mm film from the platter system to the projector and back to the platter.

If the film slipped off one of these rollers during a film it could be disastrous.  The entire film would be completely wrecked with a horrible green score down the side of the film.

We're sad to say it has happened at the Pavilion, but in 18 years (64,000+ performances) it's only happened 4 or 5 times.

The beauty of digital is that it can never become damaged.  Ever.

Analogue sound head on a 35mm Monee projector.

In the "olden days" the a tungsten light was shone through the analogue soundtrack at the side of the film.  Aligning this slit of light was problematic.

More recently the industry changed over to LED or Laser technology to create the analogue soundtrack.  But, it was still analogue = still fluffy and subject to dirt, scratches etc.

A full 35mm film programme, ready to run.

The "brain" controls the flow of film from the platter to the projector.  Unless the swigning finders got stuck, or the pin sheared off, or a roller popped off it's core - then you were in big trouble.

A 35mm projector looking rather disgracefully dirty.

The mechanics in these projectors require a significant amount of grease and oil to keep the moving parts lubricated.

Unfortunately, they are not the best at keeping that oil and grease contained, so after a few months you end up with a rather dirty projector.

This one is clearly due a good clean down, but with Digital imminent in the next few days, it's understandable no-one has the inclination.

Toothed "Sprockets" pull the film through the projector.

They've also been known to remove a few layers of skin from projectionists who think their fingers are made of kevlar...  They're not.

Radio controlled analogue clock.  What?  You didn't expect a digital clock did you?

Oh well, we'll see if there's any money left in the budget to replace them all.

Projection room 2.

Not much changing in here.  The 35mm projector is staying "just in case..."

The digital projector shown next to the 35mm projector is being moved to screen 4 where it better suits the smaller screen.  And a larger digital projector is being installed in this screen.

There's that analogue clock again.  Hmmmm....

Projection room 3

Xenon Arc lamphouse

Monee 35mm combined picture and sound head

T & R Rectifier

All being ripped out and retired

No room for 35mm & Digital in this screen

Monee 35mm picture and sound head.

You may be wondering why on Earth we have a "Forever Friends" biscuit tin sandwiched between the xenon lamp house and the projector head

There are three very good reasons for this;

1:- prevents light bleed

2:- The genuine part was probably no longer being manufactured as this lamp house is a converted carbon rod lamp house (most projectionists will know what we mean) and is well out of production

3:- Tins of Celebrations hadn't hit the market at the time this device was required

Projection Room 4.

Monee 35mm combined picture and sound head.

Orcon Xenon lamphouse

All redundant, being ripped out and retired.

Ultra Stereo JS105 analogue sound processor.

As good as any Dolby unit in their day.  But their day has gone and night has drawn in.

Xenon lamps run very hot.  If you don't cool them they go bang.  When they go bang they send shards of burning hot glass flying inside the lamp house and will very likely take out the mirror which directs the light to the picture head.

When this happens, a simple bulb change turns into a fairly serious and costly damage repair procedure.

Hence, in this picture, the "Top fan" is ON and the "Lamp power" is OFF.  This is good.  Opposite is bad.  Opposite causes bulbs to go bang, when they go bang they send shards...

You get the picture.

So that's it really.

After over 100 years 35mm film is no more.  It's not a bad thing, but it is a sad thing.  35mm film projection is a tried and trusted and working system to bring magic to the big screen.

One of our company directors began working with physical film over 70 years ago.  So for him, moving to digital is a bitter-sweet process; he can clearly see the benefits of digital, but is sad to see the "art form" of film presentation go.

35mm Film has entertained billions of people all over the world.

In Galashiels alone, since this company took over running the cinema in 1993, it has entertained...

Almost 2Million people!

Gone but not forgotten.

Some of the equipment being removed will be joining other equipment already in our cinema display; a Peerless Magnarc carbon arc lamp house and Ross projector head which we believe were part of the original projection equipment when the Pavilion was first opened (as the Playhouse) in the 1920's, an RCA Valve amplifier and a 1980's Dolby CP55 Stereo sound processor.

The rest will be dismantled and put aside - NOTHING will be thrown out.  In 90 years, we want the cinema management to be able to create a display featuring the equipment that was in use in the Pavilion from the 1990's,.  Who knows, maybe they'll even make a display from the old fashioned digital projectors they used to use "back in the 2010's!"