Movie Theatre Pictures Movie Theatre's I am involved
with Motion Picture & Television
equipment Railroad
Related Items Searchlight
Page Welcome to my hobby web page.
I thought I would use my web site to share pictures and information with
friends, and others that might have the same hobby or interests I have.
I will update the site with pictures from time to time to show you things
I have done, or that I am working on that might be of interest. In general, I love to work on just
about any device that is mechanical, makes sound, pictures, or lights
up. Videotape machines, electric fans, radios, televisions, projectors,
jukeboxes, computers, moving message signs... the list goes on, and the
older the equipment is, the better I like it! Working on older equipment gives
me a better understanding of how we got to where we are with technology
today. I love to take things apart to see how they work. I like collecting and restoring
old film and television equipment. I have Movie Equipment from 1916
, and Television equipment from 1947, and just about anything else I find
interesting. Another hobby I have,
is to travel across the country, and seek out the really old small town
single screen movie theaters. These palaces are full of history,
and old equipment. Many of these theaters were built
as Vaudeville houses. There was a time when every small
town had a movie theater. As the years pass, more and more single
screen palaces across the country are vanishing because they can't
compete with the big multiplexes. Most of the big city, single
screen movie palaces are long gone, but isolated small towns with populations
of under 20,000, often still have their single screen theaters in operation.
Most of them were built in the 20's through the 40's. Many still
operate with some of their original equipment. I have a few photos
of theaters I have visited, but have posted most of my photos on other
websites dedicated to movie theatres. In 2002, I restored a W.W. II General Electric
Searchlight, and have become involved in the history of these great lights.
Go to my Searchlight page and see my searchlight restoration from start
to finish. This year, 2003, I am involved in reopening the Art
Theatre in Champaign Illinois. It was built in 1913.
