dlvh said:

I bet that was nearly a thrill of a lifetime, being able to actually thread in the movie Star Wars in 1977. I can only imagine that you were giddy with excitement!

Actually I was just standing on a milk crate and quite blase about it.

On Tuesday nights Dad used to set the first two reels up and then leave me to do the change-overs, keep the carbon-arc rods at the correct distance (our were manual and used to throw a small rainbow pattern on the ceiling that looked a bit like a spaceship from close encounters, you would gradually wind them in as they burned down during the showing, keeping that pattern roughly the same as a guide) and rewind the reels when they were done. He had a 2nd job and used to leave me there while he typeset the local newspaper on Tuesdays. He was usually back in time to thread reel 3, but sometimes he was late and I would do it.

I think I saw nearly every movie released between 76 and 79, and saw Star Wars countless times. Dad had to convince me to come that night, I only saw the name and thought it was going to ba a war movie that would give me nightmares, he assured me I would like it, and promised I could go home if I didn't.

Well, I went along....and two hours later I never wanted to leave the cinema again!