HOME CINEMA TOUR with Noel Pratt

All sorts of home cinema goodies in this one which mainly features Noel Pratt's fabulous home cinema which has 35mm, 16mm and video projection and almost fully automated other than to thread the film projectors up. Even the cinema organist appears from a lift beneath the stage at the push of a button. Photos from a couple of other subscriber home cinemas are included which includes more 35mm machines for your delectation.
The latest issue of Cinema Retro magazine has arrived so this is shown (www.cinemaretro.com) as well as a few other film enthusiast channels which you may not yet have come across:
Spoolbox is the channel for the former chief projectionist of the greatest ever cinema in the UK. The Empire, Leicester Square and can be reached here - / fp30ecinema
Double Bill Movies is a recent start up and Trevor is getting into his stride now. Trevor used to wor at a company that authored Blu-ray and DVDs for the studios so full of good information and of course, on hand to answer questions if you have any - / @doublebillmovies
Clark Teddles is developing into a competent film reviewer and given he's still at school this is quite an achievement so keep an eye on Clark's development here - / clarkteddles

[@micjoseph6250]

I love the sound of the film projector, always have.

[@moviecollector5920]

You're not alone there Mic. In a projection booth and with it just about audible in quiet sequences of a film seems perfect to me and always has. John.

[@comiccollex958]

When you said “here comes the organist” I thought you were joking. Absolutely brilliant, I would buy a ticket!

[@moviecollector5920]

Seeing something like that organist makes me think about how I could achieve something similar. Maybe a full orchestra that pops up from the floor before the show starts! John.

[@chriscottingham2003]

Wow what an amazing home setup

[@moviecollector5920]

I failed to get Noel to move the motorized masking out to the full 'Scope frame but it's all there and automated. Maybe when I go back to pick up the 35mm projector I can do another little video. John.

[@chriscottingham2003]

Yeah you should. 😊

[@theeggman4806]

WoW Noel seems like the kind of guy I could spend many many hours talking to,,such a lovely chap and a fantastic little cinema..collectors &eccentrics like Noel are what makes us Brits great...keep it up.If your neck O the woods is Sheffield im from Hull East Yorkshire greeting from up the road...

[@moviecollector5920]

He's also a bit of a genius when it comes to automating anything as well as repairing and restoring projectors. People like Noel are extremely rare today. John.

[@theeggman4806]

@@moviecollector5920 They most certainly are you can hear the enthusiasm in his voice..

[@ichidakilla1975]

Wow! That is an amazing setup. A film buffs heaven. Thanks

[@moviecollector5920]

I now find that I'd like a 16mm projector just like Noel's. I never really got into 16mm but that machine is a thing of beauty. John.

[@bobswanson8464]

The Organ, that was great. Old movies on Film!!! The GREEN Button!!! Real Cinema Movie Chairs!!! And, you are always so gracious to show other "KZbin Channels".

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel's a talented chap and kind too. He's been helping us film collectors with our projection equipment since before I was old enough to remember so we're lucky to have him. Right now he's modifying my 35mm projector and may be creating another one ready for use down here too. If that second one works out as we hope then it really should be special and films such as Alien will be on just two big reels. John.

[@bobswanson8464]

@@moviecollector5920 Jealous :)

[@charlesvincent8677]

I'm in love with this home theatre 🎭 Thanks.

[@moviecollector5920]

I asked Noel and his wife if they were looking to adopt!

[@pete49327]

Per your comment about not uploading a lot of content lately on your channel, my opinion is that quantity rarely trumps quality, and your videos are always top quality and well worth the wait. Another really interesting video here, thanks as always, Pete in Alabama.

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you Pete. I do put much thought and time into each one so it's nice to find that someone has noticed or appreciates it. John.

[@cherrybombspodcast6391]

Agreed. Better to release quality polished content you can be proud of looking back on, then a bunch of rushed, slapped together videos just to drive views and subscribers. Keep up the great work!!!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@cherrybombspodcast6391 That was along the lines of what I was thinking when I started this channel two years ago. It's done rather well so far but it has proven to be difficult to generate a consistently big audience. I think it mainly comes down to the subject or the film being featured or reviewed rather than the number of subscribers. John.

[@raymondhall8629]

That’s Awesome John many thanks for sharing ❤

[@moviecollector5920]

I'll need to visit Noel again soon Raymond as he's putting a 35mm projector together for me. Well, that's the plan anyway. This one will have a digital sound reader and decoder so we can use it in our new home cinema here... if I ever get it finished! John.

[@hildamontes6146]

What a delight to see Noel's cinema. A great atmosphere in there.Reminds me of my sunday afternoons at the old odeon manchester when the first showing use to have the organist play before the film. Thanks also for the links to all the other poeple on youtube i will be finding them soon. Wish i was still living in the UK so i could come along to your meets....Maybe one day it could happen. Cheers John. Graham.

[@moviecollector5920]

Evening Graham. We're going to start looking for a venue for the BFCC and if it goes well then we may grow back to where we were. We used to have film collectors flying in from all over the world as there was nothing else like it. Now there is nothing like it so a new format event which shows 4K as well as the film gauges on that giant screen has surely got to be worth a try. John.

[@hildamontes6146]

@@moviecollector5920 Very true John I'm packing my bags now. Thanks for the update. Nowhere like Britain for the movies.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@hildamontes6146 We're going to try to find a venue in the Ealing area or thereabouts. It does mean that enthusiasts can fly into London Heathrow and Gatwick and stay for a few days. And let's face it, a trip to FOPP, the BFI IMAX and the Prince Charles can be taken in too. John.

[@hildamontes6146]

@@moviecollector5920 yes i love the idea of that ,also i have so many good friends in London no problem with places to stay. I have a feeling after leaving fopp i will have some extra packing to do.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@hildamontes6146 If you sail here rather than fly, when it comes to heading home "you're gonna' need a bigger boat!" John.

[@RafaelFyen]

Loving this community coverage. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@moviecollector5920]

There are some very amiable film enthusiasts sharing their thoughts and information on KZbin Rafael. And so many of them seem to be getting better at it. John.

