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ABC Queens Bayswater
Text by Bernard Tonks
In 1960 Philips and Associated British Cinemas did an experimental installation at the ABC Queens Cinema Bayswater, London, with Philips FP.20.S pulsed lamp projection equipment with auditorium remote control
There would be one projectionist in the projection room for lacing up the projectors, rewinding, and standing by for any emergency
Presentation and projection was entirely from a console in the front of the circle by the other projectionist, with remote controls for houselights, 3 colour footlights, tabs & masking, projectors start / stop, lamp level adjustment, motorised framing & focus, and of course non-sync start with sound format change and fader control
With 6,000ft spools there was normally never more than two changeovers (in those days there was always a 2nd feature or double feature bill) which were automatic from a single pulse on the motor cue dot when the silver foil on four perforations touched the contacts within the insulated top large sprocket which was extremely reliable
The changeover dot was activated by a micro switch on a cam timer which started on the motor cue
One of the hidden drawbacks with the system, was that the projectionist in the front circle console could easily fall asleep, which I did on a re-issue of "Quo Vadis" on a Saturday 2nd house, just waking up in time to close the tabs for 'The End' (no long cast lists in those days)
Another unfortunate didn't wake up at all, blank screen, everything had come to a grinding halt
The chief had to rouse him in view of a very amused audience, when a mop of black hair suddenly appeared to shoot skywards from the console like from a Tom & Jerry cartoon
Controls were not duplicated in the projection room at all, with the exception of projectors start & stop, and houselights only
This was not to be the future of cinema, with xenon lamps and single manning projection rooms introduced
There was only one other remote control installation which was at the Classic Cinema Baker Street, London, but this was short lived like Bayswater.
To quote from B K S manual: the SSP.800 gas discharge lamp consists of a quartz tube only 3-1/8" (80mm long), 72 impulses per second or three impulses per frame, there of course being no flicker shutter
The average life of lamp was 33 hours under full load
The average bulb life at Bayswater was between 60-70 hours, and many did upto 115 hours
The size of scope screen was 36 feet
This was in the year 1960, and the lamps were water cooled
If a lamp failed during projection the new spare lamp above the assembly automatically dropped down to replace, this was extremely reliable and there was only a slight noticeable flicker.
I was on loan to the Queens Bayswater for 6 months from the Regal Kingston-upon-Thames for the purpose of doing the trials and demonstrations for ABC & Philips
That is why I appeared in the photographs and advertisement in the Kinematograph weekly
Notice the Ross projector & Peerless arc in background, both projectors were moved to the outer spotlight ports and operated in that position for 3 months whilst the Philips equipment underwent trials before being allowed for public exhibition use
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