Newtown Theatre
120 N. State St.
Newtown, Pa 18940
(215) 968-3859
Projector Images
February 2012
All pictures may be used as needed in press
For Immediate Release February 23, 2012
Newtown Theatre 120 N. State St. Newtown, Pa 18940
Movie viewing in Nation’s oldest, Movie Theater, is in danger of becoming a lost
pleasure. Audiences which, for generations, have enjoyed their favorite flicks
from the balcony or main floor of the Newtown Theatre are faced with a
challenge. Will they step up to help raise the $100,000 needed to replace the
64-year-old 35 mm film projectors? Movie production companies have issued the
ultimatum. Within a year 35mm film versions will no longer be produced and movie
theaters must be prepared to project movies with digital equipment. And that is
the $100,000 challenge. Newtown Theatre, whose building alone is steeped in
history, sits on North State Street in the historic Borough of Newtown. Movies
were first shown in the building in 1906 when viewers got their first look at
film images of the San Francisco Earthquake which happened that same year. Prior
to the movie showing era, the building, built in 1831, served as a lecture hall,
town meeting place and theatrical venue. Generations of Bucks County residents
have crossed the threshold of Newtown Theatre for date nights, family outings
and movie premiers. Without the funds needed to purchase a digital projector,
occasions like this at the Newtown Theatre will no longer be available for the
general public. As the era of 35mm film winds down, the race to raise funds to
replace the older equipment kicks into high gear. Theaters like the Newtown
Theatre are struggling through these hard times to come up with the $100,000.00
needed to replace their 64 year-old projectors. The 501 (c)(3) non-profit has
kicked off its campaign to raise the needed monies. Donations may be mailed to:
Digital Projector Fund 226 N. Lincoln Ave Newtown Pa 18940 and made payable to
the Community Welfare Council of Newtown Check out www.newtowntheatre.com and
watch the results of the ongoing fund drive. A thermometer on the left of the
website tracks the donations, while the names of donors stream across the middle
of the page. Everyone who has had the pleasure of watching a movie at the
Newtown Theatre might like to know that their help is needed to insure that
generations to come will have the same experience of being able to watch
first-run movies at the historic theater.
NEWTOWN, PA As the era of 35mm film winds down, the race to raise funds to replace the older equipment kicks into high gear. Theatre's like the Newtown Theatre are struggling through these hard times to come up with the $100,000.00 needed to replace their 64 year old projectors. The 501 (c)(3) non-profit has kicked off it's campaign to raise the needed monies. Donations may be mailed to: Digital Projector Fund 226 N. Lincoln Ave Newtown Pa 18940, please make checks payable to the Community Welfare Council
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Photo of film leaving the platter storage before it enters the projector. |
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Photo of film leaving the platter storage before it enters the projector, wider view. |
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Photo of film returning to the take-up platter after running through the projector. |
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Interior view of the 1948 Simplex E-7 projector in continuous use at the Newtown Theatre. |
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Wider view of the interior view of the projector showing the newer digital sound equipment mounted above the actual projector, to provide Sony SDDS, and DTS Digital sound formats. |
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The Sony SDDS Digital sound head. |
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Close up view of the projector head. |
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Wider view of the interior view of the projector showing the newer digital sound equipment mounted above the actual projector, to provide Sony SDDS, and DTS Digital sound formats. |
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Close up view of the projector head. |
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Exterior view of the projector head with the door closed showing the Simplex logo. |
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The Platter film transport system, that replaced film reels, in the 90's and allowed the continuous showing of film without having to switch between projectors every 20 minutes. |
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Close up view of the film platter brain that controls the rate at witch film is fed to the projector. |
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Close up view of the film platter brain that controls the rate at witch film is fed to the projector. |
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Wide up view of the film platter brain that controls the rate at witch film is fed to the projector. |
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View showing the film path as it leaves the platter system and heads towards the projector. |
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View showing the film path as it leaves the platter system and heads towards the projector. |
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Long shot showing the platter and projector. |
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View of the projector from the other side. |
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20 minute reel, showing how film was handled before platters. |
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20 minute reel, showing how film was handled before platters. |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Exterior view of the Newtown Theatre |
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Interior view of the theatre while holiday decorations were up |
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Interior view of the theatre |
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Interior view of the theatre |