[@Robert-yj2fu]

Amazing, a real Cinema at home !🤩

[@moviecollector5920]

I did ask if Noel if he took in lodgers. John.

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

It was not lost on me how pristine and well-kept Noel's equipment was. That is loving care.

[@moviecollector5920]

That beautiful 16mm projector makes me want to own one just like it. And I've never really been that interested in 16mm up to now. John.

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

@@moviecollector5920 And then John you may admit to us all that you too have an affliction of gearitis

[@moviecollector5920]

@@SWATTECHNOLOGIES Now that you mention it, I was only thinking about the second gear in our original Mini Cooper this morning! It's been graunching for a few years now so I really should get it looked at. John.

[@tyo101]

Another great video, thanks, John. Hope you were doing well during your time away from KZbin recently. That home cinema is a tremendous achievement, a treasure, thanks for sharing.

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel's a very competent engineer and if there's something that needs automating or generally working out, then he just gets on and does it. John.

[@tyo101]

@@moviecollector5920 His craftsmanship shows. Top work. Thanks.

[@GuitarGuy5000000000]

Amazing place. Thanks for taking the time to share Noel's cinema with us, John.

[@moviecollector5920]

Thanks Andrew. With a little luck I'll get along to other home cinemas in the future. Film collectors out there have done some amazing home picture palaces down the ages and rarely have they been modern black boxes like a current multiplex. John.

[@GuitarGuy5000000000]

@@moviecollector5920 For sure, John. I look forward to seeing more special home cinemas like this one if you end up finding more to showcase! Best - Andrew.

[@brianfretwell3886]

I did a double take when I saw that photo of the 24ft screen (Ruislip BFCC?) as it looks like me sitting in the front row!!!! I never thought I would appear here even just my back!

[@moviecollector5920]

Wonderful! I didn't spot that it was you Brian. John.

[@zephyr9720]

Brilliant! Fascinating! Your channel is a blessing, John. Thank you for the effort you go to. 👍🏼 It’s hugely appreciated.

[@moviecollector5920]

Very kind of you to say Zephyr. It's always nice to be appreciated. John.

[@johannes914]

Great video as always. Thank you for sharing other channels. I was already subscribed to spoolbox for a few years.

[@moviecollector5920]

Spoolbox really should be a much more popular channel. I'd never come across him until he commented on my Death on the Nile 70mm video a few months ago. John.

[@jeremyj.]

Great surprise today to see another video from you! I’m going to check out the other channels you mentioned.

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you Jeremy. I hope you like the other channels as all three of them seem to be very nice chaps and it would be nice to put a little help their way. John.

[@cinemaniac78]

Thanks for this fascinating look at quite an impressive and a unique home theater setup!

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel's brilliant when it comes to electronics and automating anything. I think he should put a miniature cinema organ kit into production and on sale for some of us loonies! John.

[@cinemaniac78]

@@moviecollector5920 I would love that! I do watch a number of silent films, and it could be fun to have it play along throughout at least one of the shorts!

[@Wildmutationblu]

Crazy coincidence is that I picked up 'Somewhere in time' and 'The Wonderful Word of the Brothers Grimm' this week. I wish I had the money and room to create a proper home cinema. I will check out the channels you plugged. Great video as ever.

[@moviecollector5920]

Funnily enough I've also just purchased 'Somewhere In Time' Terry but that was due to Cinema Retro's extensive article making me want to see it again. 'Brothers Grimm' is on the list, that's for sure. John.

[@lukekingsland5851]

Amazing to think how many home cinemas are squirrelled away across the country, and how much time and effort people put into them.

[@moviecollector5920]

Many film collectors over the years have created their own little picture palaces Luke (mainly Super 8 and 16mm collectors from way before video projection was an option) but the trend these days is for dark rooms with just a screen and a sound system. I've seen lofts, basements, garages and even corridors turned into miniature home cinemas over the years. John.

[@lukekingsland5851]

@@moviecollector5920 yeah, mine at the moment is just a projector and a modest Atmos system. Unfortunately I don't have the space at the moment to have a dedicated room, but it's something I'm working towards!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@lukekingsland5851 It's nice to have a dedicated room but I have to admit that the process of developing a home cinema never really stops. It's just like running a classic car really, there's always something that needs a bit of fettling or fiddling. John.

[@lukekingsland5851]

@@moviecollector5920 yeah, even with my home theatre in a box system, I'm already thinking of little ways to improve it, like a new LCR or a receiver with more channels!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@lukekingsland5851 Yep, we're all as bad as each other Luke.

[@donmorton4597]

Wow, vintage look is amazing

[@moviecollector5920]

It's how picture palaces used to look Don. Youngsters have mainly only experienced modern multiplex black matchboxes which is a bit of a shame really. John.

[@tomphotiou3475]

The work that goes into those home cinemas is fantastic, great stuff, thank you

[@moviecollector5920]

Good to hear from you Tom. Noel's one of the most capable film collectors I've ever known. He's now working on my 35mm projector so that if we're successful in resurrecting the BFCC we'll have a portable 35mm that will be capable of putting enough light on the screen without causing me a hernia to transport it. John.

[@tomphotiou3475]

@@moviecollector5920 great stuff John. If Ealing happens i willbe there 100%. Thank you

[@LeShark75]

A joy to watch as always John, thank you.

[@moviecollector5920]

Thanks as always. Always nice to have some positive feedback. John.

[@ronsonroll]

Thanks John, what a great video...that organ was fantastic.

[@moviecollector5920]

Many people have commented on the organ. Quite a few film collectors used to do something with a mock-up of an organist but Noel managed to do something even better than most. He's a clever chap. John.

[@RoyMurphy1]

Great video John 👍.... thanks for sharing

[@moviecollector5920]

Thanks Roy. John.

