|
Jim McKeown, from Newtownabbey, worked as a projectionist in the Queens
Fim Theatre and theatres in West Belfast, but it was
his time at the Curzon cinema which makes him speak
with the fondest memories.
Jim had a yearning to work in cinema since watching
a Robin Hood animation on an old "Chad Valley"
toy slide-projector. Later the fascination of film,
via 16mm reels, compounded his passion for the moving
image. Once at school the chance of a weeks work experience
at the Curzon lead to part time work and finally a full
time position in 1986. Jim joined the Curzon a few years
after it had been split into three screens in 1981,
as his many photos show.
|
|
|
 |
|
Jim`s scrapbook showing the cinema`s interiors
|
|
The picture of the demolished shell of the cinema left
many people saddened, almost as if part of their childhood
was erased and left in a pile of rubble with the demise
of the building. But with Jim's help we`d like to bring
back these memories and in some small way keep the spirit
of the Curzon alive - if only on a virtual screen.
Chatting to Jim makes you stop and think about a trip
to the new Multiplexes of today contrasting that with
a trip to the Curzon and old style theatres like the
New Vic, Strand and the Albion.
Now you can sit in work on your PC and book your tickets
electronically, pick up your tickets from another machine
in the cinema foyer and then make your way into the
huge, modern auditorium.
 But
surely queuing at the kiosk with the cinema staff behind
it, and the "two for Jaws please" as the person
behind the counter rips off the real paper ticket, manually,
is all part of the "goin till the pixtures"
experience. Remember the curtain swishing open and the
ice cream girls, which all added to the theatrical performance?
Jim`s mentor and "genius in every sense of the
word" was Billy Wilson, Chief Projectionist, who
joined the Curzon when it opened in 1936. Billy showed
the wide eyed boy the ropes. This included showing Jim
how to cook up a tasty snack utilising the projection
room in a unique and unlikely way : with "Eskimo
Chips". Billy would cut up chip size pieces of
potatoes at home and freeze them. Once at work he would
place the frozen chips on the extremely hot heater and
in minutes they were feasting on fresh chips!
These pictures and memories are only a brief glimpse into
the years at the Curzon that Jim holds dear and the memorabilia
he has passionately collected. Over the next weeks we
hope to add more of the same.
These are Jim`s original comments about his days
in the projection room of the Curzon.
I was one of the projectionist's in the Curzon for 9 years
approx, and have a lot of great memories in there! I started
as a trainee projectionist when I was 15 and spent most
of my early adult life behind the scenes. Highlight's
for me were the popularity of 'Crocodile Dundee' which
played for 26 week's I think.
The premiere of 'The Commitments' was another great night
and the excitement generally for us when a big blockbuster
came along. The queue's around Raby street / St Judes
were great to see. Alas with the arrival of the larger
multi-plex with car parking and restaurant's etc, the
Curzon was doomed. I agree with one of the director's
when he stated that the Curzon was for the 20th century
not the 21st . However, at the time of closing we felt
with a little investment it could've survived but it needed
facilities added and a lot of refurbishment inside and
out.
Someone remarked to me that it would be cheaper to
knock it down and start again. I, like a lot of people
loved the main cinema upstairs (cine 1,formerly the
circle/balcony). The coved lighting and large screen
and stereo surround sound. The nights spent watching
Jurassic Park, Dances with Wolves and Pretty Woman and
finally the most popular film in the cinema's last days,
the wonderful Titanic.
Every time I see that film I think of the night my wife
and I spent viewing the spectacle of the great ship
sailing across the screen. At least on the last night
when it closed we got a lot of footage of people coming/leaving
the Curzon. The projector's starting up for the last
time with the 20th century fanfare music. Nice to look
at on dvd now and again. Pity someone couldn't`t put
something in it's place in new development to remind
future people of the landmark which once stood there.
The place where people met ,viewed film and had a good
laugh! It will always be a part of me as I shared some
great times in there and met one of my best friend's
there. Ahh well, I hope someone reading the above finds
it interesting and leaves a reply.
If you have any memories of the Curzon or going to
the cinema before the Multiplexes, please get in touch.
Read replies to our
original story of the last days of the Curzon
Read the history of
the Curzon, including Jim's video footage of the cinema's
last day
|
print version
POST
A COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE 