61 Comments Posted by yaggy

nah, the lower pedals are for the bassline. it's kind of interesting to see the old timers play these things, using both hands so much between the upper and lower keyboards, flipping switches to change instruments and moving their feet around.

When Motts has finished photographing every major abandonment, this is where he'll depart our world, teleported back to the mothership. His work here will be complete.

think maybe they got water down there on stormy days so they had the kids play along with it rather than get upset? people do strange things to cope with awful conditions.

got a military barracks look to it

I like this one a lot. Good clash of color and just the right amount of dutch angle!

Check out those switches at the top of the console, it's an electric organ, big in the 60's and 70's. I think the inverted keys are bass keys. Some deluxe upright organs had a couple dozen bass pedals for the professional musician.

That's very observant.

They do look in great shape, but save a few drive-ins of the ones that are still running, carbon-arc lamphouses are no longer in use anywhere (or wanted due to their short lamp burning time). Today's multiplexes have simplier, more automation-driven machines.

I noticed they always seem to take the lenses. I guess because they were easy to remove and worth a heavy buck.

I be sneakin' two of them snack bars and an extra juice without them even knowin' and shi'... chumps...

interesting find.

Look at that!

You had to be a PRO back in the day... 20 minute reels (of flammable nitrate film, until the 70's), loading and lighting the carbon rod, adjusting the span, listening for the 1-minute signal bell as a reel span faster (indicating a changeover was coming up), readying the other project (which had better be laced-up with film and perfectly timed on its countdown leader), watching for the 10-second marker (a black spot that flashes in the upper right corner of the picture) to power-up the drive motor, ensure the pickup reel doesn't let up too much slack and shutdown the show via a failsafe, wait for the second black spot to flash and kick the changeover pedal to seemlessly transition to the other projector without the audience even noticing a thing. Go rewind, ready the next reel, relax for a few minutes, get ready to do it all again! These guys had a strong union until the mid-80's and got paid well.

I'd put my money on N-10, I believe it's the only one with the curved hallway crossing the back section. That, and the exit signs that stick out from the wall rather than flush-mounted. Byberry is definately a unique place. I hope it stands for years to come.

It's the beginning of a stairwell up to the roof hatch and catwalk entry. Of course, the shadowy-figure theory is much more intruiging.