[@danielparker3842]

A cinema enthusiasts dream. If I had the money I would have a similar home cinema set up complete with Dolby Atmos and THX sound. With the limits in my apartment I can only do so much. I have a "55 Samsung tv with a Bose sound bar which does pretty well. After much experimentation I placed the sound bar above my tv which works pretty well also. Having the speakers under the tv the sound bounced off the cabinet as well as the front of the tv which caused distortion in the sound. Having the speaker raised up above the tv eliminated the problem and the sounds are much more natural. I simply had two speaker stands which I put on the cabinet behind the tv and have my Bose sound bar resting on it above. The front surround sound also works much better with this set up. Have a great day and stay well. Or as Spock would say: "Live long and prosper. You're my favorite reviewer. Daniel

[@moviecollector5920]

Evening Daniel. Now then, living in an apartment and enjoying movies at home, how does one best do that? My wife and I lived in a flat in central London for 20 years or so and our living room was 10 feet 3 inches wide at its widest point and about 21 feet long. At that widest point there was a balcony and a full width window so we couldn't paint that in for a screen. The solution was a roll down screen and that is actually the screen you see behind me in most of my recent videos. It's ten feet wide because that's the widest that would fit (just!). We're talking over 30 years ago now so video projection certainly wasn't an option and wouldn't be for about 15 years. We had our film projectors up the far end of the room and Dolby Stereo (aka ProLogic) sound through speakers all around the room, mainly on wall mounts as high as they would fit. What I'm saying here is that even a small apartment can double as a home cinema and once the lights are out and the projector is on you really won't know the difference once you're focused on a film on the biggest screen you can fit in or paint in. John.

[@danielparker3842]

@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John. Living in government housing authority there is only so much I'm allowed to do. I am quite happy with my set up but am thinking about going to a bigger tv such as a 65 incher and the prices have really gone down. My tv is a 2019 model and does not have Dolby Vision which came out in 2020 so there's that to consider as an upgrade as well. Also 8k is coming out soon though other reviews have said the difference is negligible in that one can't really tell the difference between that and 4k. I think a new tv would be a great Christmas present to myself during the Christmas sales the prices will be even lower. So there's that. Have a great day over there in jolly 'ol England.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@danielparker3842 It's only HDR that makes the difference between high definition and 4K so I agree that 8K is a waste of time in the home. It's another gimmick to convince people to stick perfectly good equipment in the landfill and buy something new that they don't need. Having said that, improvements may come along that put televisions back on a par with cathode ray tubes and at that time I expect many of us will dump what we've currently got. But I won't hold my breath on that just yet. A video projector shouldn't be against any council flat rules so take a look at what is around before buying another telly. The best of both worlds is a smaller telly for watching broadcasts and KZbin etc. and then a video projector to make watching a film something special. Even a high definition video projector will give you more fun than any telly and some good ones are only a few hundred pounds over here. Whatever you do, good luck with it. John.

[@emmetgram3901]

Great video John. Fascinating to see some of the home theatre setups. Cheers

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you Emmet. Noel did it all himself too. There aren't enough clever people like Noel around. John.

[@mr.electronx9036]

OMG this is AMAZING.

[@moviecollector5920]

There are some clever film collectors out there who have had home cinemas squirreled away like this for many decades now. I like your Babu Frik user ID. That little character was a highlight of that last Star Wars film. John.

[@TroyUlysses]

The organ is a brilliant touch! Bravo! And FP20s! 7:04. I used converted FP20s at my old place. They were adapted to run from Long Play "cake stand" reels.

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel's a very clever chap and seems able to work anything out. John.

[@barrycoote9562]

Great cinema noels got.. Just like to say the last night in soho poster, the colours are really popping 👍👍& good yo see u back john..

[@moviecollector5920]

Aaaaargh! 'Popping'... nooooo. Now I'm going to have to lie down. I think it was Jeff at Films At Home who started that 'colour really pop' way of talking and now we're all doing it. Might do a review of the Tremors 4K next Barry because so many have told me it's one of the best they've seen. As far as I recall it was a 35mm shoot so that seems a little unlikely but I'm happy to be proved wrong. John.

[@barrycoote9562]

I think ur right he always says pops 🤣 Tremors I haven't seen in a while, what I would like to see in 4k is Dario Argentos suspiria, but it's not cheap as its import only..

[@moviecollector5920]

@@barrycoote9562 Suspiria is another 35mm that people tell me is better than just about everything else. I suspect it's the colours that are giving the good impression along with being restricted to a comparatively small television screen which makes it harder to discern which videos have the best definition. I'm surprised it's taken so long for Suspiria to appear on the UK market but perhaps there isn't enough of a market here to justify the expense or licencing the rights. John.

[@darkvader7231]

Great video, loved that cinema with the organ, pure genious. Watched a lot of Spoolbox and did watch the 70mm showing of 2001 SO video recently on that channel.

[@moviecollector5920]

I spent so much time in the Empire and most of the time Fred was the man entertaining us. It's a small world. I want an organ like Noel's... I hope that statement doesn't cause any confusion! John.

[@darkvader7231]

@@moviecollector5920 🤣🤣

[@davidprice6994]

Nice to see another great video matey

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you David. It's nice to be able to shoot a video that's a bit different sometimes. John.

[@jmig1016]

Just wanted let you know I just watched last night in soho and enjoyed it greatly. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@moviecollector5920]

Quite a few people have let me know they've watched it since my review and have enjoyed it. It's always good to know as it indicates that it is still possible the film will be a success despite it's relatively poor showing at the box office. So thank you very much for letting me know. John.

[@joerusso1161]

WOW! Amazing. Wheres Dr.Phibes when we need him! Brilliant!

[@moviecollector5920]

Dr. Phibes was supposed to come up on the Organ but that Ken bloke knocked him off on the way up!

[@dmunro9076]

Thanks for the great video! I have to say that, honestly, I don't think I would have the patience to work with 35mm prints and projectors now, but I really respect those that do!

[@moviecollector5920]

It can take some effort to project film but it's such good fun when you do and usually watching one film results in watching lots of films and video gets forgotten for a while. I really want to screen my 35mm print of Alien again but I've got to wait as Noel's currently got my projector. John.

[@craigosterberg5045]

Thanks for the tour

[@moviecollector5920]

Thanks Craig. John.

[@cburg]

Love the little organ that pops up 😃

[@moviecollector5920]

And the little man on the seat once had a relationship with Barbie... the lucky little tyke! John.

[@ClarkTeddles]

Hello John! Thank you so much for featuring me in your video, I have finally reached 500 subscribers, which is amazing! Spoolbox' cinema looks brilliant! and I shall give a look at double bill asap! once again, thank you so much for shouting me out in the video, everytime you do it, it really helps my channel out and I highly appreciate it! I have sent an email to the cinema that is screening Baraka on 70 about filming the threading of the projector, so we'll see where that goes. Have a great day, sorry for my late comment, today was a school day and am currently writing this on my recess break, haha. brilliant editing of this video by the way, amazing job!

[@moviecollector5920]

You deserve all the success you get Clark so if I've done anything to help then I think you're worth it. Keep up the good work. John.

[@chriscottingham2003]

Great another video keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@moviecollector5920]

I might be a bit less prolific for a while Chris but normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. John.

[@chriscottingham2003]

It's all good,

[@BigDinSanDiego]

Hello again John! Been absent for a while due to a huge remodeling. However, another excellent video and great recommendations for additional channels to subscribe! Comic Con is around the corner… so hello again from San Diego! -Lyle

[@moviecollector5920]

Greetings from sunny England Lyle. Comic Con in San Diego always produces some worthwhile videos to watch on KZbin so I may not be there in person but I'll probably catch up with quite a lot of it. Have a great time. John.

[@davemillage6129]

Hi John. Nice to see you with some more content and thanks thanks thanks! How cool it would be to fly over and sit in Noel's cinema and screen Cinema Paradiso with some buds lolol (why did this film come to mind hahah). I'll be sure to check out the cinema retro magazine and your other channel recommendations. Many regards Dave!!

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you Dave. You are spot on about watching Cinema Paradiso in Noel's cinema. I think that would be perfect. John.

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

Looks awesome 💯💯💯💯

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel's a clever, capable chap. If there were more around like him we'd all have fully automated home cinemas! John.

[@garypage1963]

Thanks John ,great video. Home cinema rules! I didn't realise how much effort goes into blu ray mastering. Crazy how we have dvd, blu ray and 4k discs but it's not like vhs vs betamax war back in the day. All the best 👍.

[@moviecollector5920]

Because I make documentaries my sales of Blu-ray do not come close to DVD so it was interesting to have that confirmed in the Plymouth HMV. The type of person who purchases an educational disc or documentary disc is not always a film enthusiast so DVD is sufficient. My 2020 'Code Name: R40' double disc (Rover 75/MG ZT) was about 30% Blu-ray sales to 70% DVD. Blu-ray not only costs more to produce but takes a lot more time and eats up disc space like it doesn't exist. Perhaps if Blu-ray had have been given a comprehensible name (e.g. HD DVD) then it wouldn't have been perceived by most as something they could never understand and that might have helped it take off sooner. I think that 'Blu-ray' name did quite a lot to kill off home movie sales. John.

[@gnevos]

@@moviecollector5920 yeah I think from the DVD and Blu ray release report website DVDs and blue rays releases fluctuate from 40-60 per week each while 4k is in the 10s or single digit. I think there's also a statistica article from 2021 about 4k's overall market share being about 4-7% of the total physical media market. I think digital exclusive movies have dealt a big blow to discs. Why get the disc if the streaming version is higher quality? Makes me sad for the future of disc media. I think 8k will be the death blow. Since it can't even be read off a disc quickly enough. So players will probably have to require the movie to be "installed" to read quickly enough or maybe a switch to movie cartridges? Either way streaming will be much more convenient.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@gnevos I think quite a few of us find streaming to be a bit of a pain in the neck Leon but that's possibly because we've spent our lives working on computers and operating a smart telly is akin to sitting at a poxy computer so we're sick of it. 8K is a waste of time unless you have an enormous screen as our home screens can't even provide a perceptible difference between HD and 4K so if they do try 8K for the home market it will just be a money making ploy... but people will fall for it. Thank you for giving us your recollections of the statistics for disc sales. 4K does seem to have grown sufficiently in the last few years judging by Arrow Films issuing 4K discs of films they only released on Blu-ray a few years before from the same 4K masters. If the market wasn't there those films would never have been given a 4K release. John.

[@moviecollector5920]

@Simon Dann There is rarely, if ever, a perceptible difference between HD and UHD on our tiny home screens Simon so in that regard it's been a bit of a waste of time, but it has invigorated the home movie disc market somewhat. The one thing it has given us is HDR and that successfully makes video look more like film so in that regard it is worth upgrading. I'm not a fan of tellies though so unless you want to start projecting on the biggest wall you have available then it may well be best to stick with your existing telly until it packs up. I suspect the audio video industry will want to start selling us 8K equipment soon but I think that one is a complete waste of time as there's not really any improvements over 4K HDR that would be perceptible. They will fool a lot of people though so it will happen. John.

[@moviecollector5920]

@Simon Dann I usually only change equipment when it packs up or is completely cream crackered so to keep your 12 year old Sony and get the best of both worlds, head to Richer Sounds and see if you fancy a reasonable video projector. There's nothing like projecting a movie even if there are no moving parts on a video projector. John.

[@fp30e]

Hi John, I loved your video. I also loved Noel's home cinema, it's amazing, and the organist is just brilliant, and what a great guy. His box may be compact, but it looked amazing and so well organized and clean. Great to see a Kalee 37 again. Chichester Cinema used to have a Kalee 37, (it features in one of Spoolbox videos). I like the way that you speak to your audience, which is very engaging, and to see what other people are doing in Home Cinema etc . I found it very interesting when you were explaining about authoring a DVD/Blu Ray and all that is involved. An excellent well crafted and good quality video. Thank you very much for the Spoolbox" mention. Take care

[@moviecollector5920]

You are very welcome Fred and I wish I'd have come across your channel earlier. The positive side effect of not finding you before is that I'm watching lots of cinema related videos every time I have a chance to go into KZbin on the smart telly. The automated voice you're now using in your videos is convincing and better than most human narrators. But I do think you ought to give it a go yourself because you do have a good, suitable voice for your own productions and I'd like to hear you talking the video through. You are always so enthusiastic whenever you visit another cinema in your videos and that enthusiasm is infectious. One video I really liked was the laser show at The Empire. Do you still have the original tape so you can upload it again now that KZbin isn't the low quality tosh it was when it started? I loved that laser show. Actually, I loved everything about The Empire, but that laser show really was something else altogether. What a way to start a show! John.

[@fp30e]

@@moviecollector5920 Hi John, I have two era's, my VHS era and my Digital era. The Empire Video was during my VHS era, so the quality is what it is (sadly), but it' s still a piece of cinematic history. Last year I converted all my VHS tapes to digital files, so they are easy to work with. I like my new found Digital voice friend, as I can just type something to fit in with the image on screen, or even sometimes split the recorded line into two. which I did with the OLS laser projector video. We had 3 x laser shows at the Empire. It all depended on the mood of the movie on which one was used for the run of that movie.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@fp30e Your digital narrator might be the best I've heard so do what you feel most comfortable with Fred. I didn't realize there were three different versions of the laser show back then but I think I either only saw show number 1 or rarely saw the other two as I don't remember them. I've just taken another look at your video and it's the original 240 line KZbin so it might look somewhat better that that if you were to do a new upload of it. With more than 12,000 views so far a new upload might do surprisingly well particularly if you were to do a new introduction and perhaps tell people that some nutter had been hassling you to do it. I've often wondered if it would be possible to reproduce that laser show somehow. Just getting the original sound video projecting your video might be close enough. John.

[@444chroma]

Ten out of ten for that one old boy. 👍 I hope I can build something that cool eventually

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel will have to pop round to help you! John.

[@PlaytendoGuy]

Fantastic video John, I really enjoyed it looking at other people's impressive set ups. I hope you are doing well my friend. Since your last video I've upgraded to a 4K TV, just need a 4K player now. Take care mate and look forward to the next video

[@moviecollector5920]

Greetings Pete. I had seen that you'd invested in a new 4K telly so now there will be no stopping you. As for a player, they all do pretty much the same job so don't succumb to the usual nonsense about shelling out on the most expensive option. One of my players cost less than £100 more than four years ago and it's just as good as anything else with the only downside being that it doesn't have hifi outputs at all and relies completely on a single HDMI. Even that probably wouldn't adversely affect your setup as that's how all new equipment is made now but I'm still using an amplifier from 22 years ago so HDMI isn't a lot of use. John.

[@ericlozen9631]

Hello - I have a subtle bond with the timeless classic film, Somewhere in Time. While growing up during the 1970's our annual family summer vacation was always spent in northern Michigan. My father was raised in the small coastal town of Rogers City. Mackinaw City is located 57 miles north of there. This is the northern most point of Michigan's lower peninsula. The Mackinaw Bridge spans the 5 mile gap between the lower and upper peninsula's. Upon completion of the bridge's construction in 1958, it held the status of being the world's longest suspension bridge. The historic Mackinaw (also spelled Mackinac) Island is located 7 miles from Mackinaw City; a 20 minute ride by ferry boat. On the island is Fort Mackinac; built in the late 18th century by British forces. Two major battles occurred during that era: The American Revolutionary War and The War of 1812. Except for a few minutes seen during the opening of Somewhere in Time, the entire movie was filmed on Mackinac Island (1979). Coincidentally, in the summer of '79 we sailed there from Rogers City. That trip spanned over a few days. We stopped at other marina's along the way to stay overnight. Once we got to Mackinac Island we stayed there for 2 days. I was 11 years old. I believe that the filming was completed by the time we arrived but I could be mistaken. This is one of my favorite movies. I've been to the island countless times over the decades. It truly is a wonderful place to visit. No vehicles are permitted on the island. The only ones allowed are for emergency services. I'm familiar with every outdoor scene shown in the movie. Here's an oddity I'll share. In 1976 (I'm getting younger) our grandparents took me and my older brother on a trip to Niagara Falls. We drove there from the Detroit area. In 1978 our father took us to see Superman at a movie theater. In the scene when Superman failed to appear and rescue Lois Lane after she purposely threw herself into the gushing rapids, I enthusiastically kept pointing out that we went to that exact spot. Between both of these Christopher Reeve movies, to have been able to say (at such a young age) that I stood in some of the exact spots where some of these scenes were filmed was very exciting for me. I recently purchased Superman on 4K but haven't watched it yet. I do have Somewhere in Time in HD 1080. If it ever makes it to 4K I'll definitely buy it.

[@moviecollector5920]

Wonderful stories Eric. I got a copy of Somewhere in Time as a result of the Cinema Retro retrospective and will be watching it in the next few days for the first time since about 1983. I saw it as a television broadcast and thought it was wonderful so couldn't understand why it hadn't done well at the box office. As a result of the extensive coverage in the magazine I now have a better understanding of why. I'm rather looking forward to seeing it again after almost 40 years. The article tells us all about the island and how no cars are allowed there so I won't be able to move there after all!!! John.

[@ericlozen9631]

@@moviecollector5920 I had a cousin on my father's side of the family that worked at the Grand Hotel during the late 1970's. However I don't know if she was working there during the filming. Other "locals" that worked/lived on the island had mixed feelings about the disruption that occurred when Hollywood showed up at their front door so to speak. Some absolutely hated it.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@ericlozen9631 It does get a bit tiring when any production turns up on your doorstep and spends days filming anything. Somewhere In Time was probably weeks so it's understandable. I expect they were all rather pleased with the end product though and even more so today as it captured their home as it was 43 years ago... but I don't suppose it's changed much.

[@ericlozen9631]

@@moviecollector5920 I just came across this > kzbin.info/door/CEoz8yJmr4VN0h7QXH8x4w < Take a look at the playlists.

[@rikaardyyz3039]

Thanks really interesting as always . One day when I get the space and after I research options both visual and sound.

[@moviecollector5920]

A full size organ though Rikaard, and a professional organist employed to play it! John.

[@paulallenMacca]

Thanks for sharing this video John,that’s a wonderful Cinema that Noel has and quite a collection of Reels and I thought the Organ was cool,our Local Cinema had Gaumont Kalee Projectors back in the early 1970’s.

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you Paul. Those 35mm Kalee projectors go on forever if they're serviced at the appointed intervals. In fact, some 35mm machines around the UK had been in place for 70 or 80 years and merely had the relevant upgrades to keep them up with the times. The latest video projectors ain't going to be in cinemas that long, that's for certain. John.

[@paulallenMacca]

@@moviecollector5920 Your Welcome John,it would be nice having the room for one of those Kalee Projectors which I don’t but I’d be even happy with 16mm Bell and Howell in the house.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@paulallenMacca I really like the look of Noel's Elf 16mm. I never really got into 16mm but that projector makes the gauge seem so much more attractive.

[@paulallenMacca]

@@moviecollector5920 John would the model be Eiki ELF RT1 which can hold a 2000 Foot Reel,its a nice looking machine.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@paulallenMacca I think Noel does mention the model number but maybe I managed to cut it out of the final edit. If I manage to remember I'll ask him what it is next time we speak.

[@neiltaylor6645]

Breakout the Kia Ora

[@moviecollector5920]

"Your projectionist tonight is Eric." John.

[@1165mac]

Seeing your nicely framed poster behind for Last Night in Soho, you must be a huge fan. I need to check this one out soon!

[@moviecollector5920]

Best film for years. Other opinions are available! John.

[@1165mac]

@@moviecollector5920 I trust your recommendation and will take a look at it sooner than later.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@1165mac I did a review of the 4K which will probably give you a better idea of why I like it so much. London, a Triumph TR5, 1965, time twisting, murder mystery and possibly a bit of supernatural too but might be psychological. I think it's got everything including two beautiful leading ladies but everyone in it is good including the late, great Diana Rigg in her last film. John.

[@KOBOLSkY31]

Amazing.....i´d love to watch a movie there in every format available. Excuse my english, i´m from Monterrey, México... best regards

[@moviecollector5920]

Well it would be nice to welcome you here Emil. Last night we watched the recent 4K from Arrow of Treemors. Pretty darned fabulous. Hope things are going well over there in Mexico. John.

[@deanrussell2224]

When the organ came up I was expecting the dolls head to turn around and speak !!!

[@moviecollector5920]

Noel's working on that at the moment Dean.

[@audioexplorer3481]

Nice of you to give a shout out to other youtubers.

[@moviecollector5920]

I like to give other channels a plug if I think there will be a general interest among fellow film enthusiasts and the three chaps this time all have something a bit different. John.

[@fedenovo1]

Thanks!🤗

[@moviecollector5920]

You're welcome! John.

[@slendermanRblx]

A very nice cinema. The only issue I see is that on 35mm every 20 minutes you'd have a break to get up for changeover since films come on 20 minute reels and there is only a single 35mm projector. If I ever had the space and money I'd build a full 2 projector system with automated changeovers, only would have to get up to thread the next reel into the opposite projector.

[@moviecollector5920]

The big reels you see on Simon's machine run over 2 hours I think. I can do an hour on mine. Mark Stuckey has just put his name on a cakestand so he'll be able to do about four hours once that arrives and he's worked out how to use it all. John.

[@Celestialrob]

Hey John, thanks for the new mention. I love your channel and hope you and your seamstress are well. But you know that. I have very exciting news. I’m in contract on a new home that enables me to increase my theater to a room that is 26 x 28 feet. We will have acreage and it’s in a gorgeous location in the mountains. Would love to have you over - but that will be private.

[@moviecollector5920]

That sounds fabulous Rob. And we're booking flights now! Seriously though, you'll have to email me some photos when you get there. I've only visited the San Fran area once so you'll be a good excuse. We do need to get over again and it's finally looking promising that both our countries are pretty much through the Covid-19 situation now. John.

[@stephenrowley880]

I have to admit it is over 40 years since I last saw Noel so it is nice to see him doing so well. If you are ever in North Shropshire come and see my 70mm home cinema complete with Philips DP70 projectors, D-150 screen and lenses (almost Cinerama), 6 channel magnetic sound and (on a good day) carbon arc lamps.

[@moviecollector5920]

Bloody hell Stephen, that sounds terrific. I'm working out a route now! John.

[@stephenrowley880]

@@moviecollector5920 See my little youtube channel.

[@moviecollector5920]

I've just had a good look at your videos Stephen. I love seeing projectors working so that's right up my street. Video projectors have no interest as there are no moving parts but put a film projector in front of me and I'll be fascinated for hours. John.

[@stephenrowley880]

@@moviecollector5920 Here your chance to come and see the Rolls Royce of all cinema projectors and have a go yourself, hand winding 3,000ft of 70mm film only takes me 5min!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@stephenrowley880 You must have muscles like Popeye Stephen!

[@trubshawuk]

You need 70mm now!!!!!! very IMPRESSIVE!

[@moviecollector5920]

Don't tempt me! John.

[@hansformat]

Please do more of these home theater videos where people run film.

[@moviecollector5920]

Whenever I get a chance, I will. John.

[@simonnichollsfilm]

Hi John, thought you might like to know that Mark’s Kalee 37 has found a new home with me in Hereford. It’s in super condition Mark did a great job overhauling the original valve Duosonic amp that came with it. Btw I have a spare portable 35mm projector if you get stuck.

[@moviecollector5920]

Good to hear from you Simon. We had a brief trip to Wales for the national tractor run and did think about how we could visit but it was all over and we were on our way home again so quickly. One of these days. We're now just down the road in Wiltshire though so beware! Have you uploaded a video of your new 35mm projector yet because if so, I need to see it? John.

[@simonnichollsfilm]

@@moviecollector5920 I will be doing that shortly. I will obviously link you in when I do!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@simonnichollsfilm I'm rather excited to see it Simon so don't hang about!!!

[@doublebillmovies]

Thank you John.

[@moviecollector5920]

You deserve some success Trevor so let's see if this helps you on your way. John.

[@doublebillmovies]

@@moviecollector5920 well I went from 24 subscriber's to 57 when looked last night and I thought it was because of the video I published yesterday that had 2 Arrow window box editions in it. I'm sure a couple came from there but you kind words and exposure on your channel and reference that I might know what I'm talking about 😉 hopefully helped too. I definitely need to check out the other 2 channels you mentioned as they both sound great. There was another young Australian lad who bought a projector for the 8mm reels he'd started to get. Can you remember his channel as I'd like to check his channel out again. Well the rest is up to me. So again, thank you John and I look forward to Newbury. Trevor

[@moviecollector5920]

@@doublebillmovies I see you're up to 80 subscribers now Trevor so the new video and the plug on my channel look like they've set you on your way now. I'll have to do something else in a while but if we meet up in Newbury then that will be a good excuse. Maybe we can find a Blu-ray that you authored and can remember a few things about which would probably be interesting to quite a lot of people and help your KZbin profile. It would be nice to educate a few collectors who tend to think it's easy to master, author and issue these discs. Gawd knows how long it takes to do a 4K UHD given the time it takes me to do a Blu-ray! John.

[@moviecollector5920]

I can't think of the other youngster in Australia with a Super 8 projector. I wonder if it was actually Clark Teddles as he had trouble finding a take-up reel to run his 400ft cut down of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

[@doublebillmovies]

@@moviecollector5920 haha maybe it was lol. I'll look through his videos and I'm sure I'll find the clip you showed. Thanks John. I hope you and you wife have a lovely weekend. Trevor

[@reynaldolunajr.6909]

The miniature organist was a unique touch, but if it were me I'd have dressed him to look like Dr. Phibes.

[@moviecollector5920]

I did reply to this already Reynaldo but it's arrived back in my list of unanswered comments. So in case you didn't receive my reply before, I said that is a good idea but maybe we should also consider dressing him as The Phantom of the Opera. John.

[@wernerherzog3502]

Noel's picture house looks really cosy but i was just wondering about the screen, it's looks like it's only able to show 4 by 3 ratio, or does the screen widen for 16 by 9 Panavision movies ? (the way it used to at the old Mile End ABC {now the Genesis} when presumably they had the anamorphic lens on the projector to give the impression of 70mm/Cinemascope from a 35mm print, rather cheeky really). Also John, it would've been nice if you could've taken a bit more time panning over the titles of the movies stored in the projection booth, the only title i spotted was "The Sands of Iwo Jima" but i bet the rest of Noels collection is a veritable smorgasbord of cult items and all in pristine condition as well. BTW, that mini wurlitzer was a right laugh, the doll playing it looked like a cross between Liberace and the master of ceremonires at a John Waters film festival. Very entertaining video John.

[@moviecollector5920]

The masking does move all the way out to accommodate 'Scope films Barry but I didn't think to ask Noel to press the button at the time. I wasn't expecting to shoot a video there otherwise I'd have been better prepared. The organist is actually that lucky bugger who's been having his way with Barbie all these years! The films shown are a fraction of Noel's collection. He has rooms filled to the ceiling with them. John.

[@ginger-jc7ti]

Beautiful home cinema, much nicer than our American fiends

[@moviecollector5920]

To be fair to those who have created home cinemas in the video projection era, they have based them on cinemas they've known and so more akin to multiplex black boxes rather than the picture palaces us oldies used to enjoy. I can't imagine a home cinema without tabs (curtains) but they're more or less a thing of the past in modern cinemas. John.

[@timothymathetes]

good day to you Sir, glad you well. I was wondering, have you seen The Godfather 4k set yet, or Singing In The Rain 4k? I'd be interested to know what you think if you have.

[@moviecollector5920]

I haven't seen either of them Timothy. Unlikely to watch The Godfather as I don't tend to get on with gangster films but I do need to watch the films again which I have on LaserDisc. Singing In The Rain should have the richest Technicolor as it did on LaserDisc so expect a cracking 4K of that one. John.

[@SamMcDonald83]

Dunno that opening shot really reminds me of the sequence in mulholland drive when they go to the theatre...

[@moviecollector5920]

I'd forgotten about that Sam. What a film that is and a very nice 4K release too. John.

[@SamMcDonald83]

@@moviecollector5920 I saw it in the BFI cinema a few years ago and the print was incredible!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@SamMcDonald83 A few years earlier and I'd have been at that screening too. Had to give up my membership when we moved to Cornwall but we're closer now so may be able to get back into all these special screenings. John.

[@ChristopherJohnBall]

Another great video. I have already subscribed to Teddles but will also do the same with your new recommendations. Very envious of Noel's home cinema. One day I will build something. At the moment mine consists of a motorised screen, in the living room, that comes down from the ceiling with a 5.1 surround. I am trying to work out a way of projecting my newly acquired super 8 collection, you still haven't been forgiven by my better half for getting me back into Super 8, via a right angled adapter so I can place the projector on the shelf by my digital one. I have a few sheets of front surfaced mirror to use making it but if you have any ideas or have done something like this your, I would be most grateful for any heads up.

[@moviecollector5920]

A few collectors have used mirrors with Super 8 to ensure they can get a big enough projected image in a small space so it can be done. It just takes some jiggery pokery to get the correct angles but trial and error gets it sorted. If screen is too big then try pointing the projector backwards and then reflect into the second mirror to fill the screen. What we really need to do is get Noel back to work so he can travel the country sorting all our home cinemas out! John.

[@ChristopherJohnBall]

@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John. I will try something out. To be honest - we could do with the likes of Noel sorting out many a 'professional' cinema not just our own. The standard has really fallen. The number of times I have had to go and get someone because it is in the wrong ratio or not in focus etc.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@ChristopherJohnBall Cinema chain owners and managers thought that doing away with film would mean they wouldn't need a skilled member of staff to handle projection. That's part of the reason why so many cinemas are projecting such terrible imagery nowadays. I do fear for the future of cinema at the moment but hopefully something will happen to put them back on track. John.

[@OscarHernandez-ry5qq]

jonh how big is noel's screen? what about projection image? and the sound what was your

[@moviecollector5920]

It's not very big. Noel's more into older films and re-creating cinema from the 1950's sort of era. We were there yesterday actually Oscar and it's very special. To look in the back and see the 16mm and 35mm pedestal projectors in place certainly is magical. John.

[@xristodoulosvelentzas8129]

Were films used to be shown on cinemas with all that dust and scratches ? Because all the 35mm film presentations i have seen on the KZbin are like that.

[@moviecollector5920]

Certainly not. But there were occasions when a film had been damaged and you'd see the result of the damage before the print could be swapped by the distributor. I was fortunate enough to be able to see master prints at the top West End cinemas so that means the quality was far in excess of the mainstream video presentations of today. There are exceptions though as genuine IMAX cinemas are still occasionally presenting films on IMAX rather than the low quality video projection passed off as IMAX these days. If you can see something like Dunkirk, Interstellar or Tenet in genuine IMAX then that's just about the pinnacle of cinema with the possible exception of genuine three-strip Cinerama from 1953 onwards for a few years. Cinerama had some compromises but still a bit of a stunner. John.

[@xristodoulosvelentzas8129]

@@moviecollector5920 So you are saying that the films, then, were presented really clearly as we are seeing them now on tv and blu ray.Thank you Mr.John for your time! Also i like the work you are doing on KZbin, keep going!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@xristodoulosvelentzas8129 There were always a few bits and pieces as well as the occasional, almost invisible scratch but most people would never notice. Even the 70mm print of Death on the Nile I saw recently had some neg dust in a few places. There was something more natural about watching a film and however good video has become it is rare that it achieves the same natural look. There are exceptions though and if Le Mans '66 really was shot entirely on video then that's got the top spot for movies shot on video as far as I'm concerned. Picture quality started a downturn in the late 1990's and got worse and worse for a while. It's better than it was now but not up to the standards of the early to mid-1990's except for a few special productions such as the Christopher Nolan films. The Kenneth Branagh adaptations of the Agatha Christie books should be up there as they're shot on 65mm but it seems they don't edit the film from the negative and do it in the computer after all the negative elements have been scanned in. That's why the 70mm presentation of Death on the Nile was not quite up to where we were with 70mm in the 1960's!!! Okay, slight exaggeration there as I didn't seen any 70mm in the 1960's and would have been too young to remember anyway, but the re-release of Spartacus in 1991 (shot in Super Technirama 70 and released as 70mm) was better if my memory is functioning correctly. My rough calculation is that 70mm equates to around 15K if you want to compare it to video. Genuine IMAX is three times the size of standard 70mm films so that would be around 45K. But image quality gets to a certain level of clarity and it's impossible to discern a difference though so that's why I think modern releases of these large format films get away with 8K. They do try to get away with 4K but that's not quite up to 35mm quality in general. John.

[@darkpoethd9913]

Hi I have just watched my copy of MASH on Bluray and Altman shot it through very hazy filters but having not watched it for a long time I was taken aback by just how hazy the film looks and actually not very pleasing to the eye! Do you like the film and have you seen it in recent years? It would be interesting if it received a 4k upscale...just interested on your thoughts

[@moviecollector5920]

I only ever saw MASH on a television broadcast but I do still have a 200ft Super 8 cut down. It doesn't look very good on Super 8 but it was done a long time before Super 8 hit its heights in terms of exceptional print quality. I preferred the television series. John.

[@darkpoethd9913]

@@moviecollector5920 Cool and thanks for the reply, I'm a little surprised your not a fan of the film given your taste is so similar to my own! I too like the series but have always loved the grit of the film :)

[@moviecollector5920]

@@darkpoethd9913 I might enjoy it more if I watched it again today but one thing always worked against it and that's the American football section because it's just not something we're into over here at all. Having said that, I think The Mean Machine is a fabulous film so it can be done. Alan Alda was brilliant in the series and better than anyone in the film too. John.

[@darkpoethd9913]

@@moviecollector5920 Well we will have to agree to disagree on the actors I just think they are very different and play the parts so differently too. I do absolutely love Alan Alda and indeed the TV series and I have to agree with you about the football match! Watching it again it has started to really date in both its humour and its themes but I still love it even though it needs a Remaster maybe... :)

[@darkpoethd9913]

I would love you to rewatch it for your thoughts if only on the print :)

[@OliverHollingdale]

That set up much have cost a fortune!

[@moviecollector5920]

Probably not Oliver as Noel did it all himself and possibly over quite an extended period of time. It is amazing what can be done for comparatively little if you have the ability to work it all out for yourself. John.

[@derekgitzel6720]

Can you please review The Wicker Man from 1973 with Christopher Lee? It is from the UK.

[@moviecollector5920]

I haven't seen that film in about 40 years Derek. Edward Woodward was the star as I recall. Might be worth another watch if it's had a re-release. John.

[@derekgitzel6720]

@@moviecollector5920 Ok thanks because that film is over later looked here in America. I just want the film to get more attention.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@derekgitzel6720 Well that's an incentive. I was doing round-up videos of titles that wouldn't generate a big enough audience on their own but unfortunately those round-up videos weren't very successful either. Maybe a few more popular titles in a round-up along with The Wicker Man might do the job. John.

[@derekgitzel6720]

@@moviecollector5920 What about talk other British horror films with it?

[@moviecollector5920]

@@derekgitzel6720 It would have to be with something big really Derek otherwise I'd put about 12 to 15 hours into it and then get a few thousand views. If something on the scale of The Exorcist were to come out then a few other great horror films could feature towards the end of a review of that. Something like that would do it. John.

[@HerkDylanJr]

2:32 looks straight outta Squid Games

[@moviecollector5920]

Aha, that's Ken from the Barbie dolls range. I don't know Squid Games so you'll have to tell me what that film or television series is about. John.

[@megansavage7152]

Noel has a nice organ🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@moviecollector5920]

And I just cracked a similar joke Megan! Great minds think alike. John.

[@nunyabidness7547]

nice..but those chairs gotta go ;-P

[@moviecollector5920]

Cinemas always had seating like this so for an old style picture palace it's what you have to have. And red too, none of that blue or beige nonsense! John.